Seriously, though, I want to respond without flaming. We need to be able to discuss issues without all that fire.

I understand that abortion seems like a wedge issue that keeps people voting Republican when they would otherwise be Dems. Maybe for some people it does work that way. I do know of a few people who justify their Republican voting with that. On the other hand, I've always doubted that abortion is really the only reason that they vote Repub. I have a feeling that they really just like the corporatism of the Republican party because these people feel that they have "gotten theirs" and don't want anybody telling them they might have to care about those who haven't. You have to listen very closely to these people. I really do believe that a lot of them like to claim that they have to vote Repub over abortion, because it's a safer, more respectable position than admitting that they're really voting Republican for all of the other things Republicans have come to stand for. Basically, I think it's an excuse.

The other problem is that I don't think some of us realize just how important the right abortion is for women. This isn't about "saving babies" because if it were, then those pushing to make abortion illegal would also be pushing for the funds for pre-natal care, for daycare centers, for schools. But, they aren't. This is about controlling the sexuality of women. Women die when abortion is illegal. This is about sexism in the worst sense, trying to legislate that women can not make decisions for themselves.

Another thing is that these people are not going to be content with making abortion illegal. They are going to move on to birth control (which has already started -- remember the pharmacists who don't want to give out birth control to single women?). Then, they are going to go on with their agenda, pushing their religious beliefs of what is and what is not sin on our nation. It's never been just about ending abortion. That's simply the first step, I'm afraid. I feel we can't afford to let them take that first step.

The last thing I would add is that this debate actually is greater than abortion itself as an issue. To me, the idea that a few cells growing inside a woman, even if the cells have the potential to become a human being months down the road, if all goes well, is actually a human at that point is a religious question, not a scientific one. What makes something "human"? I think those who feel that an early term pregnancy is already a human are basing that on religious beliefs and religious beliefs should not and can not be enacted into the laws of our country. That sets a bad precedent. Soon, all religious beliefs would be seen as being capable of being turned into law, such as adultery, homosexuality, everything having to do with sex for that matter, who and how and if we worship, etc. You see, to me, it doesn't just end at abortion. This is forcing a particular group's religious beliefs on us all and that is not what this country is supposed to be about.

My opinion is firmly that this is non-negotiable, just as gay rights, the right to marry, and the many other "wedge issues" that some feel the Dem party would be better off without are not negotiable.