Growing pressure on Kilgore to state his stance on abortion.

Republican candidate for governor Jerry Kilgore has refused to say where he stands on abortion. When backed into a corner, he recites some platitudes (“culture of life”) before whimpering. Virginia media has stopped letting this slide, and has started making some demands of Kilgore.

The Virginian-Pilot editorializes:

Candidates for governor ought to level with voters about where they stand on critical issues, including abortion.

Given the very real possibility that a reconstituted U.S. Supreme Court might overturn Roe vs. Wade during the next four years, there’s no reason to skirt the obvious question: What would you do if the legislature sent you a bill banning abortion?

Sign it or veto it?

Yes or no?

[…]

If the rules change, is it common sense to send doctors performing abortions to jail, or not?

Yes or no?

Kilgore should say.

And the Roanoke Times:

Kilgore still hasn’t answered the question: Would he, as governor, make abortion a crime?

Pro-life groups, in lending their endorsements, think he would.

And what if the mother’s health were at risk? Or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest?

[…]

At the Oct. 9 debate, Kilgore needs to answer the question.

It’s amazing to me that Kilgore can take Tim Kaine’s weakest position — abortion — and manufacture an even worse position for himself. Kilgore may lose the race because of this. God bless him for it.

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

9 replies on “Growing pressure on Kilgore to state his stance on abortion.”

  1. OK, I’ll give ya the fact that Kilgore can’t seem to utter an answer on this one. On the other hand, you gonna tell me that your guy has been forthcoming on that issue? Let’s not spin one another on this one k?

  2. On the other hand, you gonna tell me that your guy has been forthcoming on that issue?

    He’s been all too forthcoming. He’s stated his position precisely, leaving voters scratching their heads as to how in the world he arrived at such a convoluted position. I’m yet to see a single editorial board (or, for that matter, blogger, at least to my recollection) criticize Kaine for being short on his description of his stance on abortion.

  3. Actually, Zach, if you re-read my blog entry, you’ll see that I haven’t “demanded” a thing from Mr. Kilgore. I’ve just excerpted the two editorials (Roanoke Times, Virginian-Pilot) on the topic that were in today’s papers, and pointed out that Kilgore has managed to mangle what should have been his strongest issue.

    These defenses of his non-response (he won’t say and you can’t make him!) only further entrench him in the sort of position on abortion that will serve to suppress Republican turnout. This “it’s a hypothetical” thing shouldn’t matter — if he’s so pro-life, he ought to just come out and say it. But I believe a sufficient mockery was made of him along these lines by Jim Lehrer, so there’s no need for me to pursue it.

  4. Why is this so confusing for so many libs? Actually, I’m pretty sure that isn’t confusing for them at all — they just want to make an issue out of it.

    Think of it like an incumbent or a front-runner during a campaign. The last thing that person wants to do is have a debate with the challenger. It puts the challenger on a level playing field; makes the two appear as equals; is a big, possibly unnecessary risk, politically. The abortion issue is like that for Kilgore and Kaine. It’s a winner issue for Kilgore; a loser for Kaine. If it is just left completely alone, not shaken, not stirred, Kilgore “wins” the abortion issue. He’s a mainstream Republican in a Republican-dominated state.

    George Allen has never worn the abortion issue on his sleeve. He doesn’t have to. He campaigns and governs the way most Virginians think about it. Namely, they don’t think about it. They’re generally opposed to it, but would much rather just not mess with it at all.

    Mike Farris (remember him?) screamed abortion at every whistle stop. In a year when the GOP rolled into Richmond, Farris got beat.

    Kaine, on the other hand, needs to clarify his abortion stance, needs to make sure voters see him in a mainstream Virginia light on the issue. Democratic leaders are (correctly) presumed to be pro-abortion unless they can demonstrate otherwise.

    No one (no one undecided, at any rate) will suspect that Kilgore is on the far right “gotta overturn Roe and overturn Roe NOW!” of the GOP when it comes to abortion. People who are very wrapped up in abortion have a long, long paper trail, and no need to pressure them to state their stance.

    Funny that some parts of the MSM would be pressuring Kilgore to get detailed on his abortion views… they might as well be on the Kaine campaign payroll. They’ll similarly demand that Kaine fully explain his capital punishment stance, right? I won’t hold my breath.

  5. If it is just left completely alone, not shaken, not stirred, Kilgore “wins” the abortion issue.

    You’re absolutely right. But Kilgore should see now that it’s not going to be left alone. Democrats see that it’s his weak spot, and the media see that it’s a big question mark, and we’re going to keep agitating until we get somewhere with it.

  6. Some problems I doubt very much you’ll address forthrightly:

    1) Kilgore has taken funds from pharmas that make abortion-inducing chemicals. Culture of the highest bidder.
    2) Kilgore has dug himself a far deeper hole with his evasions than if he was just clear. He’s now on record saying we shouldn’t criminalize women… which is an awful lot closer to Kaine’s stance than any solid Republican stance.
    3) If the excuse Kilgore gives is that abortion is not something the next Governor will have to decide upon, then what’s all his “culture of life” nonsense supposed to do for anyone? His position is effectively EXACTLY THE SAME as both Potts and Kaine.

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