Don't Be Duped - Part 1

Class, pandering to a "single issue voter" is dubious at best, and being one is just over the top.

As we knew it would, abortion has reared it's ugly political head. Just the word sends both sides into a frenzy of sign-making. Whatever side of the issue is yours, take a deep breath and consider:

Both sides have needed it to remain an issue, and for the crass-est (is that a word?) of reasons... because people who vote on that issue and that issue alone - without a single thought to whatever else a candidate stands for or condemns - get candidates elected. No brain power expended on the voters' parts. No serious effort to convince expended on the candidate's part. Just chalk up another vote and move on. Do you seriously think it was anyone but the single-issue voters of Ohio who ultimately put George Bush into the White House in 2004 over John Kerry?

How do I know this, you may ask. Read on.

Recently, John McCain said that he favors a Constitutional amendment, making abortion illegal. While not a simple process, it is certainly more direct than waiting for Supreme Court justices to die, and hoping that there is a pro-life President in office to appoint a like-thinking new justice. And it is a process that has been available since the very instant the court decided on Roe v. Wade. How many years is that?

If all those politicians who have been put into Congress and the White House by single-issue voters had spent a couple of years working on this amendment right after Roe v. Wade, it would now be a moot point - one way or another. Remember how quickly the Equal Rights Amendment crashed and burned, as it was rejected at almost light-speed? But in fact, they didn't use this route, instead preferring to use the "dead Supreme Court justice" tactic. Using that tactic, the first substantive case on abortion is wending its way to this Supreme Court, and may arrive there sometime late in the next President's first term. Maybe even later than that - thereby keeping it alive as an issue for yet another presidential election.

So, while abortion may be a gut issue for you, for politicians it is just a way to assure themselves a certain portion of the electorate with no effort expended. That, Class, is my take on those running for office in this manner. Stay tuned for my thoughts on those who vote in this manner!

Recess!