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The Daily OrangeCandidates split on right to abortion
By Molly Gallagher
Posted: 10/15/08, 12:11 AM EST Section: News
Syracuse resident Joan Basile had an abortion before Roe v. Wade was decided.
Basile recently released an autobiography titled "You Made Your Bed," which details her life and the struggles she went through after having an illegal abortion, performed at what was called Hotel Syracuse.
"She finally told the baby's father with whom she had fallen irretrievably in love, and because he was married, they decided their only recourse, however horrifying, was abortion," Basile wrote in her book of herself. "Surreptitious, terrifying phone arrangements were made. Anonymous instructions were given."
One of Basile's intentions behind writing the book, she said, was to inform women who didn't have to go through illegal abortions what the process was like. Basile said she wanted women to appreciate and understand the rights they have.
The presidential candidates have completely opposite positions on these rights. Much of the country is also split on the issue. In a 2008 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 49 percent of Americans surveyed said abortion should be legal always or most of the time while 47 percent said abortion should be illegal or illegal with a few exceptions, such as incest or rape.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois supports a woman's right to abortion and the Supreme Court case that gives women that freedom, Roe v. Wade. Obama's opponent, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona wishes to overturn Roe v. Wade and let states decide.
In the Democratic primary debate on April 26, Obama said he feels women do not make the decision to have an abortion without deep consideration.
"This is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions," he said. "They don't make them casually. And I trust women to make these decisions, in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy, and I think that's where most Americans are."
Basile recently released an autobiography titled "You Made Your Bed," which details her life and the struggles she went through after having an illegal abortion, performed at what was called Hotel Syracuse.
"She finally told the baby's father with whom she had fallen irretrievably in love, and because he was married, they decided their only recourse, however horrifying, was abortion," Basile wrote in her book of herself. "Surreptitious, terrifying phone arrangements were made. Anonymous instructions were given."
One of Basile's intentions behind writing the book, she said, was to inform women who didn't have to go through illegal abortions what the process was like. Basile said she wanted women to appreciate and understand the rights they have.
The presidential candidates have completely opposite positions on these rights. Much of the country is also split on the issue. In a 2008 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 49 percent of Americans surveyed said abortion should be legal always or most of the time while 47 percent said abortion should be illegal or illegal with a few exceptions, such as incest or rape.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois supports a woman's right to abortion and the Supreme Court case that gives women that freedom, Roe v. Wade. Obama's opponent, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona wishes to overturn Roe v. Wade and let states decide.
In the Democratic primary debate on April 26, Obama said he feels women do not make the decision to have an abortion without deep consideration.
"This is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions," he said. "They don't make them casually. And I trust women to make these decisions, in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy, and I think that's where most Americans are."
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