The 'official' Democratic Party platform now states that they "strongly and unequivocally support Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay."
So, just how "pro-choice" are the Democrats?
In an effort to learn more about the party's platform, Reason TV wanted to investigate what the Democrats mean exactly when they say "choice." Glenn played the amazing audio of Reason asking the delegates to explain their stance on "choice" this morning on radio.
Given their strong statements on choice, their stance on food choice, school choice, even light-bulb choice, may surprise you:
When asked about whether or not they were pro-choice, the initial response of all of those shown in the video is "yes."
Here are a a few examples of the initial responses:
"I am absolutely pro-choice."
"Yes, it's a woman's right to choose what she wants to do with her body."
"Yes, a woman should have a right to choose based on her doctor and her family."
But, as Reason tried to interject a little common sense into the conversation, the delegates stances seemed to shift.
For example, when one delegate is questioned about their stance on choice in regards to transfats, one delegate said this:
"I think a lot of people make harmful decisions, there's alcohol, there's cigarette smoking, and so I understand the government trying to intervene because the American taxpayer pays a lot of money for fat people."
So this delegate finds Coca-Cola to be a threat to your body, but abortion is a healthy decision?
Glenn pointed out that it is well documented that massive psychological damage can occur to patients receiving abortions - but the left doesn't want to talk about that.
"People should only be allowed to make good choices," another delegated responded in Reason video.
Of course, they fail to consider who gets to decide what is a "good choice" and a "bad choice."
When asked if consumers should have the right to choose what kind of lightbulbs they want to purchase, the delegates quickly became anti-choice again:
"No, they shouldn't because if they're polluting the Earth, it's going to last longer than their lifetime."
Another noted that even if you "prefer the warm glow" or "are that particular about lighting" (which Glenn very much is) it shouldn't "come before the safety and future of our planet."
Sorry, Glenn.
How about right to work states? Surely if the delegates are pro-choice and, like we keep hearing, "fighting for the middle-class," they are all for an individual getting to choose whether or not they want to join a union, right?
When asked if being in a union should be the choice of the worker, one woman actually did respond, "It should be a choice not to be in a union."
Unfortunately, once she heard the phrase "Right to Work," which the left leaning media and Democrat politicians hammered during the Wisconsin drama she quickly changed her tune.
"No, I ‑‑ well, a choice not to be in a union, but I think unions do good. So I would choose ‑‑ uh…I guess not. I'm not in favor of 'Right to Work'."
Not surprisingly, the delegates weren't in favor of school choice either.
When asked again at the end of the video, a few of the delegates had a bit of a different response:
"I'm definitely pro choice when it comes to people's bodies."
"I'm pro choice on everything about everything about everything - on an informed choice, and government has a role in that."
"I'm pro-intervention."
"That is amazing," Glenn responded to the unbelievable audio - later adding, "That should be sent to all of our college age students."
It turns out the Democrats are small government - but only on one issue.
"They actually appeal to people's small government sensibilities in the abortion argument," Stu pointed out.
It shows the superiority of the argument conservatives make on almost every topic, because that's what the left turns to when they need it.
Telling the government to 'get out of your business,' or in this case your bedroom, connects with Americans.