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Dick Cheney on Abortion
Vice President of the United States; Former Republican Representative (WY)
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Supports stem-cell research
By the summer of 2001, stem cells had emerged as an issue with the power to shatter Bush's image as a social moderate. Bush had waited six months to make up his mind, and scientists were grumbling to sympathetic newspapers. Cover stories blared headlines
of "A Question of Life and Death." In case the headline left anyone in doubt about which was the right side of the issue, articles explained that stem cells pitted "religion against science" and "pro-life purists against research."
Polls taken after this press barrage showed that 2/3 of the public favored stem-cell research. So did many of the party's biggest donors. So did Nancy Reagan. So did a large majority of the White House senior staff. So did Vice President Cheney
and Andy Card.
If Bush were the puppet of his staff or his vice president that so many journalists still believed him to be, now was the moment for him to snap to. But he didn't. He did something I had never seen him do: He brooded.
Source: The Right Man, by David Frum, p.106-7
Jun 1, 2003
Reach across the divide on adoptions & notification
Governor Bush and I have emphasized that while we clearly are both pro-life, that we want to look for ways to try to reduce the incidence of abortion in our society. Many on the pro-choice side have said exactly the same thing.
Even Bill Clinton, who’s been a supporter of abortion rights has advocated reducing abortion to make it as rare as possible. What we’d like to be able to do is to look for ways to reach across the divide between the two points of view and find
things that we can do together to reduce the incidence of abortion. We look at such things as promoting adoption as an alternative, encouraging the parental notification, and we also think banning the horrific practice of partial-birth abortions is an
area where there could be agreement.
Congress has twice passed, by overwhelming margins, significant number of votes from both parties, the ban on partial-birth abortions. Twice it’s been vetoed by Bill Clinton and Al Gore.
Source: Vice-presidential debate
Oct 5, 2000
Let FDA’s RU-486 decision stand; it’s only based on safety
Q: Would you support restricting distribution of the abortion drug, RU-486? CHENEY: The approval of RU-486 by the FDA really was a question of whether or not it was safe to be used by women. They didn’t address the question of whether or
not there should or should not be abortion in the society, so much as evaluate that particular drug. With respect to the RU-486 proposal [currently before Congress], Governor Bush does not anticipate directing the FDA to reverse course on that particular
issue, primarily because the decision they made was [solely] on the efficacy of the drug.
LIEBERMAN: My answer is no, I would not support legislation that is being introduced in Congress to override the FDA decision on RU-486.
The FDA worked 12 years on this serious problem, they made a judgment based on what was good for women’s health; a doctor has to prescribe and care for a woman using it. I think it’s a decision that we ought to let stand because it was made by experts.
Source: Vice-presidential debate
Oct 5, 2000
Exemptions for rape, incest or woman’s life now OK
During his six terms as a congressman from Wyoming, Cheney consistently voted in favor of restrictions on abortion rights, but he told CNN that he supports Bush’s view on certain exemptions.
I’ve consistently supported the pro-life position, but I don’t have any problem supporting the pro-life proposition ... that would allow for exemption for rape, incest or the life of the mother, Cheney said.
Source: CNN.com, “Opens campaign in Wyoming”
Jul 26, 2000
In Congress: No exceptions in the case of rape or incest
Cheney believes the government’s role in social issues should be limited. [In Congress in the 1980s], he opposed federal funding for abortions -- with no exceptions in the case of rape or incest.
Source: CNN.com
Jul 24, 2000
Against abortion rights
Where he stands: - opposed the Equal Rights Amendment
- anti-abortion rights
- supported prayer in schools
- supported balanced budget amendment
Source: (X-ref Education) US News & World Report
Jul 11, 1999
Co-sponsored “Preborn Children’s Civil Rights Act of 1985”
Cheney co-sponsored the following bills in Congress:- H.R.555 (1986):A bill entitled the “Preborn Children’s Civil Rights Act of 1985”. Prohibits: (1) use of appropriated funds to counsel or encourage an abortion; (2) use of appropriated
funds to reimburse or refer for abortions; (3) use of funds for research with respect to abortion; or (4) contracting for insurance which pays or reimburses for abortion.
- H.R.1729 (1988):A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for abortions
except where the life of the mother would be endangered, and to prohibit the provision under title X of the Public Health Service Act of Federal family planning funds to organizations that perform or refer for abortions, except where the life of
the mother would be endangered, and for other purposes.
- H.R.5020 (1988):A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered.
Source: Thomas Register of Congressional Votes
Jan 1, 1988