State of Rhode Island Archives: on Abortion


Carl Sheeler: Roe v. Wade has been decided; keep abortion legal

Source: 2004 R.I. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 7, 2004

Lincoln Chafee: The real potential for cures is in the embryonic stem cells

Q: What about embryonic stem cell research?

CHAFEE: Every scientist is saying that the real potential is in the embryonic stem cells. That's where the real potential is for the cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. If the US does not fund that research, it's going to go elsewhere. Some other country is going to take advantage and be in the forefront of solving some of these diseases and curing some of these diseases. Many conservatives did vote for the stem cell bill. Laffey said he would vote against it, that's hypocritical.

LAFFEY: It's not hypocritical. I felt it was the wrong business lines. Senator Chafee mentioned one scientist. It's not every scientist. It's very few, quite frankly. In the end, the real progress will be made because the problem with embryonic stem cell research is the rejection rate that they're finding tumors and all kinds of problems in animals and rats and they haven't made it to humans yet and I don't think they will.

Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

Lincoln Chafee: Opposed the Alito nomination on 3 issues, not litmus test

Q: What are you unwilling to accept in a Supreme Court judicial nominee? A: On the last appointment, Alito was replacing O?Connor, a key swing vote on the court. This was a big decision, who is going to replace O?Connor, this key moderate on the Supreme Court. I looked closely at issues and watched Alito to testify in the hearings. Three issues were important to me. The commerce clause in the constitution that has a lot to do of how we do our environmental laws in particular and clean water was just ruled on by the Supreme Court in kind of a haphazard way but under the commerce clause of the constitution. Secondly, the expansion of executive powers and that concerns me greatly. Under the constitution, Bush has used under article 2, section 2 of the constitution that he's the commander in chief to expand executive powers. That concerns me greatly and it was addressed in Alito's answers. I'm a pro-choice Senator and I had concerns about Roe vs. Wade.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

Mark Zaccaria: Safe, legal, and rare: don't return to back alley abortions

Q: Where does Mark stand on the abortion Issue?

A: "Safe, Legal--and Rare." A woman's access to basic medical care, more specifically the right to choose that care, has become one of the great political issues of the last 30 years. I believe that in its simplest form choice is a question between a woman and her doctor.

I believe many people understand that choosing to carry a pregnancy to term and offering a baby for adoption can be the correct choice. I believe that we also must understand that it is not always so. Many of us recall the back alleys of the 1960's. As a father of two daughters, I will not risk a return to those days of less than full and proper medical care for women.

Roe v. Wade is stare decisis: in plain English, settled law upon which future abortion decisions must be based. I will stand up to insure that all women regardless of race or class have full and unfettered access to the first rate medical care that all in America believe our citizens deserve.

Source: 2008 R.I. House campaign website, markz4ri.org, "Q&A" Nov 6, 2008

Mark Zaccaria: Make adoption a more palatable choice

I will fight for a regime in which improved education empowers women to make informed choices. Adoption is one of the real choices available and adoption in America needs to be updated to make it even more palatable. However, we should all try to understand that it might not work for everyone every time. The basic rights of the Reagan Exceptions--rape, incest and the health of the mother--are points on which I will never compromise.
Source: 2008 R.I. House campaign website, markz4ri.org, "Q&A" Nov 6, 2008

Mark Zaccaria: Make abortion unthinkable but not illegal

We can't make Abortion Illegal. We need to make it unthinkable. We need a vigorous public education program that explains options to parents at risk of abortion. We should not forsake these citizens or close out communication by making them outlaws. We need to engage them to show them cultural leadership to get them to turn away from this terrible practice.

"No Federal Funding for Abortion" should also include Military Hospitals.

Source: R.I. Congressional 2010 PVS Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2010

Mark Zaccaria: No federal funding for embryonic stem cell research

Q: Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?

A: No.

Source: R.I. Congressional 2010 PVS Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2010

Stephen Laffey: Very few scientists believe in embryonic stem cell research

Q: What about embryonic stem cell research?

CHAFEE: Every scientist is saying that the real potential is in the embryonic stem cells. That's where the real potential is for the cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. If the US does not fund that research, it's going to go elsewhere. Some other country is going to take advantage and be in the forefront of solving some of these diseases and curing some of these diseases. Many conservatives did vote for the stem cell bill. Laffey said he would vote against it, that's hypocritical.

LAFFEY: It's not hypocritical. I felt it was the wrong business lines. Senator Chafee mentioned one scientist. It's not every scientist. It's very few, quite frankly. In the end, the real progress will be made because the problem with embryonic stem cell research is the rejection rate that they're finding tumors and all kinds of problems in animals and rats and they haven't made it to humans yet and I don't think they will.

Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate (x-ref Chafee) Aug 24, 2006

Stephen Laffey: Don't have any litmus tests for judges

I don't have any litmus tests for judges. Both Whitehouse and Chafee do. Get the right judges down there, over a long period of time, they end up being the kind of people that extend the balance to the US. It's very, very important that we put independent judges on the court down in Washington. I will help to do that.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

Helena Foulkes: She will always fight to protect a woman's right to choose

Helena is proudly pro-choice. She believes that a woman's right to choose is between her and her doctor--and no politician or government has a right to interfere. As Rhode Island's governor, she will always fight to protect a woman's right to choose.
Source: 2022 R.I. Gubernatorial campaign website HelenaFoulkes.com Oct 3, 2022

  • The above quotations are from State of Rhode Island Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2024 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026