State of Virginia Archives: on Abortion

Don Beyer: Politicians have no business interfering in right to choose

In Congress, I'll be a strong voice and vote in support of a woman's right to choose. And I'll fight attempts by Tea Party Republicans to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. Politicians have no business interfering in these private health care decisions.

Ed Gillespie: I never supported a Personhood amendment

Warner countered: "If you are in the Senate, would you vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade? Did you not also support a personhood amendment?"

"No," Gillespie replied. "When did I support a Personhood amendment? There's not going to be a vote to overturn Roe v. Wade," Gillespie said. "That's a Supreme Court decision. I'm running for the United States Senate."

The Warner campaign's evidence that Gillespie supports Personhood is thin. They point to the platform passed by the Republican National Committee in 2004, when Gillespie was party chairman. "Gillespie chose the platform director and said the platform reflects the 'beliefs of our party,'" Warner's campaign emailed after.

Ed Gillespie: Sell contraceptives over-the-counter to avoid Hobby Lobby

Ken Cuccinelli: Human life begins at conception

Cuccinelli: Strongly Agree

Ed Gillespie: Opposes abortion

Gillespie, who opposes abortion rights and is conservative on most other issues, is running on the belief that he can unite the party in a way that did not happen last year. He has been reaching out to some of Virginia's conservative activists since Election Day, sounding them out and asking for their support.

Ken Cuccinelli: I believe life begins at conception

McAuliffe suggested that Cuccinelli's position on gay issues and abortion nearly jeopardized Northrop Grumman from locating its corporate headquarters in the state. Cuccinelli said his views on homosexuality or gay marriage had not changed: "The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception... there are lots of Virginians who share my sincerely held beliefs. And your notion that this somehow chases business out of Virginia would be laughable if it weren't so offensive," he said.

Ken Cuccinelli: No new abortion restrictions as governor

Terry McAuliffe: Supports abortion rights

George Allen: Define that life begins at conception, but contraception ok

Moderator: Don't they work by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg?

Allen: Well if the egg is not fertilized, there is not conception.

Kaine explained that the common birth control pill works by a dual mechanism--both preventing fertilization, and preventing successful implantation when fertilization does occur. Also, he added, intra-uterine devices work singly by preventing implantatio Cruz on immigration: Wants to triple size of Border Patrol. Says Dewhurst supported in-state tuition for kids of illegal immigrants.

Dewhurst: I have always been against an amnesty program. "If they want to be a citizen, they ought to go home and reapply."

Dewhurst says he was against tuition for children of illegal immigrants.

Tim Kaine: If life begins at conception, we must outlaw contraception

Moderator: Could you tell us, how do you think birth control pills and intra-uterine devices work?

Allen: I don't profess to be a doctor. I'm just using maybe a little

Robert Sarvis: Supports embryonic stem cell research

A: Yes.

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

A: Yes.

Robert Sarvis: Early term abortions ok, but parental consent for minors

A: It depends on the actual legislation. I, like the majority of voters, occupy the middle ground between the two strict/absolutist positions.

Q: Should abortion be legal after the first trimester of pregnancy?

A: There is support, even in the 35th District, for restricting medically unnecessary late-term abortions, but there is not support in the 35th District for banning early-term abortions. The vast majority of voters don't want this election hinging on divisive, social-wedge issues. And neither do I.

Q: Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?

A: Yes.

Q: Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?

A: Yes.

Q: Should parental notification be required before an abortion is performed on a minor?

A: Yes.

Q: Should parental consent be required before an abortion is performed on a minor?

A: Yes.