U.S. political candidates' views on abortion 'not especially important,' opinion piece says

Oct 29 2007

Although some voters might "care deeply" about how a candidate views abortion "because that stance is accurately considered an important signifier of the candidate's sensibilities and sympathies, and of his or her notion of sound constitutional reasoning," those views are "not especially important" when it comes to abortion policy Washington Post columnist George Will writes in a Post opinion piece.

According to Will, abortion policy is not determined by political candidates but is "almost entirely in the custody of the U.S. Supreme Court and will remain so unless or until the court" overturns Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 decision that effectively barred state abortion bans. In addition, a "Republican president's alteration of the court's balance" might not result in the overturning of Roe, Will writes.

Will adds that "many, perhaps most, Americans ... think that overturning Roe would make abortion ... illegal everywhere," but "all it actually would do is restore abortion as a practice subject to state regulation." Therefore, if Roe were overturned, states, such as California, whose residents "strongly" support abortion rights likely "would adopt" laws that guarantee access to abortion, according to Will (Will, Washington Post, 10/28).