The Republican Party has has asked the American people for their feedback via a website, and right now the most popular idea trending is: removing the pro-life plank from the party platform.
“It has been almost 40 years since Roe v. Wade, and regardless how we feel about it, it is firmly established as the law of the land. In my opinion, it is more important to save our country by preserving liberty (both economic and individual) than to dwell on the abortion issue. If we let our country be destroyed by the Democrats, the abortion issue will hardly matter anyway.,” reads the idea’s description, submitted by Jeffrey M1, on the GOP platform’s website.
Of the 104 ideas suggested for the issue of the sanctity of life, removing “Pro-Life from the Party Platform” is ranked as the most popular idea for that issue trending as of Tuesday afternoon, earning 234 “seconds,” meaning 234 other people have voiced their approval of the idea.
The second most popular idea is to stop government funding to Planned Parenthood, earning 157 “seconds.”
Missouri Republican Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape” reignited national debate about abortion earlier this month and forced Republicans, including vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, to rebuke Akin’s statements while reaffirming their pro-life stance.
One commenter wrote, “I absolutely agree with this idea. I believe that this part of our platform is merely costing us voters. This election is most likely going to be close and the more swing votes we can get, the better chance Obama will be out of office. Just because this idea isn’t included in our official platform doesn’t mean that you can’t personally be pro-life and have your own moral code.”
“Pro-Life and Pro-Choice are too divisive, better to keep it as a freedom of personal choice (based largely upon one’s religious beliefs) regulated by the States,” wrote another commenter. “The left is whoo-hoo about regulation so let them regulate it. DONE! Those who believe in Freedom from government need to vote Romney/Ryan because that is really the ONE defining attribute between US and THEM.”
However, not all commenters agreed with this idea.
“This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a while. I can not believe and actual member of the GOP would even have such an idea cross their mind,” wrote one.
“Ignore this idea. Without the right to life, all other rights are moot,” wrote another commenter who also disagreed with the idea. “The 50 million people in the US who were denied their right to life since Roe Vs Wade were denied all other rights as well. What will the GOP gain if it sells its soul?”
The GOP 2012 platform website allows people to share and suggest ideas about what position the party should take on a wide range of issues, from national defense to economic policy to energy policy.
Ideas can be submitted by anyone, and then people are free to support, criticize them, or share them over social media.
The site’s methodology is not scientific and there is nothing to prove commenters are Republicans or representative of GOP sentiment on any issue.
“We want to hear from everyone,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus in a web video for the site. “The platform is an important document, and I’m grateful to the three outstanding leaders who will head our platform committee.
“This election will be like none in recent memory, and more than ever we must stand united on our principles of life, liberty, free enterprise, and opportunity for everybody. this starts with our party platform, and our platform, starts with you,” Priebus concluded.
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