Thanks for the comment.

Since I wrote this post, McCain’s science positions seem better [1] and Obama’s seem worse [2].

[1] http://election2008.aaas.org/comparisons/mccain.shtml
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/09/01/obamas-19th-century-view-of-science-and-technology.html

To answer your question, the Partial-Birth Abortion Act of 2003 [1] provides an exception for the life of the mother in the following line:

This subsection does not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

[1] http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s108-3

True, and that was what I was really asserting, but where does the federal law make exception for the life of the mother?

Certainly I hope that the Democratic Party loses in the general election [1], but I’ve been consistent that Hillary’s positions are closer to my own [2].

Jeffrey,

South Dakota’s law (which was aimed at all post-conception methods) contained an exception for life of the mother, but not health of the mother. The problem with a “health” exception is such a broad category includes “psychological health,” the only way of varying if answers which are easily coached.

Seerov,

What can I say… read Catholicgauze!

[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/02/14/obamas-going-to-win-vote-clinton.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/01/03/vote-mccain-vote-obama.html

“Obama weighed in with support for the dissenting opinion of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who wrote that the ruling ‘tolerates, indeed applauds, federal intervention to ban nationwide a procedure found necessary and proper in ‘certain cases’ by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.’”

Is it possible that opposition to the law is because it makes zero concessions to cases of health being at stake? Even South Dakota’s previous law allowed all abortion under circumstances of health.

Regarding the environment…

The most effective — and perhaps the only cost-effective — solution to global warming in increased R&D. Fighting global warming while not harming economic growth is a modest goal with modest objectives. I wish the campaign well. But like the campaign to eradicate the rinderpest virus [1], however, it’s hardly an organizing principle for the United States government.

Regarding abortion…

Hillary Clinton voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. [2,3] Likewise, Obama criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to allow states to ban partial-birth abortion [4].

[1] http://cominganarchy.com/2008/04/04/the-extinction-of-rinderpest/
[2] http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Hillary_Clinton_Abortion.htm
[3] http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00051
[4] http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/04/18/cq_2588.html