This page is part of an undergraduate assignment at Davidson College.
Abortion in the South Dakota Senate Race
Constituents
With an average of only 6 abortions per 1000 women in South Dakota, compared to a national average of 15 abortions per 1000 women, South Dakota has one of the lowest abortion rates in the country (abortiontv.com 1996).
South Dakotans also showed they oppose abortion when the State House passed a bill outlawing most abortions within the state by a margin of 54 to 15 (womensissues.com 2004). Fifty-two percent of South Dakotans supported the ban (Woster 2004). This strongly pro-life legislation has earned South Dakota an "F" rating from the pro-choice group NARAL (naral.org 2004).
Additionally, 63% of South Dakotans think abortion should be illegal, or legal only in cases of rape or incest (Associated Press 2004). This is compared to 58% nationally who thought abortion was morally unacceptable, except when the mother's life was in danger (Zogby 2004).
Daschle
Democrat Tom Daschle sends mixed messages on abortion. He said “I am opposed to abortion,” but he has also stated “I believe that sending a woman and her doctor to jail is the wrong remedy” (Moore 2004).
His voting record suggests he is more pro-choice. Out of 37 abortion related votes between 1995 and 2003, Daschle voted in accordance with the pro-life position only four times (cathfam.org 2003).
Daschle's record suggests he places his role of representing the pro-choice Democratic party over his role of representing his constituents.
Thune
Republican John Thune has been more consistent on abortion. Thune states on his website that he believes "abortion is wrong," and he "has consistently voted to protect the rights of the unborn" (Johnthune.com 2004).
Thune's voting record backs up his claims. He has a 100% pro-life record, voting with the pro-life stance on every major abortion bill while in Congress (issues2000.org 2004).
Thune's record suggests he acts as a descriptive representative, following the "values and committments" of his constituents (Pitkin 1967, 213).
Representation
A good representative places less emphasis on constituent desires and plays more of a trustee role when issues are objective. However, on "matters of whim or taste," such as abortion, representatives should follow the desires of their constituents and act more as delegates (Pitkin 1967, 211).
Under this criteria, Thune descriptively represents his constituents better than Daschle on abortion since the majority of South Dakotans are pro-life and Thune has a much stronger pro-life record. Daschle has also violated Pitkin's argument that a representative "must not be found persistently at odds with the wishes of the represented without good reason in terms of their interests" (Pitkin 1967, 209). By voting against the pro-life position on almost every bill without showing why his votes are in the interests of his constituents, Daschle has not represented his constituents well on the issue of abortion.
Created by David Crow
Pol 318
Created: 10/14/2004. Last updated: 10/15/2004.