This page is part of an undergraduate assignment at Davidson College
Murkowski And Knowles: Abortion
-
As is said on his website, Tony Knowles believes that "the government has no place between a woman and her doctor" (Knowles 2004).
-
In a statement released by Murkowski's campaign this September, Murkowski claims that while she personally opposes abortion due to her Catholic faith, she defends the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade. But she also contends that Roe v. Wade allows for "reasonable restrictions" on abortion. These restrictions include not "using taxpayer funds for abortion except in the rare cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother," banning partial birth abortions, and restricting when and where abortions may take place (Mauer, Tsong 2004).
-
While pro-choice groups such as Planned Parenthood and Alaskan liberals back Knowles' strong pro-choice stance, the majority of Alaskans are conservative (Knowles 2004). Alaska voted for Bush 59-28% in 2000 and has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1974 (National Journal 2004). Despite Alaska's conservatism, Knowles has always been pro-choice on the grounds that, as he said during his governorship, any restrictions on abortion would "infringe on women's privacy and their right to make their own medical choices" ("Alaska Overrides.." 1997). In short, Knowles' personal conviction overrides Alaska's majority position.
-
Murkowski's record suggests that her position may be more politically motivated. While in the state House, Murkowski usually sided with pro-choice advocates and voted against restricting state-funded abortions for poorer women. As a U.S. Senator, however, she has sided with the anti-abortion side more often than not, opposing federal funding of abortions and co-sponsoring the partial birth abortion ban ("Abortion Votes.." 2004). The section in her website entitled "Protecting Our Traditional Values" clearly projects a conservative, anti-abortion image. Murkowski's lobbyists have recently been working to gain the endorsement of Alaska Right to Life ("Can.." 2004). As a result of this change, many critics on both sides accuse her of moving right to appease Alaska's state-wide Republican majority, specifically for the purpose of beating ultra-conservative Mike Miller in the primary.
-
On the one hand, it is easy to criticize Murkowski for shifting her views and for taking a middle ground on such an ethically charged issue. A group of Catholics are so enraged by her stance that they are calling on the church to withhold communion from Murkowski ("Murkowski On.." 2004). But on the other hand, her current position compromises two ideologically opposed positions and represents more Alaskans than Knowles'. She represents Alaska's conservative majority by increasingly supporting restrictions and represents the Left by allowing abortion to continue. Both pro-choice and pro-life groups have at least considered endorsing her. While Knowles' firm stance is admirable, it is less representative of the state-wide constituency.
Mac Skelton, Box 6375, Davidson, N.C. 28035
Created 10/13/04; updated: 10/15/04