Kevin,

   Thanks for replying. I remember and understand how important the abortion issue is to you. I respect that and believe it's a noble position to take. The heart of the matter is that there is a moral dilemma at the center of the abortion issue. So, this is why when you take your stance on it you are correct...100% correct...because there is a true and real argument that abortion is morally wrong. The flipside for the people on the other side of the coin is that it is also morally wrong to have politicians determine what they can and can't do with their bodies and lives.

Many arguments break down this way...the death penalty...there is a real and true argument that that is morally wrong...war...there is a true and real dilemma that war is morally wrong...the issue of cloning which is now all over the news...but the moral weight is often overshadowed by the human need for something like abortion, the death penalty, cloning, or war to exist. In your case, you've chosen abortion as the issue that touches you the deepest. I can't argue with that nor would I want to and I don't believe it would be my place to tell you your beliefs are wrong. All these issues are painful and force us to contemplate their value. They can bring out the best in us or the worst in us when we take our stand on them.

I don't blame you for taking the chance to comment on something you feel strongly about...you should do so...life is short and maybe something you say will touch someone and make a difference. It certainly is possible and remember...how you say it makes a big difference too. If you come on harsh and pitching shame at people it will tend to make them move in the opposite direction from where you wanted to take them.

That's sort of where Ashcroft is at. I'm sure he has strong feelings on abortion as well...which I would also respect...but it is an abuse of his position to launch this sort of attack...where there is no crime and people involved that are not part the suit. He has left the abortion issue behind in this case and is attempting to use his position of power to unjustly attack a doctor, a hospital, patients...again where there is no crime and only a desire to try to show that the doctor may have been morally wrong in giving abortions to these women. That's a problem and an area where Ashcroft does not belong...it's fine for him to believe what he believes but not to attempt to force his beliefs on us. The big key here was he wasn't looking to see if abortions were performed after the ban but before it and if the reasons they gave were in fact true. That's why I called it a witch hunt.  

The simple fact is we don't elect officials to tell us what is morally right or wrong. I may want to see Kerry elected but not because I expect him to be a moral compass for me. So, I don't see anything wrong with your position but I certainly think Ashcroft is wrong and I would only hope that you would support that idea as well...even though his bad behavior serves an issue that you feel strongly about.

                                   Hoping we're not too far apart,

                                                                                   Reg