Sen. John McCain has long sought to undermine the Republican Party Platform plank on life, advocating that it be broadened to allow for abortions in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. During a Republican presidential debate with George Bush and Alan Keyes that Larry King hosted on February 15, 2000, Sen. McCain demonstrated contempt for Gov. Bush’s support of the GOP’s “no exceptions” platform on abortion. Ironically, Gov. Bush agreed with McCain’s position — that abortion should be allowed in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother — while arguing that the GOP’s pro-life plank be left intact. In response to their statements, Alan Keyes rightly observed that neither Gov. Bush nor Sen. McCain held to consistently pro-life views. Click here to view the candidates’ heated exchange.

Sen. McCain’s antagonism toward the Republican Party Platform on abortion has continued through this year. In an August 30, 2008, New York Times article, Katherine Q. Seelye reported the following statement which Sen. McCain gave in an interview with Glamour magazine for their October 2008 issue: “‘My position has always been: exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother,’ he said. Asked if he would encourage the party to include them in the platform, he said, ‘Yes,’ adding: ‘And by the way, I think that’s the view of most people, that rape, incest, the life of the mother are issues that have to be considered.’”