Paul,

Wonderful story. Probably laid to rest a lot of questions you have had most of your life. Not trying to pick a fight or politicize this but aren't you glad Rebeca didn't take the same road a lot of young girls do when they have their youthful indiscretions? Congratulations on finding your biological father. Did he happen to say or did you happen to ask if he would have wanted to know this a long time ago? I think I would have if I had been him.

Great stuff Paul.
Good luck with the meeting.
I have raised more than one child as the dad when they weren't biologically mine and I can say that it didn't matter one bit to me. It's about the love and attention and time and shared experiences.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks.

Ron,
Having an abortion was never an option for Rebeca regardless of the legality. It wasn't acceptable in her family or her religion. Exactly how anyone should reach that conclusion before or after Roe v. Wade.

Although if she had decided on an abortion I doubt I'd care very much.

Sorry I mentioned it.

Did you tell me one time that you thought abortion was wrong, but that you feel it is between the girl, her doctor and God?

Yes. And I believe that was the view I expressed in my earlier reply.

Nobody is pro-abortion Ron. Nobody raises their daughter with the hope that she'll one day have the chance to have an abortion. \o/

But you can be damn sure that there are a lot of people out there that are glad their daughter had the option. Most of which want government nowhere near the decision making process.

You know, that whole small gov't conservatism thing.

So if I don't want to give welfare to lazy folks who will not work (and no Paul, I am not talking about the truly needy) shouldn't that be between me, my banker and God. If I have committed a sin by not giving exercise facilities to homeless vagrants shouldn't I be punished by God and not the Omnipotent Paul Witt and the Liberal freaks in the democratic party who wish to steal my money and buy votes.

Might as well follow this up. These parents that are so happy the government is staying out of their business are happy that a school administrator can take their child to get an abortion without their knowledge? Is that what you are trying to tell me? You know that whole big gov't liberal "it takes a village of freaks" thing.

I'd like to offer my thanks to you Ron. Only a real asshole Republican could take this post and turn it into right-wing cesspool of hate. Keep preachin brother, the lurkers need to see what a real conservative man is like.

You're mixing social conservatism with fiscal conservatism. Most non-libertarians (small L) don't view issues of fiscal policy as a personal privacy and civil rights issue. And what the hell are you talking about with a school administrator taking someone to get an abortion?

Let's make this simple for you. If you think abortion is wrong, then please, tell me what is wrong with it. And if something is wrong with it, why do you support it? Will they kick you out of the commune? Afraid you won't be able to think for yourself?

Just saying it is wrong but that you support it is too ambiguous. At least tell us what is wrong with it. If it's not a child, why is it wrong? And if it is a child, why are you killing them? Please give more detail here.

Note the language. "Why are you killing them?"

Really, I am? I'm personally performing an abortion? The American Taliban would be so proud.

I digress.

My problem with abortion isn't about when life beings it's with selfishness. A woman that can't be bothered to give up 9 months of her life so that a child can live is, well... I can't think of a polite word to call such a woman.

My faith also leads me to the conclusion that it's wrong and sinful but, unlike some, I don't try to directly legislate my faith.

But the problem is, from a civil liberties perspective and living in a free country as we do, there's no way to prevent abortions. You can't tell when a woman is pregnant. You can't force blood tests when a woman crosses a border. The measures it would take to prevent abortions would be downright totalitarian.

How's that? Is that "on the record" enough for you? Make sure you keep hard copies of all my positions on all the issues so you personally can scuttle my campaign.

This is me quaking in my loafers.

Why do you always answer in such a smart ass way? Do you think they should be promoting it in school? You think it is wrong to export democracy but you have no problems with tax dollars going to planned parenthood around the globe. If it is wrong should we be promoting it around the world? That is no way to make it safe or rare. Luckily, George Bush really doesn't believe in it and he quit funding it. He did not tell them they can or cannot have abortions. He just said the US tax payers were going to quit paying for it and your side went nuts. I have to pay outrageous prices for cigarettes because your side thinks they should sue, sue, sue all the time over health care cost. But you think it should be alright for me to pick up the tab on abortion. Because some poor person is not going to have access. Why not just let you pick up the bill? What is wrong with that? I pick up the cost for cigarette related health care issues and you pick up the cost for the abortion health care issues. I don't have to smoke. They don't have to get abortions. This is all elective. Preventing murders, rapes, car thefts, cocaine sales are all tough to accomplish. We do the best we can at preventing these but it does not make us totalitarian. And the "you running for office" was a joke. The chance of you ever holding any high office is slim and none. You do not have the resources to make a go at it. You saw the loser your side ran against Haslam. She never stood a chance. I laughed right along with everyone else that watched the debate between Mrs. Feelgood who will bring the homeless to the table and Haslam. The reason I mentinoned it was because you sound like a wannabe.

I might run for office someday. I'd love to. But I'd have to better understand the job and have positions on the issues that are substantially different than the current holder of the office. Oh and there is no "low" office in Knox County. The County Commission is in charge of a billion dollar annual budget.

And the funding wasn't cut because they performed abortions, it was cut because they discussed abortion as an option. The government still pays for abortions under this President.

Might I recommend you moving to a smaller town and starting there.