Candidate Review - Abortion - Joe Biden

After having to kind of hunt on Kucinich's site, Biden's area on Woman's issues is refreshingly easy to find. His website in general seems pretty clear and professional, if lacking in much flair.

His statement on abortion seems a bit lacking in gusto.

Senator Biden supports the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade that protects a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy. Believing family planning could help prevent many unwanted pregnancies, Senator Biden has consistently supported Title X – the nations’ family planning program -- that provides information, services, support, and research for family planning.

He proclaims his support for Roe vs. Wade, rather than his support for the fundamental right to choose. There is also a speech he made in support of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, reprinted at his site.

Opponents warn that the treaty's call for universal access to family planning is really a disguised call for a right to abortion services.

That is a charge with no basis in fact. In 1994, the State Department certified that the treaty is abortion-neutral; that same year, the Committee on Foreign Relations agreed to a proposal, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Helms, making clear that nothing in the treaty shall be construed as creating any right to an abortion.

At any rate all of this does leave Biden with a bit of wiggle room, but it's hard to know whether this is intentional or not.