OnTheIssuesLogo

Bill Richardson on Abortion

Democratic Governor (NM)


Stem cell research as part of preventive healthcare

My health care plan [focuses on] prevention. It's starting early with kids. It's getting rid of junk food in schools, as I did in New Mexico; a healthy breakfast for every child, mandatory phys ed, research into Alzheimer's, into cancer, into stem cell.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007

Supreme Court model cannot be justice who dissented on Roe

Q: You were asked in the debate who your model Supreme Court justice was, you said Whizzer White, who is Byron White, appointed by President Kennedy. He wrote the dissent against Roe v. Wade for abortion rights. When you were told that the next day, you said, "That couldn't have happened." But it did.

A: I checked up afterwards. White was for the right to choose, but he dissented on the opinion. When I was asked, I shouldn't have said that. I've been in public life 25 years. You're going to find a lot of these.

Q: You disagree with him on Roe v. Wade. Let's do a do-over. Who is your model Supreme Court justice?

A: I would say two: Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who wrote the dissenting opinion on the abortion issue, who I think is a distinguished scholar. Earl Warren, you know, who led a number of civil rights efforts. But, you know, I did not know that record of Whizzer White when I said that.

Q: So we're off Whizzer White now?

A: Well, yeah.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 "Meet the Candidates" series May 27, 2007

Resist any effort to weaken a woman's right to choose

I've been at the forefront with issues that affect women. I fought discriminatory wage policies in the federal government, supported legislation to help women-owned businesses, and voted to fund breast and cervical cancer screening. I have also resisted any effort to weaken a woman's right-to-choose.
Source: Campaign web site, RichardsonForGovernor.com, "Priorities" Oct 24, 2002

Other governors on Abortion: Bill Richardson on other issues:
AK Sarah Palin
AL Bob Riley
AR Mike Bebee
AZ Janet Napolitano
CA Arnold Schwarzenegger
CO Bill Ritter
CT Jodi Rell
*DE Ruth Ann Minner
FL Charlie Crist
GA Sonny Perdue
HI Linda Lingle
IA Chet Culver
ID Butch Otter
IL Rod Blagojevich
*IN Mitch Daniels
KS Kathleen Sebelius
KY Steve Beshear
LA Bobby Jindal
MA Deval Patrick
MD Martin O`Malley
ME John Baldacci
MI Jennifer Granholm
MN Tim Pawlenty
*MO Matt Blunt
MS Haley Barbour
*MT Brian Schweitzer
*NC Mike Easley
*ND John Hoeven
NE Dave Heineman
*NH John Lynch
NJ Jon Corzine
NM Bill Richardson
NV Jim Gibbons
NY David Paterson
OH Ted Strickland
OK Brad Henry
OR Ted Kulongoski
PA Ed Rendell
RI Don Carcieri
SC Mark Sanford
SD Mike Rounds
TN Phil Bredesen
TX Rick Perry
*UT Jon Huntsman
VA Tim Kaine
*VT Jim Douglas
*WA Christine Gregoire
WI Jim Doyle
*WV Joe Manchin III
WY Dave Freudenthal
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty

* indicates election in 2008. See Governor's List for challengers.