Potholes on the Times' Road

It's weird, but I have noticed this - policies confused with principles - in Democratic statements in general for a while now. In particular, in connection with abortion - the remark I remember is "the right to choose is a bedrock principle of the Democratic party". (This was in connection with a discussion about the Republican convention having pro-choice speakers, and Republican treatment of pro-choice politicians generally, versus the corresponding Democratic treatment of those on the pro-life side.)

I was pointing out that the Democratic policy on this represented a big "fuck you" to people who are pro-life, but otherwise find they are closer to the Democrats. The reply was that the Democratic Party could not accept an attitude of tolerance in this matter, because bedrock principle, etc.

Now, I can certainly see, for example, the right to personal privacy being a bedrock principle, and I can frame an argument for a strict pro-choice position based on this principle. But it was strange to see a policy position treated as though it were a principle in itself.

Posted by jaed at March 21, 2005 10:44 PM

"Policy treated as principle." Sort of a fundamentalist position when you come down to it.

Posted by Gerard Van Der Leun at March 21, 2005 11:59 PM