This morning National Journal writer Ron Fournier opened a big can of worms when he asked this question:
It always surprises me that otherwise intelligent people seem to struggle with the difference between abortion and capital punishment. Fortunately there were a swarm of people willing to take Fournier up on his offer to discuss the difference. Here are a few examples:
— KnightsofMalta (@JeanValette) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">— Razor (@hale_razor) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">— S.M (@redsteeze) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">A couple of folks pointed out that the question is rarely turned around in the other direction:
.@ron_fournier Have you ever asked the inverse? This exemplifies why the MSM is out of touch on abortion. And I’m pro-choice/death penalty.
— Jason Epstein (@Southfive) January 16, 2014
— Darrick Johnson (@darrickjohnson) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">Fournier responded to that one:
@darrickjohnson Good question.
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) January 16, 2014
It really is a good question and the answer is yes. I jumped in to point out why:
@ron_fournier 39 executions (in 2013): http://t.co/mDwJ8RghJs
vs. ~11,000 late term abortions: http://t.co/Rj898A2On0— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 16, 2014
Someone added some disturbing color to the figures:
@verumserum @AdamBaldwin @ron_fournier Libs fight over drug injected into murders. In a saline abortion baby chokes & burns on saline.
— Jeff Minch (@UberMinch) January 16, 2014
There are of course some who choose to take a consistent view of the two issues:
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">— S D Winkler (@sdwinkler) January 16, 2014
" data-conversation="none" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">Which is not the same thing as saying the cases are equivalent.
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) January 16, 2014
" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">So nearly everyone, including those who oppose both abortion and capital punishment, see a clear difference between the two.
Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt vs. complete innocence.
Dozens vs. tens of thousands.
It’s one thing to suggest everyone should be consistent. It’s another to suggest the vast differences between capital punishment and abortion are obscure or difficult to fathom.