Don't let anyone tell you Tim Kaine is "anti-abortion." He is solidly PRO-CHOICE, with 100% rating

[pnwmom]

from Planned Parenthood and an A from NARAL.

Tim Kaine, like Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, and many other Catholic Democrats, draws a firm line between his personal religious beliefs and his public position as a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose.

By Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood action fund:

http://time.com/4423858/cecile-richards-tim-kaine-hillary-clinton/?xid=homepage

The last few years have been brutal for those of us who believe that women should be able to make their own health care decisions. States have passed hundreds of laws to make it harder to access safe and legal abortion, and Congress has tried repeatedly to block people from coming to Planned Parenthood for care.

Since 2012, I have had the opportunity to work with, and get to know, Senator Kaine. He has been an incredible ally in the Senate, as Planned Parenthood Action Fund has battled back against attacks on women’s ability to access birth control, repeated efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and attempts to block women from accessing care at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Senator Kaine has voted for equal pay legislation and pro-women’s health legislation while in the Senate. He has voted over and over to protect access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers for people who rely on public health programs. And in the most recent stalemate with the Republican-led Congress, Senator Kaine fought for greater family planning resources to address the looming threat of the Zika virus in the United States.

In every one of these battles, Senator Kaine has been resolute and strong, and his voting record has earned him a 100% rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Senator Kaine has long held personal beliefs about abortion, but he does not impose those personal beliefs on public policy. He understands that personal decisions about pregnancy and whether or when to have children belong to women — not politicians.

[lillypaddle]

1. Tim Kaine is a perfect, all-around pick for VP

He is absolutely pro-choice. I have a great deal of confidence in Hillary's judgment.

[mcar]

2. That's right

He's a great pick.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. I expect Kaine is aware of the areas he needs to reach out about and speak to, I assume

that he will. Choice is one of them. LGBT equality is another because he's been a big opponent and the more distance he puts between his past and present the better. I'm sure he knows this.

[unitedwethrive]

4. Honestly, I have the utmost respect for those who are personally against

abortion, yet are wise enough to realize that their opinion doesn't usurp everyone else.

This is the fundamental meaning of being pro-choice.

[pnwmom]

5. "That is the fundamental meaning of being pro-choice." Yes, it is. n/t

[kestrel91316]

6. Exactly. I can actually respect the TRUE pro-lifers who oppose the death penalty, war, and abortion,

but who understand the importance of separation of church and state like Kaine does.

[tallahasseedem]

12. Exactly

This is a great example of the difference in this country and how it should be done. I may not agree, but I know it's a free country.

[JaneyVee]

14. Thats exactly me.

[Barack_America]

7. Why does he speak of his personal opposition then?

What point does it serve?

[cynatnite]

8. Why shouldn't he?

It should be perfectly acceptable to be personally against abortion, but support a woman's right to choose. It needs to be said more often.

I respect this position. It's honest.

[Barack_America]

10. Because he doesn't think it should be a factor in how he legislates.

In that instance, the only reason to mention the personal opposition is to talk out of both sides of your mouth about women's choice, and still appeal to social conservatives.

A simplement, I don't believe it is the role of government to legislate women's choice would have been much more supportive.

[pnwmom]

13. But he is known to be a Catholic and the position of the Church is also well-known.

So he has made clear that he doesn't believe his personal religious view should be imposed on anyone else.

And he has been criticized by priests in the Church for his position.

https://www.rawstory.com/2016/07/angry-dc-priest-insists-tim-kaine-be-denied-communion-for-supporting-womens-rights/

[cynatnite]

15. Considering his record on the subject, he's not trying to appeal to social conservatives...

He's free to speak on it or not, but his record is where it counts.

[pnwmom]

9. He is a practicing Catholic, so he gets questioned about that. And he answers honestly.

He has also been criticized publicly by other Catholics for being pro-choice. It's not an issue he can really avoid.

https://www.rawstory.com/2016/07/angry-dc-priest-insists-tim-kaine-be-denied-communion-for-supporting-womens-rights/

Kaine as “very compassionate, approachable, available, and friendly,” a Washington DC-based priest, a member of the Dominican Order, has told Tim Kaine that he is not a true Catholic and not entitled to receive communion. The issue? Tim Kaine has stated his personal opposition to abortion, but refuses to enact laws as a public official that would interfere with a woman’s right to choose.

The anti-abortion site LifeNews reported that Father Thomas Petri took to Twitter to condemn Kaine. “Senator @timkaine. Do us both a favor. Don’t show up in my communion line.” The priest also told Kaine that his beliefs that women should be priest and that “abortion is fine” makes him either “poorly catechized or a dissenter.”

[tallahasseedem]

11. He has a view that A LOT of Americans

have and that should be celebrated. The fact that it might not be something that one is for but knowing that it is indeed a choice is a big damn deal.