So, what is Chris Matthew's position on abortion these days?

[Baitball Blogger]

Just walked in after a busy day and I'm catching a bit of a conversation on Hardball. The word "abortion" came and went, so I don't know how much they went into it the subject. I would be curious to know if his position has changed because I recall he had Patricia Ireland on once, maybe in the early "W" days, and he was snarling at her. For reasons that I don't understand, when she was talking (she is very calm under pressure) the camera angle had his hand in the corner foreground, resting on the table. It looked like he was ready to reach out and slap her.

[Spazito]

1. His position has become one of support for choice, he is pro-choice...

and has actually become quite vocal in opposition to those who want to ban abortion. He has asked those who come on his show very good questions around the issue of legal penalty. Questions like: If abortion is declared illegal, against the law, what legal penalty should be applicable, should the woman be imprisoned? None of his anti-choice guests will answer the question, none of them to date. It is quite telling, imo.

[BigDemVoter]

2. I've never heard that he's anti-choice. . . . .

although I DO suspect he's a big Irish Catholic which may explain it if he is, indeed, anti-abortion. Uggh. I'm not a huge fan of Tweetie's, but if he's anti-choice, I like him even less than I already do. . . .

[Whisp]

4. I think he's one of those weather vane people

that don't really believe in much at all but follow the wind - whatever is popular to whomever he's trying to kiss ass to at the moment and whichever view will sell him the most books or give him the best ratings. Lately he's been pretty pro dem, but I hear he was pretty pro Bush too in a lot of ways that would disgust many of us here.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. At least for that show, he did come across that way. Back then Matthews was a huge

flip-flopper, so it's hard to say. I do recall he had this condescending, stern look on his face throughout the interview. And Ireland was cool as a clam under pressure, smiling and responding to his questions. This was back in the day when the executive office had a direct line to Tim Russert.

[catbyte]

6. He really slammed that proposed NM law criminalizing abortion if a crime victim.

He was as outraged as I am. He might be personally anti-abortion, but he definitely supports pro-choice policy.

[elleng]

3. He supports Dem position, Pro-Choice,

publicly. Privately? Who knows/who cares? He grew up Catholic.

Today discussing nutty legislator, I forget where, proposing insane law making abortion/attempted abortion by rape victim guilty of SUPPRESSING EVIDENCE!

[easttexaslefty]

7. He believes in a woman's right to choose.

He is Catholic and has his personal beliefs about it but he is pro-choice.

[Hekate]

8. He's made it clear he's pro-choice, and it should be legal

He's evolved, as they say. He is definitely pro-birth control. As a Roman Catholic (which he is also clear about) he simply separates Church and State -- that is, Catholic hierarchy can make the rules for Catholics, but not for the law of the land.