Palin Elusive on Abortion in Couric Interview

'Feminist' dodges policy issues, sticks to conservative personal beliefs
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 1, 2008 2:41 AM CDT
Palin Elusive on Abortion in Couric Interview
John McCain and Sarah Palin campaign at a Capital University rally in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this week.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Katie Couric pressed Sarah Palin on controversial issues in an interview last night and got more personal than policy answers, Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik writes. When asked if it should be illegal for a teenage victim of rape or incest to get an abortion, the candidate said several times that she is pro-life and "would counsel the person to choose life"—but added finally that she didn't think anyone should go to jail for having the procedure.

After being asked three times about the morning-after pill, Palin finally responded: "Personally, I would not choose to participate in that kind of contraception." On homosexuality, the candidate downplayed her church's links to a "gay conversion" group, noting that she has a close gay friend. "She's one of my best friends who has made a choice that isn't a choice I would have made," said Palin. "But I am not going to judge."
(More Sarah Palin stories.)

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