I got curious when I heard John McCain’s sneering reference during this evening’s debate to “health” (he used air quotes) of the mother when it comes to abortion. Turns out he’s kinda flip-flopped on that issue:

On the Issues, a non-profit, volunteer-based group that provides factual information about candidates, shares this from a 2007 Meet the Press appearance:

Q: In 1999, you said, “In the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force X number of women in American to undergo illegal and dangerous operations.”

A: That was in the context of conversation about having to change the culture of America as regards to this issue. I have stated time after time after time that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision, that I support the rights of the unborn.

Q: If Roe v. Wade was overturned during a McCain presidency, and individual states chose to ban abortion, would you be concerned that, as you said, X number of women in America would undergo illegal and dangerous operations?

A: No, I would hope that X women in America would bring those children into life in this world, and that I could do whatever I could to assist them. Again, that conversation from 1999, so often quoted, was in the context of my concerns about changing the culture in America to understand the importance of the rights of the unborn.

And this from the original 1999 Associated Press interview:

McCain said, “I’d love to see a point where Roe vs. Wade is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” A spokesman said that McCain “has a 17-year voting record of supporting efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He does that currently, and will continue to do that as president.”

And then there’s this, from NPR: Misperceptions about McCain’s abortion stance.

Good to know I’m not the only one who was confused. I thought McCain might be more middle of the road and actually balance out Sarah Palin’s extreme view, to prohibit abortion in all cases, except to save the life of the mother. (Unless that would require a late-term abortion, I’m assuming.) Turns out they’re more in line than I thought.