On April 18, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Federal Abortion Ban in a 5-4 ruling.  The ban, which has no exception for women's health, opens the door for further political interference in our personal, private medical decisions. 

Many of the presidential candidates released statements on this seismic shift in law, which marks the first time the Court has ignored Roe v. Wade's mandate that women's health be protected. Please read below to find out where many of them stand.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton
"This decision marks a dramatic departure from four decades of Supreme Court rulings that upheld a woman's right to choose and recognized the importance of women's health. Today's decision blatantly defies the Court's recent decision in 2000 striking down a state partial-birth abortion law because of its failure to provide an exception for the health of the mother. As the Supreme Court recognized in Roe v. Wade in 1973, this issue is complex and highly personal; the rights and lives of women must be taken into account. It is precisely this erosion of our constitutional rights that I warned against when I opposed the nominations of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito." (Source)

Christopher Dodd
"Throughout my career I have believed that abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. I am deeply troubled by today's Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the Partial Birth Abortion Act of 2003, a decision which will needlessly endanger women's health throughout the country. I voted against this legislation in 2003 because it did not include an exception to allow this type of medical procedure when a mother's health is at risk. In overturning long-standing Supreme Court precedent, today's decision will create uncertainty throughout the country for women and doctors on what medical procedures are legal, and will undermine their ability to decide what is most appropriate for a patient's health, free from politics. While I am disappointed by today's decision by the Supreme Court, it has renewed my pledge to continue to support a woman's right to reproductive choice." (Source)

John Edwards
"I could not disagree more strongly with today's Supreme Court decision. The ban upheld by the Court is an ill-considered and sweeping prohibition that does not even take account for serious threats to the health of individual women. This hard right turn is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election. Too much is at stake -- starting with, as the Court made all too clear today, a woman's right to choose." (Source)

Barack Obama
"I strongly disagree with today's Supreme Court ruling, which dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women. As Justice Ginsburg emphasized in her dissenting opinion, this ruling signals an alarming willingness on the part of the conservative majority to disregard its prior rulings respecting a woman's medical concerns and the very personal decisions between a doctor and patient. I am extremely concerned that this ruling will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman's right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade, which is established federal law and a matter of equal rights for women." (Source)

Bill Richardson
"Today the Supreme Court took a dangerous step backward in regard to Americans' rights to personal choice and privacy.  In doing so, the Court disregarded the opinion of experienced and respected medical professionals who oppose the ban because there are no exceptions protecting women's health. While not unexpected, I believe this unfortunate decision is a clear signal that the Supreme Court is opening the door to further challenges to personal medical decisions between patients and doctors that should not involve the government.  I am concerned, as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated so clearly in her dissenting opinion, that this vote could be the beginning of 'an effort to chip away a right declared again and again by this court'.  I sincerely hope that is not the case." (Source)

Republicans

Sam Brownback
"I am very pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the ban on partial birth abortions.  This ban was enacted to put an end to one of the most grotesque forms of abortion, and it is completely in line with the respect for life that is at the very heart of our Constitution. This is a great step forward for our nation's citizens, born and unborn.  I applaud the Court for finding that the constitution 'expresses respect for the dignity of human life,' and hope that this decision signals the Court's willingness to revisit and reverse Roe v. Wade." (Source)

Rudy Giuliani
"The Supreme Court reached the correct conclusion in upholding the congressional ban on partial birth abortion. I agree with it." (Source)

John McCain
"Today's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary. The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children. It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures. As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life."  (Source)

Mitt Romney
"Today, our nation's highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us." (Source)