By Lanny Davis
Former White House Special Counsel/FOX News Political Contributor

FOX FORUM EXCLUSIVE

Do women care less about issues than men? John McCain (and Sarah Palin) seem to think, ‘yes.’

But the answer, or course, is no.

Yet there seemed to be that assumption — in my view, if so, patronizing and politically wrong — underlying at least part of Senator McCain’s judgment to select Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee.

It appears Senator McCain hopes that the Governor’s female gender will help his appeal to disenchanted female Hillary Clinton supporters–and Governor Palin explicitly was aiming to do so when she appealed to the “18 million cracks in the glass ceiling” represented by Senator Clinton’s total vote in the primaries.

However, while some Hillary supporters may still not have completely gotten over their disappointment at her loss to Senator Obama, or his failure to pick her as his VP choice, is it likely they will be attracted to vote for a McCain-Palin ticket because Governor Palin is a woman — even after they learn that the Governor (who if elected will be –by constitutional definition — one heart beat away from the presidency), opposes the right of a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy under all circumstances, even if caused by rape or incest in the earliest stages of pregnancy?

I don’t think so.

Of course there are a few extreme, angry voices who claim to be former Hillary supporters ready to vote for Senator McCain. Some of them who have talked to me claim not to “believe” Roe will be overturned. They are, of course, in denial. But these are a small sliver of former Hillary supporters — despite the usual disproportionate attention they are given by the media.

Some years ago the Supreme Court voted 5-4 (with former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor as the swing vote) voiding any state law that “unduly burdens” a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy where her “health” (including mental) could be adversely affected.

Under a President McCain and Vice President Palin Administration, almost certainly Mr. McCain will be selecting at least one or two new Supreme Court Justices in the next several years. And the Senator has repeatedly publicly stated he is pro-life and anti-choice. Thus, the chances are significant that, if McCain-Palin were to win in November, there will be at least a 5-4 or even a 6-3 Supreme Court majority to overturn the O’Connor –led Court decisions and standards upholding the right to choose.

If such Supreme Court reversals occur, then state governments will be allowed to bar an abortion — consistent with Governor Palin’s views — even in the case of rape and incest in the first few weeks of pregnancy. And, in states with strong anti-choice constituencies, we could go back to the pre-Roe v. Wade days where women, especially poor women, were forced to go to the unclean, and dangerous “back alleys” to terminate pregnancies and physicians caught performing them could be jailed for criminal offenses.

How many female Hillary Clinton supporters (whom polls show are strongly pro-choice) today know this? How many today know that Governor Palin would, in effect, support requiring them or their daughters or female friends to have a baby that is the product of rape or incest? And knowing these facts, how many would still be inclined to vote McCain-Palin because Palin is a woman?

I don’t think many.

Some women may like Sarah Palin. Men too. Based on first impressions, I already do. But I believe women vote for someone who shares the same views on the issues they care about, not primarily based on gender–at least as much as men do.

Do John McCain and Sarah Palin really think otherwise?

If they do, they are likely to be disappointed.

Stay tuned.