Dems' New Abortion Language Courts Pro-Life Moderates

Lots of hum this week about the new abortion language in the proposed Democratic platform, which was approved for submission this past weekend. Here's the old language:

Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay. We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.

And here's the proposed change:

The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.The Democratic Party also strongly supports access to affordable family planning services and comprehensive age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives. We also recognize that such health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre and post natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs.

As CBN's David Brody notes, the new language is an effort to make the Democrats' position on abortion more palateable to moderate Evangelical and Catholic voters who agree with the Dems on other issues. The longer sections on "family planning services" (i.e. birth control) and aid for women who choose to carry unplanned pregnancies are designed to emphasize the party's commitment to minimizing abortions (although the language on choice remains very strong -- NARAL President Nancy Keenan is a member of the platform committee).

Brody writes:

This new language could open up the door for some pro-lifers to at least give the Democratic Party a shot. Any movement that waters down the stringent abortion language from the past is significant.

The anti-abortion blog Lifenews.com isn't buying it, writing that the keeping the "regardless of ability to pay" provision amounts to "unlimited abortions at taxpayer expense."

But not all abortion opponents are so strident. Writing on the Christian site Beliefnet, Steve Waldman says he doesn't think the new language is enough to win over Catholics or moderate Evangelicals, in part because it doesn't make a moral link to abortion reduction (as he believes was implied in the discarded phrase "safe, legal, and rare") and doesn't include a "concience clause" acknowledging varying opinions on abortion within the Democratic party. But Waldman adds that if Obama makes a strong statement about abortion reduction he can still "make real headway" with some anti-abortion voters.

The next hurdle for Obama on this issue will be his appearance at Saddleback Church this weekend. Pro-life undecideds will be watching closely to see if and how he addresses the abortion issue. They'll also be paying attention to other cues, including the speaker lineup at the DNC. It's been rumored that pro-life PA Sen. Bob Casey may be given a speaking slot, which would be a tacit acknowledgment of the "conscience" idea.

-- Evie Stone

2:24 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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