In postmortem discussions following another bitter election defeat, Democrats are debating whether their radical and monolithic support of abortion is costing them votes, especially in the “red” states.
Many leading Democrats argue that the party must allow open debate on the issue and they need to make pro-lifers feel more welcome. This is good news for the unborn in America.
The 2004 Democratic National Platform for America points to a party that is committed to abortion. “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.” The platform position closes with the often-cited and meaningless line: “Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.”
It is hard to imagine how a party backed so heavily by abortionists wants the procedure rare. In the 2004 election cycle, 97% of the money that NARAL’s Pro-Choice America PAC gave in political contributions went to the Democrats. In 2002, it was 90% to the party and in the 2000 cycle the number was 94%. The Planned Parenthood Federal PAC also gives heavily to the Democrats. Of all their contributions in the 2004 cycle, 92% went to Democrats; in 2002, the figure was 87%, and it was more than 92% of their PAC contributions in the 2000 cycle.
With this support, it is not surprising the Democrats have a history of shutting out pro-lifers. The most famous example is when the late Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania was not allowed to address the 1992 Democratic Convention because he was pro-life. A more recent example is the Democratic National Committee’s refusal to put a link to the Democrats for Life of America website despite the fact they had 279 links to other organizations.
Only one thing trumps money in politics, and that is consistently losing — and abortion is part of the reason for continued Democrat defeats at the polls. They are perceptive enough to know that included in the “moral values” cited by voters in the November election is opposition to abortion or at least opposition to the more atrocious forms like partial-birth abortion. According to a Zogby poll cited in a recent Boston Globe article, 43 percent of Democrats surveyed view abortion as manslaughter. The defeat of Minority Leader Tom Daschle, a staunch abortion supporter and chief obstructionist to President George W. Bush’s pro-life judicial nominees, also sent shock waves through the party.
The first sign of the Democrats' softening on abortion came in November with the election of Senator Daschle’s replacement for minority leader. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada won the post despite the fact he takes pro-life positions in certain cases. He received a 55% rating from the National Right to Life Committee in the last Congress, which is significantly better than Daschle’s 27% rating. Reid supported the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, the ban on partial-birth abortion, and even voted against a senate amendment endorsing Roe v. Wade.
As Minority Leader, Reid will be critical when the Senate takes up judicial nominations, and especially US Supreme Court nominees. He has already shown a greater cooperation when it comes to these matters. For example, he has signaled that while Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is not someone he favors as Chief Justice, he can accept promoting Justice Antonin Scalia, a pro-life Catholic, to that position.
In another favorable development, the Democrats are considering former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer, a staunch pro-life supporter, for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). During Roemer’s last term in Congress, which ended in 2002, he received a 94% rating from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). The only vote he broke with the NRLC on was a campaign-finance measure and not a life issue. Roemer, a Catholic, voted for the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, voted to ban human cloning, and supported the ban on partial-birth abortions.
In an interview with the South Bend Tribune this week, Roemer said he recognizes his “party is overwhelmingly 'pro-choice.'” He added that as “someone who personally holds a different view, I believe that there must be a place in our party for those who have alternative positions.” Even the stridently pro-abortion minority leader of the US House, Nancy Pelosi, is encouraging Roemer to seek the position. According to CNN, both Pelosi and Reid are backing Roemer for the slot. Another contender for the job, pro-abortion presidential candidate Howard Dean, recognized on Meet the Press recently that the party must “make a home for pro-life Democrats.”
The Democrats for Life of America are actively lobbying for the party to be more inclusive when it comes to pro-life. They have compiled a report based largely on polling data titled, “The Case for Pro-Life Democrats.” It notes Democrats are out of step with most Americans when it comes to abortion and cites the following:
• Over one in three Americans (39%) want stricter abortion policies;
• About two in three Americans (65%) favor a ban on partial-birth abortions;
• An overwhelming majority of Americans (86%) favor parental consent for minors seeking abortion;
• A similar percent (89%) favor informed consent for women seeking abortions;
• About 90% of Americans are opposed to performing abortions in the third trimester (Gallup, 2002).
The report adds, “Despite overwhelming popular support for restrictions on abortion, the Democratic Party continues to be advocates for the small minority of Americans in favor of abortion on demand, regardless of the circumstance.”
Even the normally combative pro-abortion and anti-Catholic president of “Catholics for Free Choice,” Frances Kissling, has changed her rhetoric since the Democrats's debacle in November. In a lengthy article recently appearing in Conscience magazine, she points out that her side has failed to voice any concern for the fetus as a human life. In an effort literally to split the baby, she notes that one of the fundamental values of a good society is “respect for life, including fetal life.” She then asks, “Why should we allow this value to be owned by those opposed to abortion? Are we not capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time; of valuing life and respecting women’s rights?” I’m not sure how it’s possible to “respect” a woman’s right and value life at the same time when the right in question means destroying the life of an unborn child.
Pro-abortion forces in the Democratic Party are not going to roll over and allow their party to become pro-life, however. Gloria Feldt, President of Planned Parenthood, just released an “open letter” urging Democrats to reject Roemer as DNC Chair. According to Lifenews.com, she “accuses Roemer of rejecting the party's ‘core belief that women should have access to the reproductive health care they need. The Democratic Party and its leadership should champion pro-choice values, and uphold the platform's stated commitment to women's rights and health.’”
According to the Boston Globe, Feldt also reacted harshly to Roemer’s comment on CNN that “those who don’t favor bans on late-term abortion have a ‘moral blind spot’ on the issue.” Feldt said, “Tim Roemer is the one with a ‘moral blind spot.’ He is completely failing to consider the women whose lives may be in danger.”
NARAL Pro-Choice America President, Nancy Keenan, also expressed reservations about the future direction of the Democratic Party. She told the Globe, “I don’t think it’s smart to have the Democrats change their position America agrees with. They don’t need to abandon a position on choice.” She added, “I think they need to do a better job defining choice as the mainstream value that it is.”
These pro-abortion forces within the Democratic party will remain powerful for the near future. However, the recent developments are a breakthrough for pro-life supporters. If a vocal opposition emerges in the Democratic Party it makes it much more difficult to paint pro-lifers as partisan Republicans. It will not be as easy for the news media to dismiss the cause as some right-wing religious crusade. They will have to examine the merits of the issue, which they have yet to do since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land in 1973.
Another reason for encouragement is the battle over Supreme Court nominations. Imagine how much more likely it will be that the US Senate confirms a pro-life justice if Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid and DNC Chairman Tim Roemer actively promote their nomination. In addition, it will become common for candidates from both parties running for election to agree on pro-life issues.
We are witnessing a dramatic turning point in the fight for the unborn. This may be one of the best Christmas presents yet.
St. Thomas More, pray for us.
© Copyright 2004 Catholic Exchange
Craig Richardson is the founder of the recently launched Catholic Action Network, an organization committed to calling Catholics to authentic and faithful citizenship particularly on issues of life and family.
