From the Opinion Journal’s Best of the Web Today in response to this Boston Globe article:
A Boston Globe editorial offers advice to Democrats who "are worried that the party’s traditional support for abortion rights may have contributed to their losses in the 2004 elections." The Globe opines that Democrats can reach out to pro-lifers even while continuing to oppose any and all restrictions on abortion by stressing "three areas of truly common concern that can significantly reduce the number of abortions: adoption, contraception, and compassion."
The Globe’s specific proposals are as follows:
* Reverse "outdated laws" that "still forbid adoption by unmarried or single parents and gay couples."
* Improve "access to reliable birth control," which the Globe suggests would include handing out condoms in high schools, making "morning after" contraception available over the counter, and requiring pharmacists to dispense birth-control pills even if they have conscientious objections to doing so.
* Provide poor women with "support in raising their children"–meaning more-generous welfare benefits–if they choose not to abort.
Whatever the merits of these positions, we’d venture to say that most abortion opponents are not supporters of gay adoption, high-school condom giveaways or bigger handouts for welfare moms. For that matter, many people support legal abortion and oppose these things.
Does Karl Rove now write for the Globe also? The article also has this tidbit.
There are some hopeful signs that both sides may yet reach across the abortion divide. Last month the Republican National Committee’s chairman, Ken Mehlman, who was campaign manager for President Bush, chose Joann Davidson, a member of Republicans for Choice and former speaker of the Ohio House, as his party cochair. The Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, who opposes abortion, has filed the ”Prevention First Act," which would require insurance plans to cover prescription contraceptives, give emergency contraception to rape victims, and fund comprehensive sex education, including discussion of birth control, in public schools.
A member of Republicans for Choice is now the co-chair – arggggg! The Republican Party is starting to treat pro-lifers like the Democrats treat minorities. Lots of nice sentiments going your way, but behind the scenes it is a different matter. Pro-life voters are fast being taken for granted by the GOP. Besides Davidson being an abortion supporter she is also a same-sex “marriage” advocate.
2 comments
Starting to treat pro-lifers like the Democrats treat minorities? No, Jeff. The Republicans have been doing that for decades. It’s been almost 25 years since the Republicans (then under Reagan) promised a constitutional amendment to overrule Roe. Where is it? When was the last time you heard any Republican talk about it?
I can’t get behind a constitutional amendment to ban abortion. Crime is supposed to be presumptively within a state’s jurisdiction. Trying to turn the Constitution into a penal code is going to create more problems than it solves. Overturning Roe would accomplish all that good that the central government is by right capable of in the matter.
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