NYT: Democrats Weigh De-emphasizing Abortion as an Issue

[quaoar]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/politics/24abortion.html

By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: December 24, 2004


WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 - Democratic leaders say their party needs to de-emphasize the issue of abortion rights, concerned that Republicans have hurt the Democratic Party by portraying it as an uncompromising champion of abortion.

In interviews and public appearances since Election Day, Democratic officials have said that the party should open its doors to abortion opponents and that candidates should make abortion a less central focus of future campaigns.

Party leaders said they were not abandoning their fundamental support for abortion rights, but said Democrats should consider accepting some restrictions that enjoy popular support - like parental notification when teenagers receive abortions.

The remarks, taken together, amount to a significant reassessment of a touchstone issue of the Democratic Party after an election in which President Bush won a second term and his party strengthened its hold on Congress.

[7th_Sephiroth]

1. noooooooooo

2005= 1955

[Maat]

5. O.K. ...... I'm not pleased either.

They back off from supporting reproductive rights, and they certainly aren't going to get my support. I may or may not vote for their candidate ... but the money pot just dried up.

For a number of reasons:

1) Most terminations take place in the 1st trimester,

2) most people use the Morning After Pill and DNCs and RU-486, and ..

3) the rest of the terminations are very, very rare, and occur for very, very good reasons - ALREADY.

And, those procedures that have to be done post-first-trimester usually involve tragic situations - and should be medical decisions between a woman and her doctors.

As I've said ... I have no interest in supporting a party that this a carbon copy of the hard right.

[brainshrub]

2. I have no problem with "less central"

But if you want to overturn Roe v. Wade, you're not a Democrat.

I do not think an abortion is the right choice, but I refuse to allow this country to set up a legal framework that will make a womans body the property of the state.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

3. De-emphasize, fine

Change position on abortion rights? Absolutely not!

[Politicub]

4. Sigh

I thought we were 'uncompromising champions of choice.' The NY Times full well knew it was allowing the right to frame this argument when it said champions of abortion. It's about CHOICE.

[VegasWolf]

6. is "de-emphasize" code word for run with your tail between your

legs? green party, i'm a coming!!!

[VegasWolf]

7. Democrats admonish saying anything negative about republicans. n/t

[Kurovski]

8. "Democratic leaders" need to secure

the integrity of the vote in this crippled nation.

Every other discussion of how to "fix" the party plays into the hands of the far right.

Ever hear anyone on FOX say, "The Democrats don't know what they stand for"? The kind of horseshit in the above article is exactly why they say it.

There is already a party in place that has shown it will take reproductive rights from woman just as soon as it can. Pretending that you're only "kinda" for abortion isn't going to get the Dems anymore votes.

This kind of crap from the Democrats begins to give credence to the far-out theory that some Dems are all for creating one party rule in this country by morphing into an annex of the Republican party.

[Osamasux]

9. As something I'd change my position on? No.

Is it the dominant issue in my political thought? Again, No.

Would I mind if it was not front and center on the platform? No.

Would I support a RTL 'Democratic' candidate? No.

[w4rma]

10. All politics is local. Just let this issue be local. (nt)

[high density]

11. It seems the media is going full bore to destroy abortion rights

What's the deal here? I think I've seen more articles on abortion in the last week than I had during the entire campaign season.

[Moderator]

12. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1094274