Terry Mattingly at Get Religion discusses Democratic efforts to woo Catholics and Evangelicals by making some seemingly pro-life gestures in the new party platform. From Wooing the liberal pro-life vote, again:
The 2004 platform stated:
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.
As Democrats For Life leaders have noted, this language says that to be pro-life is to back a Republican policy stance — period. There is no room for conscience on this issue among Democrats.
Now, the proposed 2008 platform language states:
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.
Even this small of a concession has enraged feminists and other pro-deathers. But does this new platform language make you feel better about the Democrats? Is this enough to make you pro-life Obama supporters feel less conflicted?
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