July 23, 2005
Dean Urges Democrats to Reach Out to Pro-LifersThis is a fascinating thing:
WASHINGTON -- Democrats need to reach out to voters who oppose abortion rights and promote candidates who share that view, the head of the party said Friday......"I think we need to talk about this issue differently," said Dean. "The Republicans have painted us as a pro-abortion party. I don't know anybody in America who is pro-abortion."
Dean's approach echoed similar arguments advanced in recent months by former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.
"We do have to have a big tent. I do think we need to welcome pro-life Democrats into this party," said Dean.
Well, Dean, you're not exactly right about that - while you wont find too many people in America who say they are pro-abortion, the operational facts of life about your Party is that it is pro-abortion...and the home of various pro-abort groups such as NARAL, PFAW and NOW. You see, it isn't how you talk about abortion, but what you do about it which causes you your electoral grief.
If I may, I'd like to pass on a bit of advice - while a broad majority of Americans are unwilling to ban abortion, a huge majority also wishes for there to be strict controls on the practice...you know, things like waiting periods, parental consent laws, full disclosure about risks, a ban on late-term abortions...these are commonsense positions which only a few fanatics on the left reject. The unfortunate thing is that this tiny minority of leftwing fanatics dictate abortion policy for the Democratic Party. You might want to drop a few leftwing fanatics - and their donations - in order to appeal to the moderate middle on the abortion issue.
I've no worries about offering such advice - first off, if it were to be taken, it'd be a good thing for the country as a whole; we'd put an end to the hate-filled and divisive politics of abortion which, for instance, is about to put us through the political wringer in the matter of a Supreme Court appointment. Secondly, I know the advice wont be taken - Dean, Hillary and other Democrats desperate for a win will talk a great deal about talking different on abortion...but where the rubber meets the political road, we'll find our Democrats on their knees to the pro-abort lobby groups.
Posted by Mark Noonan on July 23, 2005 02:56 AM
Comments
Great commentary.
On a slightly different note, I'd like to share this commentary about abortion.
I was driving along Ocean Parkway by Jones Beach and along the dune a sign was posted: KEEP OFF... TURTLES NESTING. The first thing that came to my mind was how lucky this unborn turtles are. Wouldn't it be great if the liberal left can afford the same protection to an equally helpless unborn child?
It really bothers me that we as a nation can pass laws that protect the owls, turtles, caribous, striped bass etc. but we can't pass one that protects an unborn human? How sad is that.
Posted by: JAG at July 23, 2005 11:16 PM
Well said!
The Democrats complaining that people paint them as "the party of Abortion" sound like Michael Jackson lamenting that people think he's odd. Well, DUH!
Posted by: Christina at July 24, 2005 12:24 AM
No matter how Democrats decide to ultimately "talk about" abortion, folks are keen enough to know that whatever they choose to "call it", vacuum-extracting life from a womb is just that. As a matter of fact, I think Republicans should talk more about what happens when an abortion is performed; they aren't specific enough. What liberals call a mass of tissue should be countered by us "anti-choice" extremists with full descriptions, and pictures, of what really happens when the "procedure" is performed.
Posted by: Christian Farley at July 25, 2005 12:33 PM
