Abortion bill will generate more support for Democrats

[Woodstock]

All candidates but Gephardt voted against the ban and/or issued statements strongly against the ban.

From the Baltimore Sun:

The legislation, the first limitations on a constitutional right since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, will resonate with Democratic primary voters, especially women. It remains to be seen how they view the individual candidates on the issue.

"When people see Roe v. Wade at risk, they vote for the pro-choice position," said Ellen Malcolm, president of the pro-choice group EMILY's List. "If they think everything is fine, then it's not in the top three. But the minute they think the right of choice is under threat, then the issue rises to the top tier."

Some Democratic activists say the actions of Congress will do more to energize voters to oppose President Bush and the Republicans in the general election.

"It certainly solidifies the position of George Bush and the majority in Congress as being anti-choice," said Kathy Sullivan, the Democratic Party chairwoman in New Hampshire. "In terms of the Democrats, the important thing is that they be pro-choice, not when they became pro-choice."

http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-abortion,0,7445120.story

[Cha]

1. I would think so! As Dr Dean said...

"As a physician, I am outraged that the Senate has decided it is qualified to practice medicine. There is no such thing as 'partial birth abortion' in medical literature. But there are times when a doctor is called upon to perform a late term abortion to save a woman's life or protect her from serious injury. Today the Senate took a step toward making it a crime for a doctor to perform such medically necessary procedures."

[wryter2000]

2. I sure hope so

I'm convinced we have to change Congress, too, and any backlash against the RWers there is good for the country.

[mlawson]

3. I really do not know about that.

The main factor that reproductive rights play in the prez elections, is that a president (legit or otherwise) can appoint RW justices who would eventually overturn Roe. The Dems, so far, have been timid or remiss about making that argument during the election cycle. (Perhaps they suspect that such an argument is over the heads of the average voter.) But there is little evidence that Supreme Court nominations play much, if any role in how people vote, astonishingly.

After all, that consideration apparently meant next to nothing in 2000, 1980, 1984 & 1988!!!! Again: millions vote for the candidate they LIKE best....

[Woodstock]

5. Choice was the deciding issue among female Gore voters

This is from a poll in the Emerging Democratic Majority.

They said they chose Gore over Bush because of choice.

It IS a big factor, particularly among women - and women have provided the gender gap that pushed Democrats ahead.

Do not underestimate this issue.

[Cha]

7. I've talked to Women who always bring it

up as to who they will vote for. It is important!

[mlawson]

8. Then how did Ronnie win 49 states????

And it was a bigger issue then, because Roe was still fresh in everyone's minds. And the 'Moral Majority' made the issue front page, day after day; it really seemed like the repubes would fnd a way to overturn Roe, Ronnie had said he would appoint judges for that purpose, and yet...

[Rowdyboy]

4. We'll gain nothing from this because they've defined

the terms. "Partial-birth abortion" is now the accepted media term. That makes people VERY queasy. The proper term, "late-term abortion" eventually was dropped when the media accepted the Republican spin. They can make "partial-birth" sound like nazis running gas chambers.

Want another example? When did "estate tax" become "death tax"? They define the terms, they win the game.

[Woodstock]

6. they want to overturn Roe v. Wade - we have our own buzzwords to use

and people are smart enough to get the message

we have to frame it our terms, and they've given us lots of ammunition

* no provision for the health of the woman

* overturning Roe v. Wade is the goal of this

* religious right = anti-woman's rights

people want Roe v. Wade (which includes the health provision) and equal rights for women

many people are turned off by the religious right - including Republicans

Libertarians are opposed to banning abortion, as are a good number of Republican women

Bush's numbers are down and he is seen as extreme

don't give up - this is seriously something we can rally the troops around - and use to nudge swing voters in our direction