Posted on 01/24/2005 5:30:54 PM PST by nj26
Proposing new political language about abortion rights for the Democratic Party, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said today that friends and foes on the issue should come together on "common ground" to reduce the number of "unwanted pregnancies" and ultimately abortions, which she called a "sad, even tragic choice to many, many women."
Mrs. Clinton, in a speech to about 1,000 abortion rights supporters at the state Capitol, firmly restated her support for the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, Roe v. Wade. But then she quickly shifted gears, offering warm words to opponents of abortion - particularly members of religious groups - asserting that there was "common ground" to be found after three decades of emotional and political warfare over abortion.
Mrs. Clinton is widely seen as a possible candidate for the party's presidential nomination in 2008, and her remarks signaled that she could be recalibrating her strong identification with the abortion-rights movement as the Democratic Party engages in its own re-examination of its handling of the issue in the wake of Senator John Kerry's loss in the 2004 presidential race.
Ms. Clinton has been a visible and very public defender of abortion rights, appearing at a huge rally in Washington last spring and denouncing what she called Republican efforts to demonize the abortion rights movement.
While she acknowledged in her address today that Americans have "deeply held differences" over abortion rights, Mrs. Clinton told the annual conference of the Family Planning Advocates of New York State, "I for one respect those who believe with all their heart and conscience that there are no circumstances under which abortion should be available."
In addition to her description of abortion as a "tragic choice" for many," Mrs. Clinton said that faith and organized religion were the "primary" reasons that teenagers abstain from sexual relations, and reminded the audience that during the 1990's, she promoted "teen celibacy" as a way to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.
"The fact is, the best way to reduce the number of abortions is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the first place," Mrs. Clinton said.
Mrs. Clinton also called today for the Bush administration, religious groups, supporters and opponents of abortion rights and others to look beyond the abortion rights divide and form a broad alliance on other issues that she suggested as less incendiary: sex-education programs for teenagers that included abstinence education, emergency contraception for women who have recently had unprotected intercourse, and family planning.
The speech was also notable for a stream of statistics and data that, Mrs. Clinton's aides said afterward, were included to underscore her view that the reduction of "unwanted pregnancies" could be a unifying issue for supporters and opponents of abortion rights.
At one point, for instance, she drew gasps from some in the audience by mentioning that 7 percent of American women who do not use contraception account for 53 percent of all unintended pregnancies.
Several women in the audience reacted positively to Mrs. Clinton, whose remarks were interrupted by applause several times and ended with a standing ovation. But they also said her language and themes seemed politically calculated to deal with the abortion "freak-out" among Democrats, as one audience member put it, and reach out to independent and conservative voters in hopes of broadening her base of support for a possible 2008 presidential run.
Bring it on, Hillary! You won't get elected.
But notice that the new head of NARAL refused to meet with Tim Roehmer..
I have a great suggestion to Senator Clinton - help us overthrow Roe v. Wade and I'll take your words seriously. Until then, I regard your words as mere election rhetoric.
Running early, running hard.
Pander bear, just like the bent one.
Hillry is really really reaching these days.... she'll be a preaching full time before the year is out. Lies and deception.
Do not take her seriously no matter what she does.
The last time any Democrat proposed to "come together" to find some "common ground" with the other side, the Democrats bit the hands of the opposition. Liberals, especially Hillary Clinton, cannot be trusted.
TRANSCRIPT: Senator Rick Santorum and Senator Hillary Clinton discussing Partial Birth Abortion
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/863886/posts
Hey Hillary, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, you lying manipulator.
And how come this minor poilitician gets these endless press releases?
Pray for W and Our Troops
Saint Hillary speaks, Amen. (wretch)
There is no such thing as "common ground" with abortion. Either you kill a baby, or you don't.
She's saying all the right things and making the right moves. The Clinton's are smart and tough politically.
She warming up in the bullpen.
"There is no such thing as "common ground" with abortion. Either you kill a baby, or you don't."
Couldn't agree with you more. And we need to make sure that we nominate a candidate in 2008 who also believes that, without any equivocation. Or Hillary's going to be running to our right on this issue, and a host of other issues.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.