Posted on 07/24/2005 10:42:32 AM PDT by Graybeard58
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.
Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told a group of college Democrats that their party has to change its approach in the debate over abortion.
''I think we need to talk about this issue differently,'' Dean said. ''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 Bill 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,'' Dean said.
Still, he added, ''I think that we must be absolutely firm in being the party of individual freedom and personal freedom, which means that in the end the government doesn't get to decide, we do.''
The effort to attract such voters comes as Senate Democrats are preparing for confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. Roberts' views on abortion are being scrutinized.
Dean did not mention the looming confirmation hearings. He discussed the abortion debate after a student questioned why the party was supporting Bob Casey Jr., a Pennsylvania Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.
The chairman tried to draw a distinction between Casey and Santorum, even though both men oppose abortion rights.
''You have to respect people's positions of conscience,'' Dean said. ''I think Bob Casey's position is a position of conscience.''
Dean, a former Planned Parenthood board member, said the difference between his party and Republicans is that ''we believe a woman has a right to make up their own mind and they believe [House Majority Leader] Tom DeLay should make it up and Rick Santorum should make it up for them.''
John Brabender, a consultant to Santorum's re-election campaign, said Dean's distinctions were meaningless.
''It makes absolutely no sense for Howard Dean to attack Rick Santorum unless he's also attacking Bobby Casey,'' he said.
Because they have everything backwards..... :)
"I don't know anybody in America who is pro-abortion.''
How about your sister group, NARAL
You could start by apologizing for driving us out in the first place. No, wait, that would require you to admit that you were wrong for doing so, and fat chance that that's ever going to happen. Democrats only know how to make phoney apologies for hurting other people's feelings, and always with the implicit subtext that those who feel hurt are really being childish for taking offense in the first place, but they (the Democrats) are big enough to say things they don't really believe in order to kiss and make up.
My contempt for the party I used to belong to grows greater every time Dean opens his mouth.
I'll take them a little more seriously when they run pro-life Dems against pro-abort Republicans. Why should a pro-lifer forfeit Santorum's majority and seniority in order to get a frosh Dem in Casey, Jr? Where was he when Specter was up? Where are the pro-life Dems to run against Snowe and Chaffee? Or the ever-obnoxious Nancy Johnson in the House?
Several years ago, I actually voted for Glenn Poshard for Illinois Governor, as I knew that George Lyin' Ryan was no good. Ryan lied about being pro-life, and was even much worse than Poshard on guns. THE CHICAGO DEMS SAT ON THEIR HANDS rather than let a downstate moderate Dem win.
Hmmm Dean, trolling for some of those 'white Christians' you guys have been trashing for the last decade?
"Democrats need to reach out to voters who oppose abortion rights"
HA HA HA. The lead of the article shows that the biased press disagrees in principle.
We favor CIVIL RIGHTS such as the right of that child to exist. MURDER (unless in self-defense) is no right.
If HATE is not a family value (as the homosexual activists tell us), then CHILD ABUSE is not a choice.
I think what the Democrats are realizing is that the concerted effort by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is having a major effect on how Catholic citizens vote. This is a good thing. Contrary to what many people believe on this board, we are not a country with 50% of the population classified as 'evil'. Half of the population is confused and does not know what is going on in Washington. The USCCB is helping the 20% of the population who are Catholics come to a decision. This is a good thing because as a nation we might be able to come to a consensus on this painful and dividing abortion issue. It is also my hope that the USCCB helps settle the death penalty issue. The USCCB is truly the swing vote in American politics right now.
While many think that its hypocritical that the Democrats are keeping certain aspects of the pro-choice ideology, I think it is important to recognize that it is a start. Keep pushing.
I am going to the Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court Party. All us pro-lifers feel great about this new welcome to the Democrat party. (/sarcasm)
If Dean doesn't know anybody who is pro-abortion what's he doing working for the Democrats?
Since I doubt Howie had a mouse in his pocket when he said this, "we do" is the worrisome part. "We do", as in the Party decides what is best, Comrade Howie????
You're right. It is only 42%.
BTW you are way off on the death penalty thing according to your own Bible.
Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man.
"Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed;
Gen 9:5-6
Please note the Shall. Shall is a commandment. Shall does not mean optional.
They are going to have a hard time convincing people , when it is the only thing they have to hammer Judge appointments with.
Somebody got to Howard...
"I don't know anybody in America who is pro-abortion."
I do, Doctor Dean! My Progressive Liberal Democratic Socialist BIL advised one of his happily married female friends who is in her mid-30's, to have an abortion if her amnio comes back showing anything wrong with the child. Funny, all of a sudden she's "pro-life" now that she's pregnant with a child she actually wants. She's just as much of a freak as he is, and even SHE Was p*ssed at him for that.
Trust me. Pro-Abortion people are out there. They're your neighbors, co-workers and sometimes your own family members. And they're not ashamed of it one little bit.
"I don't know anybody in America who is pro-abortion."
Now THERE'S some twisted logic! Lessee, as a Demo you must support abortion "rights" but they are not pro-abortion.
What a bunch of scum, to base one's political philosophy on killing the unborn and a perverted sexual lifestyle. What losers.
Once again, no morals. "We welcome you to our party, because ,no matter what you believe, you will vote Democrat".
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