Letters to the Editor
vasumurti
Published Letters: 65
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"safe, legal, and rare"
[Read the article: Former Bush cabinet member as Obama's running mate?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]@grubert:
I still think it would be to Obama's advantage to select a pro-life Democrat as a running mate. Reverend Jim Wallis (of Sojourners, a progressive Christian periodical on the religious Left) recently advised Barack Obama to support a plank in the Democratic Party Platform that would aim to reduce abortions by focusing on supporting low income women and making adoption easier. (This is the 95-10 Initiative, advanced by pro-life Democrats in Congress.) Reverend Tony Campolo serves on the Platform Committee and has issued a strong statement in support of a pro-life position.
A "conscience clause" (appearing in the 2000 Democratic Platform, but not in 2004) which Democrats For Life of America would like to insert into the 2008 Party Platform acknowledges that there are pro-life people in our Party and we respect their dissenting views.
The "conscience clause" reads as follows:
"We respect the conscience of each American and recognize that members of our Party have deeply held and sometimes differing positions on issues of personal conscience, like abortion and the death penalty. We recognize the diversity of views as a source of strength and we welcome into our ranks all Americans who may hold differing positions on these and other issues.
"However, we can find common ground. We believe that we can reduce the number of abortions by 95 percent in 10 years because we are united in our support for policies that assist families who find themselves in crisis or unplanned pregnancies. We believe that women deserve to have a breadth of options available as they face pregnancy: including, among others, support and resources needed to handle the challenges of pregnancy, adoption, and parenthood; access to education, healthcare, childcare; and appropriate child support. We envision a new day without financial or societal barriers to bringing a planned or unplanned pregnancy to term."
If "safe, legal, and rare" becomes the new mantra within the Democratic Party with regards to abortion, I will consider it real progress from the '70s, when pro-choice bumper stickers read "Abortion is every woman's choice."
The 95-10 Initiative
A comprehensive plan that will reduce the number of abortions by 95% in the next 10 years by promoting abstinence, personal responsibility, adoptions and support for women and families who are facing unplanned pregnancy.
The 95-10 Initiative seeks to reduce the number of abortions in America through Federal, state and local efforts as well as support and encouragement to volunteers and dedicated people on the front lines helping pregnant women. Much attention has been given to ending abortion or keeping it legal. We believe that we must do more to reduce the abortion rate by helping and supporting pregnant women.
Preventing pregnancy is an important part of reducing the abortion rate in America. There are several ways to address prevention, but there is no clear consensus because of ethical, religious or personal reasons. There are several bills before Congress that address pregnancy prevention. While we have not endorsed a particular bill, we support finding the most effective way to reduce unplanned pregnancies. We cannot deny that abstinence is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy, but we also cannot turn our heads and pretend that our children are not engaging in risky behavior or the fact that contraception is not 100 percent effective. The Federal government has made a commitment to support prevention efforts and allocated a record $288.3 million in FY 2005 for family planning under title X. The program provides access to contraceptive supplies and information to all who want and need them. A priority is given to low-income persons.
Pregnant women who wish to carry their children to term have not received that same commitment from the Federal government. We support helping pregnant women who wish to carry their children to term but because of lack of resources believe abortion is their only option. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-TN) and Pro-life Democrats in Congress who share this same commitment have introduced the Pregnant Women Support Act (S. 2407 and H.R. 3192) in the U.S Senate and U.S House. The legislation is a comprehensive approach to provide support for pregnant women who want to carry their child to term. Some of the programs included are:
* establish a toll-free number to direct women to places that will provide support;
* collect accurate data on why women choose abortion;
* provide Pregnancy Counseling and Childcare on University Campuses;
* provide accurate information to patients receiving a positive result from prenatal testing;
* provide counseling in maternity group homes;
* increase the adoption tax credit and it permanent
* eliminate pregnancy as a pre-existing condition with respect to health care;
* provide grants for ultrasound equipment;
* support informed consent for Abortion Services;
* increase awareness about violence against pregnant women;
* require the SCHIP to cover pregnant women and unborn children;
* provide free home visits by registered nurses for new mothers.
Finally, we must protect our children by passing the Child Custody Protection Act, continue to promote Safe Haven laws and support funding programs as the Abandoned Infants Assistance.
Democrats For Life of America, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, South Building, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004 (202)220-3066