Democrats shift approach on abortion

As lawmakers and candidates appeal to religious voters, their language and policy goals on the issue have a ring of conservatism.
By Stephanie Simon
LA Times

Sensing an opportunity to impress religious voters — and tip elections — Democrats in Congress and on the campaign trail have begun to adopt some of the language and policy goals of the antiabortion movement.

For years, the liberal response to abortion has been to promote more accessible and affordable birth control as well as detailed sex education in public schools.

That's still the foundation of Democratic policies. But in a striking shift, Democrats in the House last week promoted a grab bag of programs designed not only to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but also to encourage women who do conceive to carry to term.

The new approach embraces some measures long sought by antiabortion activists. It's designed to appeal to the broad centrist bloc of voters who don't want to criminalize every abortion — yet are troubled by a culture that accepts 1.3 million terminations a year.

"It's not as exciting as arguing," said antiabortion activist Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life. "But it's the best possible thing for women."

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