Reply #54: Pro-Choice is an Albatross Around the Party's Neck

[tmorelli415]

Roe v. Wade is not going to be overturned anytime soon, and even if it was the issue would revert to the individual states to decide. Republicans in Congress aren't in any hurry to lose the abortion issue, and a bill to completely outlaw abortion would never pass.

The Democratic party has been held hostage to NARAL and other abortion rights groups for too long. There is plenty of room for differing opinions on the issue, as with all platform issues. So why not be 'more welcoming' to pro-choice than moderates or pro-life voters? Because the pro-choice people are not going to bolt the party if it becomes more centrist in its stance toward abortion! Where are they going to go? Vote for Republicans? There are not enough single-issue pro-choice voters to be concerned over even if they did decide they would stop supporting the party for taking a centrist stand. And those who would abandon the party for taking a nuanced stand on a complicated issue like abortion are clearly just trying to hold the party hostage and we should let them go if that is what they want to do! They have no other viable option but to support the Dems, or lose all access to power. The pro-choice lobby is a huge albatross around our neck!

We're just playing into the Republicans' hands if we keep harping on this non-issue - they use it to drive natural Democratic constituencies out of the party and win elections. ***NEWS FLASH!!!*** Dateline 1973! Abortion is legal! We won! But the debate has gone on for 30 years non-stop and it has been our undoing. How about we take 'yes' for an answer and MOVE ON!

The issue is not abortion - the issue is privacy and freedom. The discussion should stop focusing on abortion policy, parental notification policy, etc. and be raised to the core Democratic value of individual PRIVACY and FREEDOM from government intervention in our private lives.

Allowing other viewpoints into the party will negate the argument that Democrats are the 'pro-abortion party' - instead both parties would have a variety of viewpoints on the issue and it would be neutralized. Thus allowing us to talk about INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM and PRIVACY. Republican-Lite? Not at all! Centrist means we support the privacy issues that surround healthcare decisions (including abortion). Republicans want to stick their noses into the patient-physician relationship, into our bedrooms, and up our collective national a**. Big difference.

This values platform works across the board and raises our argument out of complicated social policy discussion. It covers many many issues - not just abortion, but also gay relationships, feeding tubes, library books and sexuality. Privacy issues should remain private - hollering about them individually is just going to make people uncomfortable and that is what we've done wrong. Most people support pro-choice policy, but they are conflicted in that they find abortion very disturbing. Same with issues like homosexuality and assisted suicide. We're getting clobbered on those issues even though our policy is supported by the majority. There's a reason why our grandmother's said certain things were better left out of the conversation at the dinner table! PRIvACY and FREEDOM from government intrusion in our personal lives is the mantra - leave it at that! The Republicans will lose big if we raise the dialog out of policy and into the values that have always guided the party!

The Pro-Choice argument has not worked for us. We need to drop it once and for all and get back to talking about the core values of our party. Mark my words - there will never be a day when abortion is totally outlawed in this country - never never never! It is a political impossibility!

It is time to move on! Howard is right.