Obama Can Unite Abortion-Rights Supporters And Opponents, Sen. Casey Says At Convention

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 28 Aug 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.), who is Roman Catholic and opposes abortion rights, said in a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver Tuesday that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) can unite supporters and opponents of abortion rights, the New York Times reports. The invitation is part of a broad effort by the Obama campaign to reach out to religious voters, as well as Democrats and independents, who oppose abortion rights, according to the Times (Broder, New York Times, 8/27).

Although Casey only spoke briefly about the issue of abortion rights, it was intended to send the message that Obama supports abortion rights but also accepts those who do not, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Casey said, "Barack Obama and I have an honest disagreement on the issue of abortion," adding, "But the fact that I'm speaking here tonight is testament to Barack's ability to show respect for the views of people who may disagree with him" (Hefling, AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 8/26). "I know Barack Obama," Casey added, "And I believe that as president, he'll pursue the common good by seeking common ground, rather than trying to divide us."

Chris Korzen -- executive director of Catholics United, a progressive group that opposes abortion rights -- said he welcomed Casey's appearance and his message. "There was a time when the Democratic tent wasn't big enough to include pro-life Catholics," Korzen said in a statement, adding, "Sen. Casey's speaking role is a clear signal that those days are over. We are hopeful that tonight's address will begin to heal the deep divisions that exist in our country, and pave the way for common ground efforts to reduce abortion" (New York Times, 8/27).

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, also spoke Tuesday at the convention, casting Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) as an "enemy of women's health care," the Austin American-Statesman reports. Richards said McCain has voted 125 times on the wrong side of health issues, including votes against family planning funding and comprehensive sex education. Richards added that "five men in black robes don't know better than women what's best for their health care" (Selby, Austin American-Statesman, 8/27).

Abortion-Rights Opponents Protest at Convention

In related news, 13 abortion rights opponents, including Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry, were arrested Tuesday during an orchestrated demonstration in which they blocked a security gate near the Pepsi Center, the site of the convention in Denver, the AP/Washington Examiner reports. According to the AP/Examiner, prior to the convention, Terry met with Denver police and then publicly announced he planned to be arrested. When Terry and the protesters arrived at a designated corner Tuesday, one dozen police were waiting on the opposite corner. He told the group that they were going to walk down the block to the Pepsi Center gate and sit in the street and pray, adding that the police would warn protesters three times that they would be arrested (Slevin, AP/Washington Examiner, 8/26).

Having been denied entrance to the gate, Terry said, "The police are enforcing the laws of obstructing traffic, yet they won't enforce the laws against the killing of children." According to the Denver Post, the group remained in jail Tuesday night, refusing to post bail (McPhee, Denver Post, 8/27).

Earlier Tuesday, a group of about 50 abortion-rights opponents also unfurled a large sign on a mesa west of Denver that equated the convention with abortion. However, the advocates later removed the sign at the request of authorities, and county officials have not decided whether to issue any citations (AP/Washington Examiner, 8/27).


AP/Google.com Examines Role of Religious Leaders and People of Faith at Convention

The AP/Google.com on Tuesday examined the participation of religious leaders and people of faith at the convention. According to the AP/Google.com, although there have been challenges to the Democratic Party's support of abortion rights, several faith figures taking part in convention events have said they want to go beyond talk about how faith and values inform longstanding Democratic policies. They also are calling for change on core Democratic issues, which could "create tension," the AP/Google.com reports, (Gorski, AP/Google.com, 8/27).

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