Participation In Antiabortion-Rights Groups Has Had 'Noticeable Spike' Since Obama Took Office

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

President Obama's short tenure has "been like an extended recruiting drive for the anti-abortion movement, reinvigorating a constituency he sought to neutralize during the campaign," Politico reports.

According to Politico, Obama's moves to lift family planning restrictions on international aid, rescind the HHS "conscience" rule and lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research have angered many groups opposed to abortion rights. In addition, some of Obama's personnel decisions -- including the nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) for HHS secretary -- have "caused alarm" among abortion-rights opponents, Politico reports. The Susan B. Anthony List has sent more antiabortion letters, e-mails and faxes to the Obama administration and lawmakers in the first quarter of 2009 than during each of the last two years. The American Life League also has reported a 30% increase in donations over last year. Antiabortion advocates have sent more than 100,000 postcards to Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who is opposed to abortion rights, urging him to oppose the Freedom of Choice Act. In addition, more than 261,000 people have signed an online petition urging the University of Notre Dame to withdraw an invitation for Obama to speak at its May 17 commencement.

Politico reports that although it is "no surprise that Obama supports abortion rights," antiabortion groups have been surprised by the "quick succession of policy and personnel moves by Obama as president" and say these moves "belie the words of candidate Obama, who pledged to change the national conversation about abortion." The Rev. Frank Page, a member of the president's Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said Obama "is losing favor with many who might have supported him at first but have become very disturbed with his actions on pro-life issues." Page said that some antiabortion advocates "have been disturbed with the rapid pace [Obama] has moved to dismantle some of the few protections that remain for the unborn." In addition, Page noted that during his presidential campaign, Obama said he wanted to "find common ground" on abortion-related issues but that antiabortion groups are "not seeing that."

The Obama administration earlier this month began taking steps to "shift the narrative" on abortion-related issues, according to Politico. Melody Barnes, Obama's chief domestic policy adviser, arranged a conference call to kick off the administration's initiative to reduce the need for abortion and announced plans to hold a series of meetings focused on these issues. In addition, Obama has appointed four religious leaders who oppose abortion rights to the Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. White House spokesperson Reid Cherlin said that Obama "understands that this is a difficult issue with strong perspectives on both sides," adding that Obama "looks forward to working with a range of partners to reduce unintended pregnancies, support maternal and child health, encourage adoption and reduce the need for abortion."

Stephen Schneck, a political science professor at Catholic University, said Obama should have implemented his "common ground" initiatives earlier to build trust with antiabortion groups. "From the pro-life side, even among those with a fondness for Obama, it would have been nice to see some frontloading," Schneck said. Douglas Kmiec -- former legal counsel during the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, who supported Obama -- said antiabortion advocates' "time would be better spent seeing the larger picture of the economic and related cultural challenges which face the nation and how the president brings great intelligence and open-mindedness to the needs of many who previously were invisible to the governmental process." However, antiabortion advocates say increased participation in antiabortion groups show something is happening. "A lot of activists are waking up," Joy Yearout, political director of the Susan B. Anthony List, said, adding, "For eight years we had President Bush and his veto pen to protect us -- and we don't have that anymore" (Budoff Brown, Politico, 4/13).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations