Reader Fred Tennedy writes:
“how can you not realize that the Democratic plank is more pro-abortion than it has been? Any “pro-lifers” who think they are getting even a crumb are truly deceived!”
I think that for pro-lifers the platform was one step forward, one step back. The step forward was language promoting policies that will help make it easier for women to carry a baby to term. The step back was the strengthened advocacy for Roe v. Wade and (arguably) the loss of the “safe, legal and rare” language.
Now, none of this will mean much if Obama himself doesn’t get fully behind this (especially given the controversy over the Born Alive bill). He made some positive comments about it at the Saddleback forum. The next test will be whether the campaign actually issues a plan for reducing abortions and whether he and Biden push the idea more persistently.