Abortion Groups Square Off in a Live Chat
Aug. 1 -- — After unsuccessful efforts by pro-abortion rights Republicans, the platform committee voted Saturday to adopt the same language that appears in the 1996 GOP platform.
The language calls for a ban on all abortions under any circumstances, and proposes the ratification of a constitutional amendment to make that ban the law of the land. Will the GOP's hard line on abortion hurt the Bush campaign? Does this issue even belong in the political arena?
Lynn Grefe, national director of the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, joined us in a live chat to discuss the issue. Later in the same chat, we were joined by pro-family advocate Janet Parshall, chief spokesperson for the Family Research Council. Look below for a transcript of both discussions.
Moderator at 4:30pm ET
Lynn Grefe of the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition now joins us live from the National Republican Convention. Thanks for being here.
Lynn Grefe at 4:31pm ET
I'm just really happy to be here and have an opportunity to hopefully speak to other pro-choice Republicans.
Moderator at 4:31pm ET
What was your reaction to the news that there will be no change in the GOP plank on abortion?
Lynn Grefe at 4:33pm ET
Obviously, we were very disappointed. What we wanted was something that reflected recognition and respect for pro-choice Republicans within the Party.
Moderator at 4:33pm ET
Will the GOP's hard line on abortion hurt the Bush campaign?
Lynn Grefe at 4:34pm ET
I believe it will, unless between now and the election the campaign reaches out in some way to assure women that Gov. Bush has no intention of banning abortion and imposing a litmus test on judicial appointments. That's what women voters will need to hear.
jtholman from dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net at 4:34pm ET
Do you feel that the views of your coalition are representative of those of the members of the Republican party?
Lynn Grefe at 4:35pm ET
Our views are not represented within this convention center. We are a minority within this building. Outside of this convention center, the support for safe, legal abortion is the majority position.
We conducted a survey in January by American Viewpoint. It demonstrated that 65 percent of registered Republicans supported changing the platform on this issue. They said either take all reference to abortion out of the platform, or simply say we welcome all people on all sides of this issue.
Samurai from ulyss.com at 4:35pm ET
What is the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition's position on partial-birth abortion? Does it believe it should be banned?
Lynn Grefe at 4:36pm ET
There is no such thing as "partial birth abortion." That is a public relations strategy that was very successful up until the time it went to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court concurred that there was no such thing as "partial birth abortion."
The doctor who was named in that Supreme Court case, Dr. Carhart, has never performed a late-term abortion in his entire career. People that say they oppose partial-birth abortion really thought they were opposing late-term abortion. We do not support late-term abortion. It's not legal, except to protect the life or health of a woman.
The issue really was about interfering in a doctor's medical decision about how to perform a particular procedure during the first two trimesters, when abortion is legal.
Moderator at 4:39pm ET
Does this issue even belong in the political arena?
Lynn Grefe at 4:39pm ET
We believe it absolutely does not belong in the political arena. It belongs with a woman, her doctor and her God, if she has one.
Alvin at 4:40pm ET
Do you feel the religious right is too powerful a political lobby, and is influencing the Republican platform?
Lynn Grefe at 4:40pm ET
I absolutely do. They are not even Republican organizations. They have access to pulpits that we don't have. I believe somewhere in this whole process we've lost separation of church and state.
Moderator at 4:40pm ET
Marcy asks: Do you foresee a split in the Republican party because of the abortion issue?
