Abortion Groups Square Off in a Live Chat
Aug. 1, 2000 -- — 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?
Lynn Grefe at 4:41pm ET
We started our campaign, and we call it the "pothole campaign." We believe that the abortion plank of the Republican Party creates a major pothole on any road to unity for our party. We came to Philadelphia trying to pave that pothole.
Moderator at 4:42pm ET
Jim Spannager asks: With the latest medical evidence showing that babies do in fact feel pain, doesn't it behoove us to ban a procedure that clearly inflicts pain (equivalent to torture) on unborn babies?
Lynn Grefe at 4:42pm ET
As I said before, we do not support third-trimester abortion. I believe most of your participants think of that procedure as occurring in the third trimester. I can't answer in terms of what one feels, but we don't support third-trimester abortion, when possibly the fetus could feel pain.
I worry about the pain that unwanted children suffer through their lives by neglect and abuse. We are working as diligently as we can to help promote family planning and programs to help prevent unwanted pregnancy. That's one solution we should all be able to agree on.
Moderator at 4:44pm ET
Steven Ertelt writes: Polling consistently shows Republicans are overwhelmingly pro-life. Can you respect the will of the majority, now that the GOP has kept its pro-life platform?
Lynn Grefe at 4:45pm ET
There are a lot of surveys out there. We are now a minority within the party because so many have fled and become Independents. If we could tone down our extreme position I firmly believe that many Democrats and Independents would come back to our party.
The number of people registered Independent is higher than Republican or Democratic registration. You cannot win the national election with only Republican votes. Further, I would like to remind everyone that the last two elections were won by a pro-choice candidate. To put all our eggs in one basket of the pro-life movement has absolutely no history of success.
john from pdx.nwnexus.net at 4:46pm ET
After 30 years we have considered leaving the Republican party over this issue. What about in 2004 — can you foresee any change on this issue?
Lynn Grefe at 4:46pm ET
I can if John is willing to join us in our coalition and become an activist, and all of John's friends. That's how we can begin to counter this situation.
John at 4:47pm ET
Why does abortion, of all the issues in this platform, need an exception? There are Republicans who have differences on the economic issues and they are not demanding a change in the platform. Why does the pro-choice lobby need one? Why are you different from every other issue?
Lynn Grefe at 4:47pm ET
We are different because you're talking about someone's individual rights, much like civil rights. Would you ask the same question during the civil rights movement?
We believe this is a decision between a woman and her doctor that has been upheld by the Supreme Court since 1973. That's why it's different than foreign affairs or building bridges. Women have rights and it's not going to be easy to say to women, vote for me so I can vote against you or your rights.
Seth from ll.mit.edu at 4:49pm ET
I vote Republican (at least I do now) and I'm not anti-abortion. How can I get my party to hear my voice?
Lynn Grefe at 4:50pm ET
I hate to sound redundant here, but the only way people can make change is to work together. For too long, being a pro-choice Republican was considered an oxymoron. We are encouraging people to no longer be silent, join a coalition with like-minded people, and we could then affect campaigns, promote positive legislation, and become a force that might actually bring this party back towards the center.
Moderator at 4:50pm ET
Can a middle ground be found between those who favor abortion rights and those who oppose it?
Lynn Grefe at 4:52pm ET
Yes. Since I believe that this issue does not belong in a Republican Party platform, and that the Party should take no position, the common ground would be that we would truly welcome people on all sides of the issue, respect differing views, and work for the candidates that we choose, that are Republicans. That's how this could happen.
I respect and welcome pro-life people. I encourage them to respect and welcome those that support abortion rights. Then we can work together for candidates of our choosing and get them elected. But we don't need a party to take a position either way.
For example, in Connecticut, a very pro-choice state, this attitude hurts the pro-choice elected officials, and it's very inconsistent with what those voters believe. If in Iowa people are pro-life, then chances are they will elect pro-life candidates. Let's allow the diversity in our country to show itself.
Moderator at 4:54pm ET
Lynn, thank you for joining us.
Lynn Grefe at 4:54pm ET
For those who tuned into the chat, thank you very much, and please tune in to our Web site: www.gopchoice.org, or call our toll-free number at 1-877-467-2464.
Moderator at 4:55pm ET
Coming up next: Janet Parshall, chief spokesperson for the Family Research Council.
Moderator at 5:07pm ET
Welcome Janet Parshall.
Janet Parshall at 5:08pm ET
Hello. Thanks for joining us in our chat room. I'm Janet Parshall.
Moderator at 5:08pm ET
Janet, has the GOP's position on abortion been tough enough, in your opinion?
Janet Parshall at 5:09pm ET
I find the language very acceptable in the platform, calling again for renewed recognition of the personhood of the preborn, and calling for the appointment of pro-life judges. The only exception I read in the platform was for the life of the mother.
The only thing I would change would be to say that there would be no exception. Because of the miracles of modern medicine, we very rarely, if ever, have to make King Solomon-like decisions.
Moderator at 5:10pm ET
Since this issue is so divisive, should it be part of the GOP platform?
Janet Parshall at 5:11pm ET
That's a wonderful question. If we are going to make this a wholly private discussion between a woman and her physician, then why are there so many questions involving public policy surrounding this issue?
As an example: funding for abortions on military bases. Everybody's pocket is picked on that issue. If it's so private, why? Funding for international family planning — not very private. Funding for abortion in Medicaid — not very private. In other words, if it's to be left out of politics, why does it keep working its way back to Capitol Hill?
C Rae from instantinet1.com at 5:12pm ET
How can a party, seemingly so intently against "big government" and its intrusion in the economy, support government intrusion into a woman's womb?
Janet Parshall at 5:13pm ET
I don't see it as the government intruding when one has a pro-life position. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. Government intrudes when it asks every taxpayer to pay for it. Government intrudes when it decides that it is constitutional to take the life of a child who is in the process of being born, as the Supreme Court just did. So it's not the pro-life position that intrudes, it's the pro-choice position that intrudes and demands.
Marcy from saturn.bbn.com at 5:14pm ET
I will have a very hard time voting Republican in the upcoming election. It's because of the abortion issue. How can I trust the Republican president to choose future justices who will be fair and impartial concerning this issue?
Janet Parshall at 5:14pm ET
People who do not subscribe to a pro-life position make up a very small faction of the Republican Party. I would ask in return, how can you not vote for a party that recognizes the worth and value of all people, even those who happen to be currently residing in the womb?
Colin Powell talked about this being the party of Lincoln. During his tenure as president, it was a debate about the personhood of the slaves. Some felt this was property to be bought and sold. Others felt this was a human being to be loved, honored and given liberty. There is a dramatic parallel to the current controversy surrounding abortion.
Samurai from ulyss.com at 5:16pm ET
Many people believe that the majority of abortions committed today are used as "after the fact" forms of contraception. Do any statistics support this?
Janet Parshall at 5:17pm ET
The statistics overwhelmingly support this. We know that over 48 percent of the abortions performed are repeats. By the way, that information comes from statistical data collected by states' departments of health.
We also know that 98 percent of all abortions performed fall into what's called the "convenient" category, with less than two percent making up rape, incest and the life of the mother.
Moderator at 5:17pm ET
Were you pleased at the announcement of Dick Cheney as Bush's running mate?
Janet Parshall at 5:19pm ET
I was very pleased, for several reasons, not the least of which was his 100 percent pro-life voting record. Clearly, George W. Bush sent a clear message on that particular subject with his selection of Dick Cheney. Second, he is a seasoned public servant. Third, he recognizes the importance and the sanctity of marriage. Social conservatives breathed a collective sigh with his selection.
Seth from ll.mit.edu at 5:19pm ET
I saw Bill Buckley speak very eloquently and very academically (not religiously) about the pro-life side of the abortion debate. Who do you think is the best spokesperson for the pro-choice side (GOP)?
Janet Parshall at 5:19pm ET
That's a difficult question, because regardless of the eloquence of the messenger, the message remains deadly.
Moderator at 5:20pm ET
Do you ever see a meeting of the minds between anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights groups?
Janet Parshall at 5:21pm ET
That's like asking if you ever see a meeting of the minds with people who belive in capital punishment. You are not a little bit dead, and you are not a little bit pregnant. I hope that those who promote a pro-choice perspective will help women understand that the choice she makes for abortion is irreversible, has long-lasting ramifications, and can never be undone.
Michael at 5:21pm ET
Why is the GOP involved at all in any "moral" issues? Isn't the Republican party supposed to be about less government, spending less of our dollars? How can we get back on track and leave morality to the community and the individual?
Janet Parshall at 5:22pm ET
Why are the Democrats involved in any moral issues? Answer: Nobody sheds their value system when talking about public policy. Rather, it is a question of whose value system will be turned into public policy.
The Democrats believe that there should be civil unions, as an example, between people of the same sex. That is not merely a political or public policy issue, that is a moral issue. Neither party steps away from morality. You, Michael, have to decide which moral code you want to subscribe to.
Moderator at 5:24pm ET
Thank you for joining us today, Janet. Any final thoughts on this subject?
Janet Parshall at 5:26pm ET
We are seeing a seismic shift in the cultural perspective on the issue of abortion. According to a recent LA Times poll, 75 percent of Americans think abortion is murder. They're just not quite sure whether or not it's OK to say that aloud, and that translates to "foisting your morality onto someone else."
For the first time, a majority of American women, according to the Center for Gender Equality, consider themselves to be pro-life. We may be facing a threatened third presidential veto on outlawing partial-birth abortion, but in the court of public opinion, the jury has rendered its decision, and abortion has been found guilty as charged.
Compassionate conservatism means you love women enough to say, "There is another way. How can I help you?" That's my challenge personally. That's our challenge collectively.
Moderator at 5:28pm ET
Thanks to all those who participated in this chat. Check out our full line-up of GOP convention guests.