Has the wakeup call finally arrived?
Oberstar helping Democrats reach out to abortion opponents
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Jim Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat who opposes legalized abortion, is helping the party's effort to broaden its base by reaching out to other abortion opponents.
"I just feel that the party needs to be neutral on the subject, or at least welcoming of those who have a different view," Oberstar said.
Democrats opposed to abortion are still chafing from a slap at the 1992 Democratic Convention, where Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey, who opposed abortion, was kept from the podium. He died in 2000.
"It was an unnecessary poke in the eye," Oberstar said.
Oberstar and other House Democrats who oppose abortion recently met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.
"The Democratic Party is a pro-choice party. That has not changed. But we can't afford to write people off," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "We need to reframe the debate."
Dean, a former presidential candidate, supports legalized abortion but has talked about broadening the party's appeal to socially conservative voters.
"What Oberstar is trying to do is a pretty big deal," said Larry Jacobs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota. "Even though it's a subtle shift, it's potentially a real flash point."
Anti-abortion Democrats are drafting a bill in Congress aimed at reducing the number of abortions in the country by 95 percent over 10 years, primarily by stressing adoption. It's known as the "95-10 Initiative."
Oberstar estimated that when he first came to Congress 30 years ago from the state's Iron Range, there were 138 House Democrats opposed to abortion. He said the numbers is now about 38.
"Those other 100 districts haven't stopped sending representatives to Congress," Oberstar said. "They're just not sending Democrats."
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
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It will be interesting how this plays out. There are many one-issue voters (myself included) who vote for life; knowing all the time that the power brokers on the left would never allow the democrats to be "pro life." Will the wolves be able to successfully garment themselves in sheep's clothing?
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