04-01-2000

Abortion: Bush And Gore's Positions On Abortion

Abortion will almost certainly be a factor in the 2000 presidential
election, especially among Republican voters, who have deep differences of
opinion. Abortion is a particularly polarizing issue, fraught with
emotional associations. It would be very difficult for a candidate to
finesse his way through the campaign without drawing attention to his
position-something that Texas Republican Gov. George W. Bush will
apparently attempt. His Democratic opponent, Vice President Al Gore, on
the other hand, will do his best to ensure that abortion does not fade
from the presidential debate.


Another election-year consideration for voters is the possibility that the
nation's next President may have to decide whether to sign legislation
requiring parental consent for abortions or banning
"partial-birth" abortion. He may also have the opportunity to
remake the Supreme Court as a more conservative body, laying the
groundwork for a possible overturn of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973
decision that legalized abortion.


The Gore campaign maintains that Gore's abortion-rights position is one of
his greatest strengths, because it consolidates his Democratic base and
offers a means of attracting the votes of both women and socially liberal
Republicans. Gore's record, both as a Senator and as Vice President, is
solidly pro-abortion- rights. As a Tennessee congressman in the 1980s,
however, Gore cast some anti-abortion votes, and he acknowledges that he
has, in the past, had personal reservations about abortion.


Bush opposes abortion but says that he wants to be "a uniter, not a
divider," who hopes to attract voters from across the political
spectrum even if they disagree with him on abortion.


In the primaries, Bush ranged far to the right in pursuit of the
conservative anti-abortion vote by drawing on support from Christian
conservative leaders, such as Pat Robertson, and by attacking GOP rival
John McCain as soft on abortion. Now Bush must persuade less-conservative
voters that they can coexist with him under the Republican tent, despite
his anti-abortion beliefs. Bush has the support of anti-abortion groups,
such as the National Right to Life Committee, which can only add to the
discomfort of Republicans who support choice. But Bush has demonstrated an
ability to sidestep potential hazards, such as last summer's drug-use
rumors. If he can keep abortion off the front burner-and deflect the
inevitable attacks from the Gore camp-he may be able to gather enough
support from the center to win. That will require both political dexterity
and careful strategy.


Gore has made his position clear: He will not allow Roe vs. Wade to be
overturned. "Choice is probably the pre-eminent social issue,"
said Gore campaign spokesman Douglas Hattaway. "It's clearly a
problem for Bush among women and others who want a more mainstream
[candidate]." Gore's record since 1990 shows consistent support for
abortion rights: In the Senate, he co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act,
which sought to codify Roe vs. Wade. An opponent of attempts to restrict
Medicaid funding for abortions, Gore has said he would sign a bill to
increase it. He opposes laws that would require parental notification or
consent and has said he would allow partial-birth abortion if necessary to
protect the mother's life. The Clinton Administration has increased
family-planning funding by more than 20 percent since fiscal 1993.


Gore's abortion-rights position, however, has not always been so solid. As
a Tennessee congressman from 1977 to 1984, Gore received an 84 percent
"pro-life rating" from the NRLC. In the House, he generally
voted against federal funding for abortion, telling a Tennessee voter in
1983 that "it is wrong to spend federal funds for what is arguably
the taking of a human life."


Bush's record in Texas has been consistently anti-abortion. He has pushed
aggressively for abortion restrictions and last year signed a parental
notification law in Texas that requires a 48-hour waiting period before a
minor can obtain an abortion. He has also tried to reduce the number of
abortions done in Texas by streamlining the adoption process and funding
abstinence education. Bush's position on partial-birth abortion is also
clear: He has said he would sign legislation to ban it.


Although Bush supports the idea of a constitutional ban on abortion (with
the exception of situations involving rape, incest, or a risk to the life
of the mother), he acknowledges that Congress is not likely to approve
one. He has also said that as President he would not use abortion as a
litmus test for selecting Supreme Court nominees.


Bush's record on abortion would suggest that he may find it difficult to
gain the support of the moderate Republicans and independents that he will
need to win in November. But GOP pollster Kellyanne Fitzpatrick says that
Bush may be able to pull it off: A candidate's position on abortion, said
Fitzpatrick, is only one of many factors that contribute to voters'
decisions. "The difference is between agreement and intensity,"
she said. Abortion "is not one of the top three most important issues
for [independent voters]. They can countenance a candidate's agreement or
disagreement with their personal position on abortion, so long as that
candidate doesn't highlight that with a big red pen." Fitzpatrick
said independents tend to be far more interested in the economy, health
care, and Social Security. If Bush can persuade a broad range of voters
that he's with them on the issues that are most important to them, then
perhaps he can obtain the needed support.


Gore, who is endorsed by the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights
Action League and has the support of the Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, will surely stress that Bush wants to rob women of their right to
choose. Bush campaign press secretary Mindy Tucker said Bush will counter
by pressing Gore about his support for partial-birth abortions under
certain circumstances. "Many Americans will take issue with
that," Tucker said. Bush will also borrow a tactic from Bill Bradley,
who attacked Gore's early record in Congress on abortion funding.


Bush may cite Gore's shift on abortion to suggest that he'll do or say
anything to get elected. "I think people want to see consistency with
their leaders," Tucker said.


On the Stump


Bush


Final New Hampshire primary debate, Manchester, N.H., Jan. 26 2000


I believe it's important for our party to maintain our pro-life position.
I believe it's important for the next President to recognize good people
can disagree on this issue. And so the next President must elevate the
issue of life to convince people of the preciousness of life, not only for
the young, but for the elderly as well. The next President must lead our
country toward policies that will reduce abortions. I will sign a
partial-birth abortion ban. I will promote adoption. I will promote
abstinence programs in our school systems. The life issue is an important
issue for our party, ... but we must welcome people from different
persuasions into our party, or different points of view into our
party.


I'm a pro-life candidate, and I have been a pro-life governor.... I fought
for and signed the first parental notification bill in my state's
history.... This is a bill that will reduce the number of abortions in the
state of Texas. I also worked with both Democrats and Republicans to
encourage adoptions in my state of Texas.


NBC's Meet the Press, Nov. 21, 1999


I would support a constitutional amendment with the exceptions of life,
incest, and rape. I want to tell you something, though, the country is not
ready for a constitutional amendment. There is no chance, at this moment,
that there'd be a two-thirds vote out of the House and the Senate.


Gore


Democratic presidential candidates' debate, Los Angeles, March 1,
2000


I'm pro-choice. I will defend a woman's right to choose, regardless of her
economic circumstances. I will not allow Roe vs. Wade to be overturned....
Early in my career, I opposed public funding for abortions. I never
supported the criminalization of abortion. In those days, many of us saw
the phrase "pro-choice" as referring to supporting Roe vs. Wade.
I was always attacked in those days for supporting Roe vs. Wade.


NBC's News Forum, Nov. 21, 1999


And I also think it's important to focus on the real issues here, which
include who will appoint the next three justices of the Supreme Court....
[Republican candidates say] they'll turn over the Supreme Court to people
with a point of view that's absolutely in agreement with the extreme right
wing. I will not. I will protect a woman's right to choose.


Position


Bush


* opposes abortion except in cases of rape and incest or to preserve the
life of the mother


* supports parental notification for minors and a ban on
"partial-birth" abortion


* opposes use of taxpayer funds for abortion


Gore


* supports abortion rights


* opposes parental notification laws; op-


* poses partial-birth abortion, except to preserve the mother's
life


* supports Medicaid funding for abortions


By the Numbers


Which candidate, Gore or Bush, do you trust to do a better job handling
the abortion issue?


Gore	     38%
>Bush	     39
Both	      3
Neither      11
Don't know   10
SOURCE: ABC News-Washington Post, 3/11/00


Advisers and Allies


Bush


* endorsed by National Right to Life Committee


* David O'Steen, executive director of NRLC


Gore


* endorsed by National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action
League


* Kate Michelman, president, NARAL


* Elaine Kamarck, lecturer in public policy, Harvard University's John F.
Kennedy School of Government


Piper Fogg

National Journal