Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Clinton victory is huge setback for abortion foes Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 17:01:12 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION;ELECTIONS '92 \HD Clinton victory is huge setback for abortion foes \BY Joyce Price \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The pro-life movement suffered a major setback with the election Tuesday of pro-choice Democrat Bill Clinton and the defeats of anti-abortion ballot initiatives in Maryland and Arizona, pro-lifers and pro-choicers agreed yesterday. "The election of a pro-abortion president is certainly a major setback," as were the failed initiatives, said Doug Johnson, federal legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee. Phyllis Schlafly, president of the Eagle Forum, a pro-life organization, admits there's cause for pro-lifers to worry. "Certainly Clinton will use his power to appoint pro-abortion judges and do whatever he can to push pro-abortion regulations," she said. "And he's certain to sign the Freedom of Choice Act." Nevertheless, the "pro-life movement survived Jimmy Carter," Mrs. Schlafly said, adding, "Some feel the pro-life movement does better in times of adversity." The comments by the pro-life leaders followed a news conference by abortion-rights proponents, who savored pro-choice election victories both in the White House and Congress. "We have a clear message that the overwhelming majority of Americans are pro-choice," feminist Gloria Steinem, founder of Voters for Choice, a political action committee, said. "The 12-year Reagan-Bush nightmare is over. . . . We begin today with an immense challenge to undo the damage of 12 years of assault on women's rights, family planning and the right to know about and choose medically safe, legal abortion," said David J. Andrews, acting president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. "Exit polls clearly showed that the national economy was the No. 1 issue," he said. "But there can be no doubt that any underlying concern with many voters - and a cutting-edge issue in some close races - was choice." Evidence of this included the resounding defeats of the Arizona and Maryland ballot initiatives, the election of four more pro-choice governors, and a gain of "at least 20 - maybe as many as 27 to 30 - pro-choice votes in the House," Mr. Andrews said. Mr. Johnson scoffed at Mr. Andrews' estimate of how big the pro-choice gain in the House will be. "But it will be more than 10 votes," he said. Pro-lifers "did well overall" in House races but fell behind primarily as a result of the creation of new minority districts, which he described as "overwhelmingly Democratic and pro-abortion," Mr. Johnson said. Mr. Johnson said exit polling data show that the abortion issue was a "net gain" for President Bush, who is pro-life. "The abortion issue was beneficial for President Bush, but not to the extent necessary to overcome his deficit on the economic issue," he said. But Mr. Andrews pledged that pro-choicers will be urging Mr. Clinton to act swiftly in implementing his pro-choice platform. "During President Clinton's first 100 days," he said, "we will urge the White House to repeal the gag rule on family-planning health professionals; protect women and care givers from intimidation, harassment and threats from right-wing extremists; improve family-planning services and educational programs; introduce legislation to provide health care for all Americans; and lift the ban on fetal tissue research." Pro-choicers also will be pushing for congressional enactment of the proposed Freedom of Choice Act, which Mr. Clinton has pledged to sign, Mr. Andrews said. Pro-choicers say the act would codify Roe vs. Wade, but pro-lifers say it's far more extreme and would "prohibit virtually any state limitation on abortion." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM