Much has been made of the Democratic Party's new platform plank on abortion. Jim Wallis has hailed the new language as "an historic step forward." Is it?
Well, Sen. Obama says that "words matter," so let's examine the actual words. It is true that the Democrats did add language stating that the party "strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre and post natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs." This is good to know and does provide a certain moral symmetry to their promotion of tax-funded abortions through their support of "a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay."
Some observers, however, believe that the Democrats' abortion stance is actually more liberal than before. The Wall Street Journal's Naomi Schaefer Riley proclaimed that it appeared that "the Democrats have accomplished the impossible: they have moved to the left on abortion" (Wall Street Journal, Aug. 20. 2008).
Why would Ms. Riley and others say this? It could be because the Democratic Party's Platform plank on abortion strengthens its support for Roe v. Wade by stating that it "strongly and unequivocally" supports Roe and that they "oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right." The key words here are "unequivocally" and "any and all." These words taken together are about as inclusive an assertion of an absolute right to abortion as the English language is capable of mustering. Opposition to "any and all" attempts "to weaken or undermine" a woman's right to an abortion would include opposing bans on partial birth abortion.
While adding this incredibly expansive language, the platform writers also removed the "Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare" language found in the Democrats' 2004 Platform. No wonder that NARAL Pro-Choice America rhapsodized that the new platform language reaffirmed "in the strongest of terms" the "Democratic Party's solid commitment to a woman's right to choose."
Yes, words do matter. I applaud the efforts of those who tried to push the Democratic Party Platform in a pro-life direction. Alas, in spite of their efforts, the Democrats took one step forward and two steps back when it comes to protecting our nation's unborn citizens.
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Diana Butler Bass is a religion scholar and author of Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith. She blogs at 
Tony Campolo is Professor Emeritus at Eastern University and author of The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice, with Mary Darling. He blogs at 
Rod Dreher is a columnist for The Dallas Morning News and author of Crunchy Cons: The New Conservative Counterculture and Its Return to Roots. He blogs at 
Bruce Feiler is the author of seven books, including Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses. He blogs at 
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David Kuo served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and is the author of Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction. He blogs at 
Dr. Richard Land is president of The Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and author of The Divided States of America? What Liberals AND Conservatives are missing in the God-and-country shouting match!
Michele McGinty is a mom and a student at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. She blogs at 
Brian McLaren is a pastor, musician, and author of Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope. He blogs at 
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Jim Wallis is executive director of Sojourners/Call to Renewal and author of God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. He blogs at
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