Antiabortion-Rights Lawmakers Decry Health Reform In March For Life Speeches

Twenty-one members of Congress joined thousands of antiabortion-rights protesters Friday for the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., to protest the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, the Washington Times reports (Duin, Washington Times, 1/23). Speakers at the rally credited abortion-rights opponents for leading the fight against Democrats' health reform bills. "We have just won a debate on health care in that they are not going to have abortion funding in this bill and that's because of your interest in it," Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), a longtime abortion-rights opponent, told rally participants (Hooper, The Hill, 1/23). Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said, "Huge majorities are in our favor, especially on funding of abortion." He added, "A lot of members of Congress have realized that the numbers have shifted" (Washington Times, 1/23). Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (La.), the sole Republican to vote for the House reform bill (HR 3962), also joined the march. Cao said that he would not vote for any bill containing the Senate bill's (HR 3590) abortion language. "I've always been a pro-life advocate," Cao said, adding, "We should not be funding abortion in the health care bill" (Shields, Baton Rouge Advocate, 1/23).

For antiabortion-rights activists unable to attend the protests, organizers from the group Americans United for Life sponsored a "Virtual March for Life" in which protesters could create digital avatars to march along a Google Maps version of the National Mall (Wan, Washington Post, 1/23). As of Thursday evening, 56,000 people had signed up for the virtual march, according to Charmaine Yoest, president of AUL.

Abortion-rights supporters also held a virtual event. NARAL Pro-Choice America sponsored the fifth annual Blog for Choice Day encouraging bloggers to describe what the phrase "trust women" means to them, according to NARAL spokesperson Ted Miller. "We know that not everyone can lobby a member of Congress in Washington," Miller said, adding that the blog event allows participants "to explain why they're pro-choice in their own words" (Bazar, USA Today, 1/22). A few abortion-rights supporters gathered in front of the Supreme Court, the Washington Post reports. The National Organization for Women said in a statement, "To those who tell us we should be willing to give up abortion rights in order to get other health care reforms, we respond with a resounding 'No.'"

In contrast to President George W. Bush -- who often greeted marchers with personal messages supporting their cause -- President Obama issued a statement affirming his support for abortion rights. "I also remain committed to working with people of goodwill to prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and families, and strengthen the adoption system," he said (Washington Post, 1/23).

On NPR's "Tell Me More," host Michel Martin interviewed Serrin Foster, a member of the group Feminists for Life, to discuss the group's goal of "finding alternatives to abortion" (Martin, "Tell Me More," NPR, 1/22).

Post Columnist Offers First-Hand Account of Young Protesters

In an opinion piece recounting his thoughts on young protesters at the march, Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney writes, "The antiabortion movement feels it's gaining strength, even if it's not yet ready to predict ultimate triumph, and Roe supporters (including me) are justifiably nervous." According to McCartney, roughly half the crowd appeared to be younger than age 30, with many protesters carrying signs reading, "We are the pro-life generation." Many of the teenage protesters were bused in from Roman Catholic schools, McCartney reports. Amanda Pelletier, a co-director of an abortion-rights group at American University, told McCartney, "Unfortunately, I feel my generation is a little complacent" on abortion rights. "It just doesn't seem to be a very hip issue," she said (McCartney, Washington Post, 1/24).


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