NO BACKSLIDING ALLOWED:

Democrats: Abortion opponents seem to be making some inroads (David D. Kirkpatrick, February 20, 2005, New York Times)

[A]bortion-rights advocates warn of a bigger revolt within the party if its members start compromising on new abortion restrictions such as parental notification laws or the fetal-pain bill. Karen Pearl, interim president of Planned Parenthood, said some of her allies were saying that "to the degree that the Democrats move away from choice, that could be the real birth of a third-party movement."

But Pearl added, "When the day is done, I don't believe they will backslide."

In a New York Times poll last month, 36 percent of respondents said abortions should be generally available, 35 percent said the procedure should be available but under stricter limits and 26 percent said abortions should not be permitted.

The financial balance sheet is much more one-sided. Single-issue abortion-rights groups gave more than $1.4 million in the 2004 elections to candidates for national office, more than twice as much as the total from groups opposed to abortion rights, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In addition, Emily's List raised $34 million for female candidates who support abortion rights, according to the center. By comparison, the National Right to Life Committee, the largest donor opposed to abortion rights, raised about $1.7 million.

If Democrats don't remain the Death Lobby the Greens or some other party will certainly rise to their Left.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 21, 2005 12:28 PM