Obama urges dialogue, not demonization, on abortion

WASHINGTON - President Obama, in perhaps the most controversial appearance of his presidency, told graduates and faculty at the University of Notre Dame yesterday that both sides in the debate over abortion must engage without "demonizing" each other, and can work together to address one of the root causes of abortion - unintended pregnancies.

Tackling an emotionally charged issue he largely managed to avoid during his candidacy, Obama said he doesn't believe the clash over abortion "can or should go away" even though "the views of the two camps are irreconcilable." Yet the "vigorous debate," he said, has to occur "without reducing those with differing views to caricature."

Despite the clash, "we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions," Obama said, drawing one of several ovations from the crowd of 12,000 during the speech. Along with curtailing unintended pregnancies, making adoption easier, and treating opponents with respect, the nation must "make sure that all of our healthcare policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women."

The speech, which was largely well received by the audience, comes at a critical moment for Obama, who was swept into office largely on national concerns over the Iraq war and the staggering economy.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/05/18/obama_urges_dialogue_not_demonization_on_abortion/

President Obama expressed this view. I would think those opposed to abortion would wish to reduce abortion numbers in a sensible way. If they looked at the Netherlands, for example, they would understand that promoting the use of birth control, including the morning after pill, would reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. Why isn't this a logical approach?

I know lots of people who are liberal on most issues, the exceptions usually being abortion and same-sex marriage. Are those people "evil" just because you or I disagree with them on a handful of things? THAT is the point Obama is trying to make.

:D

I know pro-life folks and don't think they're demons, by the way.

although I can see what he's attempting to do with his framing- deals with extremists never work (and it's often none to wise wise to enable or legitimize their positions). Unfortunately, that genie's already out of the bottle and been reinforced through 2 generations of AM radio and the so called "mainstream" corporate media .

If they think abortion is "baby murder" in all cases then you can't really find any common ground in that situation. The reason I think dialogue may be good though, is that the vast majority of Americans support legal abortion at least in some cases. It's because the far right has demagogued the issue that they probably don't support it, as well.

Take "Partial Birth Abortion" for example. Barring a few anecdotal examples I don't think you could seriously claim that women have third trimester abortions unless their health or life is in jeopardy. It's a dangerous surgical procedure and people don't do it unless they have to. If a woman went to a doctor at 8 months and just said I want an abortion any sane doctor would look at her and say "Are you fucking kidding me?".

Yet the right wing gets people to vote for them based on their support of banning an abortion under certain circumstances when abortion doesn't even really happen under those circumstances.