Roe v. Wade 29th anniversary
Legendary Supreme Court case continues to surface debate
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the 29th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, President Bush said the nation should set “a great goal — that unborn children should be welcomed in life and protected in law.”

Chuck Kennedy/KRT Anti-abortion protestors march in front of the Supreme Court Tuesday, January 22, 2002, the anniversary of the court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Both supporters and opponents of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision gathered in the nation’s capital Tuesday to press their arguments.

Abortion rights activists used the anniversary decision to call anew for the election of officials who support their stand, while opponents said they would hold candidates to account on this volatile issue.

“When the administration is so anti-choice, it becomes increasingly important for Congress to balance,” said Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which supports abortion rights.

Bush, who was in West Virginia promoting his economic and free-trade agenda, telephoned anti-abortion activists at their Washington rally. It was the first White House support for the group since the last Bush administration. Bush’s father, former President

Bush, regularly addressed the annual march by telephone.

“This march is an example of an inspiring commitment and of deep human compassion,” Bush said over a loudspeaker.

“Everybody there believes, as I do, that every life is valuable, that our society has a responsibility to defend the vulnerable and weak, the imperfect and even the unwanted; and that our nation should set a great goal — that unborn children should be welcomed in life and protected in law.”

Bush called for abortion-rights supporters to be treated “with respect and civility,” but also said he will continue to speak out “on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

“We do so because we believe the promises of the Declaration of Independence are the common code of American life,” he said. “They should apply to everyone, not just the healthy or the strong or the powerful.”

The president reiterated his support for bans on human cloning, public funding of abortion and the late-term procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion. Bush said he favors teen abstinence and crisis pregnancy programs.

He also voiced support for laws requiring parental notification for teens seeking abortion services, but he did not call for outlawing abortion outright.

Both sides said the issue has taken on new importance since Bush gained the White House. Earlier, Bush proclaimed Sunday as “National Sanctity of Life Day” and said “the right to life itself” is chief among the values upon which the nation was founded.

All 435 House seats and 34 Senate seats are up for grabs in November.

The elections could alter the narrow Democratic majority in the Senate or the slender GOP edge in the House. Of particular importance is the Senate, which would have to confirm any Supreme Court nomination by Bush.

Abortion opponents hope that if there is an opening on the high court, Bush will nominate someone sympathetic to their cause. But Bush has said he would not use the issue as a “litmus test” for making judicial nominations.

For the anti-abortion movement, the November elections are about trying to maintain gains made in the past year as Bush backed elements of the anti-abortion agenda, after eight years of Democratic White House support for abortion rights.

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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002