Opinion Pieces Examine Obama's Commitment To Reduce The Need For Abortion

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday published two opinion pieces debating whether President-elect Barack Obama will fulfill his pledge to reduce the need for abortions. Summaries appear below.

~ Alexia Kelley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The time is ripe to break the abortion stalemate," Kelley, executive director and co-founder of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, writes in an opinion piece. Although Obama "supports a woman's right to choose an abortion, his commitment to poverty reduction, affordable health care and addressing the root causes of abortion is encouraging," Kelley writes. She continues that the Democratic Party's platform "[f]or the first time" includes references to the "essential role social and economic supports play in reducing abortion." This approach, as well as Obama's outreach to religious Americans, "bodes well for continued dialogue and the potential for new coalitions and fresh solutions," Kelley writes. She continues that officials should address economic and social issues through a "comprehensive abortion prevention strategy" to "make real progress reducing the number of abortions" in the U.S. According to Kelley, "Reducing the abortion rate by 95% in 10 years is an essential and achievable goal." However, she writes, "[p]eople of faith have a particular responsibility to both collaborate with and challenge the new administration" (Kelley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/14).

~ Jonathan Merritt, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "In years past, abortion has been a black and white issue," Merritt, national spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative writes, adding that abortion-rights advocates "have been villainized as murderers" while abortion-rights opponents "have been called religious fanatics." Merritt writes that the abortion debate recently "has evolved with the inclusion of one simple word: reduction," adding that reduction has "struck a chord with Americans on both sides of the issue." Merritt asks whether Obama will "make good on his promises" to reduce the number of abortions, whether abortion reduction will be a "priority" for the Obama administration and whether Obama has the "resolve to spend the necessary political capital" to reduce abortion. Merritt writes, "Unfortunately, by all indications, the answer to each of these questions is 'no.'" He continues that "Obama has an abysmal record when it comes to abortion," citing Obama's statement in 2007 that he would sign the Freedom of Choice Act. According to Merritt, FOCA "would invalidate almost every restriction" on abortion and would result in "more abortion, not less." He adds that it would be "unfortunate for America" if Obama does not reduce abortion because "[b]oth pro- and antiabortion rights voters have finally found something on which we can agree." Merritt concludes, "If Obama wants to add another mark on the checklist under 'unprecedented and historical,' he will fulfill his promise to reduce the multitudinous number of abortions currently allowed by the United States" (Merritt, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/14).


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