Pro-Life Democrat Tony Campolo Joins Pro-Abortion Party's Platform Cmte

From http://lifenews.com/nat3908.html

Pro-Life Democrat Tony Campolo Joins Pro-Abortion Party's Platform Cmte

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 5, 2008

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Democratic Party has the strongest pro-abortion stance possible, but the Reverend Tony Campolo, author and evangelical leader, has been appointed to the committee that will review the platform. Campolo has vowed to represent pro-lifers “to the highest members of the Democratic Party.”
Campolo says he believes in pro-life issues so strongly that he pledged a vigorous defense at the national convention in Denver this summer.
He says he has received assurances from Democratic officials that the platform committee will hear his pro-life views and that the platform will contain language that addresses the pro-life community's concerns.
He hopes to tone down the language calling abortion a woman's right and he hopes to get members of the party to view abortion as a human rights issue that abrogates the rights of the powerless, namely unborn children.
Kristen Day, the director of Democrats for Life of America, made the announcement in an email to LifeNews.com and she said her group is proud to have Campolo representing pro-life people on the panel.
"Democrats For Life of America is so excited that such a powerful, persuasive and passionate pro-life advocate is now on the platform committee," she said. "We appreciate Reverend Campolo's longstanding commitment to life and we are proud that he will represent pro-life democrats on a national level as our party writes the 2008 Democratic Platform."
"This appointment marks one of the biggest victories of the pro-life political movement and demonstrates the Democratic Party's big tent policy of inclusion for those with differing views on abortion," she added.
"Rev. Campolo made his voice heard in speaking for those who have no voice in books, the pulpit, articles and now as a member of the platform committee," Day told LifeNews.com.
Day said the language Democrats use on abortion in the platform is important and said it can guide thinking on candidate recruitment, legislation and be instructive in other ways.
"We believe that neutral language with respect to abortion will better represent Democrats across the nation," she said.
"Language that does not support abortion, but instead advocates for doing more to help pregnant women and families is more consistent with the Democratic Party's historical principles that advocate for the poor, the downtrodden and those who don't have a voice," Day explained.
“Some have called our goal for a more moderate platform not realistic or window dressing,” said Day. “I call it wishful thinking on their part. A united Democratic Party with a pro-life or neutral position on abortion will be unstoppable.”
The platform first mentioned abortion in 1976.
It recognized "the religious and ethical nature of the concerns which many Americans have on the subject of abortion," but it also alienated pro-life Democrats who vehemently believed in the sanctity of life and thought the party should not advocate abortion.
In 1984, the party voices its support for federal funding of abortion even though, as Day tells LifeNews.com, a poll showed almost half of Democrats supported a Human Life Amendment to prohibit abortions.

The 1992 platform, which mentioned support for Roe v. Wade, was issued the same year pro-life Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey was prevented from speaking on behalf of pro-life Democrats.After the 2004 election, pro-abortion Democratic nominee John Kerry surprised party activists by telling them that Democrats should moderate their abortion stance.Kerry told those in attendance that the party needed to find new ways to reach out to voters who don't like abortion. He also said Democrats need to welcome more pro-life candidates into the party.

Related web sites:Democrats for Life of America - http://www.democratsforlife.org/