Democrats divided over abortion

Bitter differences over abortion are dividing US Democrats as they seek to regroup in the face of Republican control of the White House and both Houses of Congress, writes Michael Sean Winters. The new Democratic Party chairman, Tom Perez, travelled with former presidential contender Senator Bernie Sanders to a rally to support Heath Mello, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, and plunged into controversy. Both Mr Perez and Mr Sanders were criticised by pro-abortion activists. They objected to Mr Mello’s support for a bill in 2009 that required women seeking an abortion to be informed that they had a right to see a foetal ultrasound before going ahead with the procedure. Mr Mello says that he is “personally opposed” to abortion but that he will not seek to force his views on others.

“The actions today by the Democratic National Committee to embrace and support a candidate for office who will strip women – one of the most critical constituencies for the party – of our basic rights and freedom is not only disappointing, it is politically stupid,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of the group NARAL Pro-Choice America.

But others think imposing a pro-choice litmus test will prove political suicide for Democrats in many districts that might otherwise be winnable. “The recent special election in deep-red Kansas saw the Democrat lose by only eight points, and he blamed his loss on pro-life groups highlighting his party’s extremism on abortion,” said Professor Charles Camosy of Fordham, a board member at Democrats for Life. “If the Democratic Party wants to win in parts of the country which could actually result in their getting power back from the GOP [Republicans], very simple math demonstrates that they must be open to support candidates with less extreme views on abortion.”

Meanwhile, a promise by the Governor of Illinois to veto an abortion-funding bill drew praise from Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, who called it a “principled stand.” “Abortion is a controversial issue in this country, but using public money to provide abortions should not be,” the cardinal said on 19 April. Governor Bruce Rauner had pledged to veto Illinois state legislation that would fund elective abortions throughout pregnancy for any reason through Medicaid and employee health insurance programmes.