Accomplishments on a Progressive Common Ground Abortion Agenda

Even as recently as five years ago, most Americans would have balked at the idea of finding common ground on abortion. In 2010, however, despite the continued struggles over abortion evidenced most recently in health care reform, there is a firm movement afoot establishing that common ground exists and does not have to threaten pro-choice values. Moreover, progressives have begun to define and to own common ground on abortion. Below, we lay out the many accomplishments to date on a progressive common ground abortion agenda.

Defining the Approach of Common Ground on Abortion: Winning the Battle of Reasonableness

The definition of common ground on abortion as “reducing the need while protecting the right” first appeared in Third Way’s memo “Winning the Abortion Grays: A Strategy to Win the Battle of Reasonableness and Appeal to Moderates,” released in January of 2006. This definition deliberately challenged the idea that common ground on abortion was any form of restriction on the right to choose, ranging from parental consent to partial-birth abortion bans. Instead, it recognized that most Americans believe both in the basic right to an abortion and that abortion is morally complex. It also armed progressives with an effective attack on conservatives: “They want to reduce abortions through banning abortion and putting doctors and women in prison.”¹ Third Way also defined a two-track common ground policy approach: preventing unintended pregnancies and supporting pregnant women, including adoption.

Introducing the Policy Agenda: The Ryan- DeLauro Bill

The Ryan-DeLauro bill was first introduced in September of 2006, with lead co- sponsors pro-life Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) and pro-choice Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), standing with then-Congressman Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL), Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth (now Sandlin) (D-SD), and Congressman James Langevin (D-RI). The Ryan-DeLauro bill proved that there was not only such a thing as an abstract idea about common ground on abortion that progressives could stand behind, there was also a concrete set of common ground policies to which serious leaders from both the pro-choice and pro-life communities could give their stamp of approval.

Although the earlier incarnation of the bill was controversial among some in the pro- choice community, the latest version of the bill introduced in the 111th Congress garnered support from major players on both sides. At the July 27, 2009 press conference, NARAL head Nancy Keenan, Planned Parenthood Vice President for Policy Laurie Rubiner, and head of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Reverend Carlton Veazey stood side-by-side with pro-life evangelical Reverends Joel Hunter and Derrick Harkins to lend their voices to the legislation. The Ryan-DeLauro bill was also a core piece of the progressive-evangelical governing agenda that Third Way’s Come Let Us Reason Together team brought to Congress and the White House in January of 2009.² Because it has been vetted very carefully by both pro-choice and pro-life progressives, the Ryan-DeLauro bill serves as an excellent roadmap for a common ground policy agenda.

Owning Common Ground

The Democratic Party Platform

In a striking development, the 2008 Democratic Party platform included a commitment to reducing the need for abortion and robust support for both prevention of unintended pregnancy and support for pregnant women and adoption.³ As The Wall Street Journal, citing one of the key drafters of the language, Michael Yaki, reported: “for the first time, the Democratic Party is using ‘reduce’ and ‘abortion’ in the same sentence, and for the first time it talks about the decision to have a child and supporting that decision. The breakthrough was affirming that from the choice position, there are two paths and heretofore the Democratic Party had only talked about one path – abortion, not carrying the child to term.”⁴ The platform continued to cement into the new landscape that progressives own common ground on abortion.

On the Campaign Trail

President Obama consistently used the message of common ground on abortion throughout his campaign. At Saddleback Church in August 2008, for example, he stated: “[F]or me, the goal right now should be--and this is where I think we can find common ground--and by the way, I’ve now inserted this into the Democratic platform--is: how do we reduce the number of abortions?” ⁵ In the third and final presidential debate against Senator McCain in October of 2008, he argued that “surely there is common ground” and went on to explain that “[w]e should try to prevent unintended pregnancies . . . and provide options for adoption, and help… mothers if they want to keep the baby.” ⁶ President Obama’s approach on abortion contributed to defining the type of Washington he was seeking--one where both sides could come together and find a shared path forward.

President Obama in Office

Continuing the drumbeat, shortly after coming into office, on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President Obama took the opportunity once again to embrace the common ground agenda he had committed to in his campaign, issuing a statement that read: “While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make.“ ⁷

The stakes were highest, though, when the President was invited, amidst an uproar from certain pro-life sectors, to give the commencement speech at Notre Dame. At this most public venue, President Obama once again pledged his allegiance to his common ground agenda, saying: “So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, let’s reduce unintended pregnancies. Let’s make adoption more available. Let’s provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term.“⁸ His remarks were exceedingly well-received by critics on all sides.

“Reducing Abortion” Federal Funding for Fiscal Year 2010

The government’s 2010 fiscal year funding law (Public Law 111-117) included a generous allotment of funding—$7.8 billion—for a “Reducing Abortion” initiative.⁹ This initiative includes: teen pregnancy prevention grants totaling over $100 million, an increase in funding for after-school programs that keep kids out of trouble, increased funding for the nation’s family planning program that helps low-income women afford prevention, funding for pregnant and parenting student support programs, and funding for programs such as child care grants that support low- income new parents.¹⁰

Common Ground in Health Care Reform

Despite the media’s focus on the controversy surrounding abortion in health care reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contained a little-publicized victory for common ground. The common ground policies, owed in part to pro-life Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), include: grants to states for teen pregnancy prevention programs that are evidence-based (with some grants available for innovative strategies),¹¹ Medicaid family planning expansions,¹² required maternity care coverage,¹³ domestic violence prevention for pregnant women (Senator Casey),¹⁴ support for pregnant and parenting students (Senator Casey),¹⁵ support for increased awareness of resources for pregnant women and new parents (Senator Casey),¹⁶ adoption assistance in the form of an increase in the adoption tax credit and assistance programs (Senator Casey),¹⁷ and grants to states for evidence-based and promising early childhood home visitation programs to promote improvement in maternal, prenatal, infant, and child health outcomes for high-risk families.¹⁸

Conclusion

Progressives must continue to build on the strong common ground foundation they have already put in place. By defining and owning common ground on abortion, progressives will continue to connect with moderates and the next generation, while protecting the right to choose. President Obama can make history and claim success on his vision for a post-partisan Washington of shared values, which Americans responded to so profoundly in his campaign but has proved largely elusive in the governing context. Rather than running the other way, progressives and President Obama must boldly embrace this golden opportunity.