Many Congressional Democrats Seek Middle Ground On Abortion, Other Issues, New York Times Reports

Democratic congressional leaders say they are "committed to governing from the center" and are hoping "to bring that philosophy to bear on some of the most divisive social issues in politics, like abortion," the New York Times reports. Many Democrats are seeking "common ground" on such issues, according to the Times. Their "moves toward consensus building ... reflect their effort to adjust to a new political reality" -- their majority is "slimmer than it was the last time they were in power" and the country has "grown more conservative on abortion and other social issues," the Times reports. One example of how the "legislative debate has shifted" is that the last time the Democrats controlled Congress, one of the biggest abortion debates was over whether the procedure should be covered in the national health plan proposed by the Clinton administration, the Times reports. Now, abortion-rights supporters are focusing on "far more modest goals," according to the Times. For instance, some Senate Democrats in this congressional session have reintroduced a bill that seeks to reduce the number of abortions in the U.S. by expanding access to contraception, family planning and sex education and providing financial support to new parents. "I can tell you what I expect," Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said, "I think the Democratic leadership will seek to advance the policy agenda of the hardcore groups but do so under the cover of deceptive rhetorical campaigns" (Toner, New York Times, 1/16).

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