Yuval Levin, writing for National Review, says Obama’s Notre Dame speech gives cause for long-term optimism on the pro-life front. Levin writes:
Although it was certainly not his intention, the president’s remarks point to the profound and growing weakness of the case for America’s radical abortion laws.
(HT: JT)
However, we do occasionally see a more crass argument, like with Bonnie Erb’s US News and World Report piece which argued that, given the recession, abortions are not tragic.
Also, this is the first time Obama’s discussed abortion since the election (notes CT). Could it be that he has become more articulate (than he was at Saddleback) in expanding his influence among more classically pro-life groups?
I agree with Levin that the pro-abortion choice case is weakening, and am encouraged by the recent Gallop poll that shows pro-life gains in public opinion, but I also think that in his remarks on abortion Obama was addressing a more center-right spectrum of America on this. He might have couched things quite differently in a different venue. In other words, he was not playing offense, not defense, at Notre Dame (as at the Saddleback Civil Forum). That is, he was seeking to expand the number of Christians/Catholics who are willing to overlook his radical pro-abortion rights agenda. Remember, Obama only got 52% of the national vote (though his electoral tally was broad and impressive). Take away the extra evangelicals and Catholics who supported him (but did not support John Kerry in 2004) and John McCain might be President.