Democrats for Life

John Kerry Tells Democrat Activists Party Should Moderate Abortion Image

Former presidential candidate John Kerry surprised key Democratic Party activists in a meeting shortly after Thanksgiving where he said the party needs to do more to moderate its image on abortion and reach out to pro-life voters.

That comment surprised and shocked many in the room, according to a new Newsweek report.

At the meeting, held at the headquarters of the AFL-CIO, Ellen Malcolm, president of Emily's List, a pro-abortion political action committee, asked Kerry about the direction of the party.

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....Democrats for Life president Kristen Day says her party better wake up to the face that abortion is costing it votes before it's too late.

"[W]e really need to rethink our position," Day says. "I think the leadership knows that if we're going to be a majority party again, that we need to really respect the views of those in our party who don't necessarily agree with supporting abortion on demand.

How does Evan Bayh feel on this?

Some leading pro-abortion lawmakers like Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, Arkansas Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh are forming a centrist group to try to moderate the party's view on abortion and other issues.

As to the pro-abortion activist Colorado Rep. Diana DiGette, she'd rather go Green. Democrats are a big tent and I am pro-choice in the fact that government should not tell a woman what to do with her body but I do not support abortion on demand.