Published: October 23, 2007 11:04 am      

Group says dems are missing the boat on pro-life issue

National Democratic leaders are missing the boat on the abortion issue.

That was the message presented by speakers at a meeting in a Hilton Garden Inn meeting room Monday.

“We encourage people to stay in the Democratic Party,” said Carol Crossed, national president of Democrats for Life of America. “But we find pro-life people leaving the party.”

Crossed told a group of about 20 people the pro-life stance is a natural fit for Democrats who believe in justice and opportunity for all.

“We’re not pro-choice on poverty or peace,” Crossed said. “We’ve always been the party to stand up for the oppressed. The rights of the unborn belong in our party.”

Jay Ware of Rockford, past president of Illinois Democracy for Life, said national Democratic leadership’s insistence on pro-choice planks in the presidential election platform has hurt the party in national elections.

“This issue is eroding the soul of the Democratic Party,” Ware said, adding minds and hearts can be changed.

“We can get a coalition started,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy. But we can do wonderful things if we just stick with it.”

David Seiler of Effingham, current president of Illinois Democracy for Life, presented statistics that show the national Democrats’ stance on the abortion issue is inhibiting party growth. He noted Democrats lost 97 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the United States in the 2004 presidential election.

Seiler added Democrats are losing their base support of racial minorities and youth, noting large majorities of Hispanics and blacks believe almost all abortions should be illegal or restricted. Moreover, he said, national polls taken since the turn of the century show a majority of people aged 13 to 29 have serious reservations about abortion.

Seiler told the group pro-life Democrats used to dominate area politics.

“Ten years ago, we had it all,” he said. “We had Glenn Poshard in Congress, Chuck Hartke as our (state) representative and Bill O’Daniel in the (state) Senate, all pro-life Democrats.

“I don’t know if we got lazy or not,” Seiler added. “We had Chuck (Hartke), we had Glenn (Poshard). We were spoiled. Now we have to do some work.”

Seiler said the resurgence of pro-life views among Democrats has to start on the local level.

“This is grass roots at its rootiest,” he said.

Seiler said national Democratic leaders, such as delegates to the national convention, don’t reflect the views of many rank-and-file party members. He noted 75 percent of convention delegates identified themselves as pro-choice, while nearly half of all Democrats nationally say they are pro-life.

Several Effingham County officials attended Monday’s meeting, including State’s Attorney Ed Deters and Treasurer Steve Dasenbrock.

Deters said one key to future Democratic electoral success is for pro-life Democrats to proclaim their views.

“At least at the local level, I think it’s important to remind people that this is not a Republican issue,” he said. “Republicans think they own this issue. It’s important to get the message out that they do not.”

Dasenbrock said abortion has become a “wedge issue” that is driving people into the Republican fold.

“As a candidate, it drives you nuts to lose votes because you are a Democrat,” he said.

For more information about the national Democrats for Life organization, the group’s Web site is www.democratsforlife.org.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.