Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

The Abortion Debate: A Political Battle

Aired January 22, 2003 - 10:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk some more about the battle over abortion in the political arena.
With the change of balance in power in Washington, and the battle is getting even more intense.

Ron Brownstein of "The L.A. Times" joins us now to weigh in on that debate.

Good to see you. Ron. How are you?

RON BROWNSTEIN, "THE L.A. TIMES": Good morning, Leon. I promise not to sing.

HARRIS: Thank you. We'd appreciate that.

Well, let's talk about those who are out there in the streets over there issue. And you just heard Bob's report about how the intensity still seems to be out there. How does this issue face up, as a potential issue at coming up in 2004?

BROWNSTEIN: Reporter: I think the stars are aligning for it to be a more visible issue in 2004 than it was in 2000 or 1996. A combination of necessity and opportunity may be driving Democrats in that direction. First of the all, both in the 2000 election and 2002, President Bush snowed enormous strength with male voters, and I that will compel the Democrats to emphasize issues that might have appeal, like abortion rights among women.

Secondly, with Republicans now in control of both the House, the Senate and the White House, the stage is set for social conservatives to pass and probably have the president sign a ban on late-term abortions, critics call partial-birth abortion. That's going to energize the other side.

Finally, what could really turbocharge the issue is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. That would get both sides fully engaged.

HARRIS: Well, let's talk about that, and let's talk more about the potential swing votes, those that may actually be on the verge of retiring here, on the Supreme Court. Right now, as you know, the tally stands at 5-4 in favor of actually preserving Roe versus Wade.

Let's take a look, we have a graphic prepared for those, with the names of the people who may be considering roles as wild cards. Here is Chief Justice Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor. BROWNSTEIN: Well, the critical question, Leon, will be whether if there is a vacancy, it comes from the five who support Roe or the four who are generally believed to be willing to vote to overturn it.

HARRIS: Who is most likely at this point? Any ideas?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, there's one on east side that seems likely. One is the Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who is an opponent, and Sandra Day O'Connor, who is a supporter. Now, obviously, if O'Connor steps down, that gives Bush the opportunity to create a five-person anti-Roe majority. That would be the signal, I think, for a full- scale, almost Armageddon type of political battle.

There was a dinner last night in Washington that all the Democratic presidential candidates spoke at for NARAL, the abortion rights group, And the president actually, Kate Michaelman (ph), the president of that group really raised the bar for them when she said in her speech the group expected any pro-choice senator to filibuster against a Bush nominee who is not unambiguously in support of Roe. That is a high bar indeed, and it pressures Democrats to fight tooth and nail against any nominee they're not sure would vote to continue a Roe v. Wade.

HARRIS: Did any of these six men on the screen there a second ago, did any of the six of them distinguish themselves, either amongst the their colleague there or from President Bush on this to the degree that would satisfy the folks there, or any side of the debate?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, none of them directly responded to her request, which I think was new to them, and puts them under lot of cross pressure. The Democratic Senators may be reluctant as seen as imposing a single issue litmus test. On the hand, they're not going to want to alienate pro-choice voters. All six of them supported Roe as it was written.

House minority leader Dick Gephardt gave the most personal speech last night. He was an opponent of abortion early in his career. He talked about how he came to a view that the right to choose, as he put it, also has a moral force. He's distinct from the other Democrats is that he is the only one who supports the ban on late-term abortions that Republicans support.

I would say Howard Dean did very well last night. The former Vermont governor was really passionate, particularly in denouncing any restrictions on late-term abortion. He has a bit of a buzz developing in liberal circles right now, and I think that continued last night at the dinner.

HARRIS: On the way out of here, in the interest of equal time, how about President Bush? Is there any sign that he will find a way to finesse through this as he did last week, a week or so ago, with the affirmative action?

BROWNSTEIN: You know, in 2000, he did kind of finesse it and strike a balance, which he said as Bob Franken showed in that tape, that he would support strict constructionist of the courts so it would not have a litmus test, didn't really generate a lot of opposition from pro-choice voters, abortion rights voters.

He is someone does not lead with the issue, but a Supreme Court choice to really force it unavoidably on him, really have to cast his lot with one side or the other. For that reason if it comes, I think in 2004, you could see the issue having more visibility no matter what the White House, or for that matter, the Democrats intend.

HARRIS: Interesting. We shall see how it plays out. Ron Brownstein, thanks, appreciate it. Ron Brownstein of "The L.A. Times" in Washington this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 22, 2003 - 10:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk some more about the battle over abortion in the political arena.
With the change of balance in power in Washington, and the battle is getting even more intense.

Ron Brownstein of "The L.A. Times" joins us now to weigh in on that debate.

Good to see you. Ron. How are you?

RON BROWNSTEIN, "THE L.A. TIMES": Good morning, Leon. I promise not to sing.

HARRIS: Thank you. We'd appreciate that.

Well, let's talk about those who are out there in the streets over there issue. And you just heard Bob's report about how the intensity still seems to be out there. How does this issue face up, as a potential issue at coming up in 2004?

BROWNSTEIN: Reporter: I think the stars are aligning for it to be a more visible issue in 2004 than it was in 2000 or 1996. A combination of necessity and opportunity may be driving Democrats in that direction. First of the all, both in the 2000 election and 2002, President Bush snowed enormous strength with male voters, and I that will compel the Democrats to emphasize issues that might have appeal, like abortion rights among women.

Secondly, with Republicans now in control of both the House, the Senate and the White House, the stage is set for social conservatives to pass and probably have the president sign a ban on late-term abortions, critics call partial-birth abortion. That's going to energize the other side.

Finally, what could really turbocharge the issue is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. That would get both sides fully engaged.

HARRIS: Well, let's talk about that, and let's talk more about the potential swing votes, those that may actually be on the verge of retiring here, on the Supreme Court. Right now, as you know, the tally stands at 5-4 in favor of actually preserving Roe versus Wade.

Let's take a look, we have a graphic prepared for those, with the names of the people who may be considering roles as wild cards. Here is Chief Justice Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor. BROWNSTEIN: Well, the critical question, Leon, will be whether if there is a vacancy, it comes from the five who support Roe or the four who are generally believed to be willing to vote to overturn it.

HARRIS: Who is most likely at this point? Any ideas?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, there's one on east side that seems likely. One is the Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who is an opponent, and Sandra Day O'Connor, who is a supporter. Now, obviously, if O'Connor steps down, that gives Bush the opportunity to create a five-person anti-Roe majority. That would be the signal, I think, for a full- scale, almost Armageddon type of political battle.

There was a dinner last night in Washington that all the Democratic presidential candidates spoke at for NARAL, the abortion rights group, And the president actually, Kate Michaelman (ph), the president of that group really raised the bar for them when she said in her speech the group expected any pro-choice senator to filibuster against a Bush nominee who is not unambiguously in support of Roe. That is a high bar indeed, and it pressures Democrats to fight tooth and nail against any nominee they're not sure would vote to continue a Roe v. Wade.

HARRIS: Did any of these six men on the screen there a second ago, did any of the six of them distinguish themselves, either amongst the their colleague there or from President Bush on this to the degree that would satisfy the folks there, or any side of the debate?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, none of them directly responded to her request, which I think was new to them, and puts them under lot of cross pressure. The Democratic Senators may be reluctant as seen as imposing a single issue litmus test. On the hand, they're not going to want to alienate pro-choice voters. All six of them supported Roe as it was written.

House minority leader Dick Gephardt gave the most personal speech last night. He was an opponent of abortion early in his career. He talked about how he came to a view that the right to choose, as he put it, also has a moral force. He's distinct from the other Democrats is that he is the only one who supports the ban on late-term abortions that Republicans support.

I would say Howard Dean did very well last night. The former Vermont governor was really passionate, particularly in denouncing any restrictions on late-term abortion. He has a bit of a buzz developing in liberal circles right now, and I think that continued last night at the dinner.

HARRIS: On the way out of here, in the interest of equal time, how about President Bush? Is there any sign that he will find a way to finesse through this as he did last week, a week or so ago, with the affirmative action?

BROWNSTEIN: You know, in 2000, he did kind of finesse it and strike a balance, which he said as Bob Franken showed in that tape, that he would support strict constructionist of the courts so it would not have a litmus test, didn't really generate a lot of opposition from pro-choice voters, abortion rights voters.

He is someone does not lead with the issue, but a Supreme Court choice to really force it unavoidably on him, really have to cast his lot with one side or the other. For that reason if it comes, I think in 2004, you could see the issue having more visibility no matter what the White House, or for that matter, the Democrats intend.

HARRIS: Interesting. We shall see how it plays out. Ron Brownstein, thanks, appreciate it. Ron Brownstein of "The L.A. Times" in Washington this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com