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American Morning
Abortion Law
Aired November 05, 2003 - 07:09 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In an extremely sensitive political issue, abortion opponents will celebrate a victory today when President Bush signs a law banning late-term abortions. The measure already has prompted several lawsuits to challenge its constitutionality.
CNN's Dana Bash is live for us at the White House this morning with more.
Dana -- good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
And President Clinton vetoed it twice, but President Bush says he looks forward to signing legislation his conservative supporters have sought for nearly a decade.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): It will be the first federal limit on abortion in the 30 years since Roe v. Wade, a ban on certain late-term abortion procedures. Opponents say it's an overdue end to a brutal practice. Opponents call it a slippery slope toward outlawing all abortion.
So, even before the president puts pen to paper, the ads are cut.
ANNOUNCER: And once government is in the door, who knows what they'll do next?
BASH: Three lawsuits are already filed in federal court to stop it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The law is unconstitutional.
BASH: A narrowly-divide Supreme Court overturned a similar Nebraska law three years ago, calling it too vague and lacking protection for a mother's health. With potential Supreme Court vacancies looming, both sides in this polarizing debate are counting on this case to galvanize supporters for the presidential election.
DOUGLAS JOHNSON, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE: We hope that by the time this case gets up before the U.S. Supreme Court, there will be a shift of at least one vote away from that extreme position.
KATE MICHELMAN, NATIONAL ABORTION RIGHTS ACTION LEAGUE: This will be a wake-up call to pro-choice Americans that their right to choose is not safe under this president.
BASH: But a vast majority of Americans support bill. The latest CNN-Gallup poll shows 77 percent of 18-29 years old and 68 percent 30 and over think such late-term or partial-birth abortions should be illegal. And though anti-abortion groups admit they hope this ban will open the door to others, the president is careful with his words.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't think the culture has changed to the extent that the American people or the Congress would totally ban abortions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And, Soledad, because of its broad appeal, the president's political advisors hailed this legislation as an accomplishment in what the president calls his compassionate conservative agenda, but abortion rights activists are hoping to rally moderates to their side, saying the president should stay out of personal medical decisions -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Dana Bash at the White House for us this morning. Dana, thanks.
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 November 5, 2003 - 07:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In an extremely sensitive political issue, abortion opponents will celebrate a victory today when President Bush signs a law banning late-term abortions. The measure already has prompted several lawsuits to challenge its constitutionality.
CNN's Dana Bash is live for us at the White House this morning with more.
Dana -- good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
And President Clinton vetoed it twice, but President Bush says he looks forward to signing legislation his conservative supporters have sought for nearly a decade.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): It will be the first federal limit on abortion in the 30 years since Roe v. Wade, a ban on certain late-term abortion procedures. Opponents say it's an overdue end to a brutal practice. Opponents call it a slippery slope toward outlawing all abortion.
So, even before the president puts pen to paper, the ads are cut.
ANNOUNCER: And once government is in the door, who knows what they'll do next?
BASH: Three lawsuits are already filed in federal court to stop it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The law is unconstitutional.
BASH: A narrowly-divide Supreme Court overturned a similar Nebraska law three years ago, calling it too vague and lacking protection for a mother's health. With potential Supreme Court vacancies looming, both sides in this polarizing debate are counting on this case to galvanize supporters for the presidential election.
DOUGLAS JOHNSON, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE: We hope that by the time this case gets up before the U.S. Supreme Court, there will be a shift of at least one vote away from that extreme position.
KATE MICHELMAN, NATIONAL ABORTION RIGHTS ACTION LEAGUE: This will be a wake-up call to pro-choice Americans that their right to choose is not safe under this president.
BASH: But a vast majority of Americans support bill. The latest CNN-Gallup poll shows 77 percent of 18-29 years old and 68 percent 30 and over think such late-term or partial-birth abortions should be illegal. And though anti-abortion groups admit they hope this ban will open the door to others, the president is careful with his words.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't think the culture has changed to the extent that the American people or the Congress would totally ban abortions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And, Soledad, because of its broad appeal, the president's political advisors hailed this legislation as an accomplishment in what the president calls his compassionate conservative agenda, but abortion rights activists are hoping to rally moderates to their side, saying the president should stay out of personal medical decisions -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Dana Bash at the White House for us this morning. Dana, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
