Al Gore's Relentless Promotion of Abortion
By Carol Tobias, NRL PAC Director

Although there are many pro-life Democrats, the national Democratic Party has once again selected a presidential candidate who believes there should be absolutely no restrictions on abortion and would offer no protection for unborn children who are deemed "unwanted." In the case of Vice President Al Gore, compounding this unfortunate reality is that early in his career Gore voted much differently. As a member of the United State House of Representatives from 1977 to 1984, Gore compiled an 84% pro-life voting record. He also responded to many constituents with letters that appeared to be pro-life.

However, after being elected to the Senate in 1984, Gore switched his position. He quickly began to assemble a strongly pro-abortion voting record.

Indeed, so thoroughly did Gore flip-flop that he co-sponsored the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act." FOCA was so radical, it would have gone further than Roe v. Wade and nullified virtually every limit on abortion passed by the states. Gore also routinely voted to use tax dollars to pay for abortions in this country and in U.S.-funded "family planning" programs overseas. After being tapped as Bill Clinton's running mate in 1992, Gore used his vice presidential position to push the United Nations to include abortion as a method of birth control, using tax dollars to lobby other nations to overturn their pro-life laws. He became the darling of the pro-abortion establishment.

Gore spoke at events sponsored by the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL). At a January 22, 1997, event Gore said that "America's women have the right to choose, and no one will ever steal that right away. The right to choose is fundamental, lodged in our Constitution affirmed by our Supreme Court." Gore concluded with the promise that "on behalf of President Clinton, I vow to you here, and to all listening, that we will never ever let anyone take that right away."

At that event, NARAL President Kate Michelman declared, "We thank Bill Clinton and Al Gore for saving Roe.... Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for this celebration of Roe."

In a somewhat bizarre speech to weather forecasters at a 1997 White House conference, Gore suggested that overpopulation was contributing to so-called "global warming." One of his solutions was "the empowerment of women" in developing countries "to participate in the decisions about childbearing." In other words, abortion.

As columnist Ray Kerrison summarized, "Only a wacko would dare to suggest that a woman giving birth to a baby made in God's image and likeness is a threat to the safety of planet Earth."

So that you can judge for yourself his commitment to Roe, what follows are just some of Al Gore's words on the issue of life or death for unborn children.

"As President, I would do nothing to undermine the Roe v. Wade decision."

1987 American Public Heath Association questionnaire

"Then and now, I support a woman's right to choose and oppose the overturning of Roe v. Wade."

David Frost interview, aired September 24, 1992

"Rest assured that a Supreme Court majority appointed in a Gore administration would support a woman's right to choose."

ABC's This Week, October 31, 1999

"I believe very strongly that a woman must have the right to choose, and I believe that that right is very much at risk during this whole campaign, because if the Bush/Quayle team should have a chance to further distort the make-up of the Supreme Court, you're going to see a tremendous erosion of individual rights. We're going to prevent that from happening, and that is the reason why people who support individual freedom and the right to choose are supporting the Clinton/Gore ticket."

CBS's This Morning, July 13, 1992

"I will always, always defend a woman's right to choose. Every time Congress has tried to play politics with that fundamental, personal right, imposing gag rules and attaching anti-choice language to any bill they can think of, we have stood up to them and stopped them. If they try it again, we'll stop them again. And if they try it after the year 2000, with your help, I'll stop them. That hard-won right will be safe with me as your president."

New York Times, June 2, 1999

Not content just to talk about "protecting" Roe, the Gore campaign actively courted pro-abortion voters during the recent presidential primaries. Responding to attacks by Bill Bradley asserting that Gore had not been consistent in his "pro-choice"position, Gore angrily declared, "I do not need a lecture from Senator Bradley about how to protect a woman's right to choose."

The following is from scripts of two radio ads run by the Gore campaign during the primaries:

1) Script of "Why I Switched"

KRISTINA KIEHL: My name is Kristina Kiehl. Gloria Steinem and I founded Voters for Choice, the largest independent, bipartisan political committee, to keep abortion safe, legal and available.

The pro-choice movement is at a critical point. The next president could appoint two to three Supreme Court justices, who might outlaw abortion. The pro-choice community must stand united. That's why I'm disappointed Bill Bradley has chosen to attack Al Gore on abortion rights, simply for political gain.

The fact is, both Bill Bradley and Al Gore are strongly pro- choice. I'm disappointed because I endorsed Bradley for president last year. Today, I no longer support Bradley because his unfair attacks divide us at the very moment we should stand together against the real enemy: the Republican candidates who don't trust women to make responsible reproductive choices.

AL GORE: Paid for by Gore 2000.

2) Script of "Trailing in the Polls"

ANNOUNCER: Bill Bradley promised to run a positive campaign. But now, trailing in the polls, Bradley is running attack ads instead.

Here are the facts: Al Gore is pro-choice; he's stood up against the right wing to protect a woman's right to choose. Bradley's attack is for votes as old as 20 years ago - - 20 years ago. In fact, NARAL, America's leading pro-choice group, looked at the records of Bradley and Gore, and endorsed Al Gore, calling him " the best choice to defend a woman's right to choose."

Get the facts at algore2000.com. Al Gore. Fighting for us.

AL GORE: Paid for by Gore 2000.

By contrast, pro-life Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican presidential candidate, has stated his unequivocal support for overturning Roe v. Wade. He has maintained a strong and consistent pro-life stand both asgovernor and throughout thecampaign. George W. Bush and Al Gore will present a clear pro-life versus pro-abortion contest in November.