Page 8 - The Michigar - Monday, September 25, 1989 Pro-choicers may be winning political battle Associated Press Pro-choice forces appear to have seized the momen- tum in the nation's renewed battle over abortion, but anti-abortion activists say they expect the tide to turn as legislatures - and the Supreme Court - return to session this fall and winter. So far, a half-dozen states have emerged as early leg- islative battlegrounds, but most lawmakers appear reluc- tant to open the door that was unlocked by the Supreme Court in July. "I would say it's basically a standoff," said Lydia Neumann, a spokeswoman for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which favors access to abortion. In the nation's two governor's races this fall, pro- choice candidates have used their viewpoint for its po- tchtial political advantage, while anti-abortion candi- dates have sought to shift attention away from the is- sie. In New Jersey, Republican James Courter moderated his strong anti-abortion views and is widely perceived to have been hurt - either by his views or by his waffling. Democrat James Floric strengthened his pro-choice stance. In Virginia, Democrat Douglas Wilder is aggres- sively advertising his pro-choice position in hopes of gaining ground on Republican Marshall Coleman, an anti-abortion candidate who is considered the front-run- ner. Burke Balch, state legislative coordinator for the National Right to Life Committee, insisted that a strong anti-abortion position was not a political liabil- ity. But in general, he conceded that pro-choice forces have had the upper hand in the 2 1/2 months since the Supreme Court upheld Missouri abortion restrictions. "We've seen a season in which our friends on the other side have had the natural advantages with them," he said. "Because it's been a debate not about the spe- cific legislation but about abortion in general, and with the considerable funding they've had to...have their say in the media, they've had their innings." Pennsylvania and Michigan are the most likely states to enact new abortion restrictions this fall, while prospects are less certain in four other states where the issue is expected to come up before the end of the year. He said the balance would shift this fall, when legis- latures begin to consider specific bills and when the Supreme Court begins another round of abortion rul- ings. Florida and Illinois are both expected to take up the abortion issue at special sessions, and abortion bills are expected to be introduced at a special session in Minnesota. Thousands of people JOSE JUAREZ/Daily gather in front of the state capitol building in Lansing to rally for abortion rights. a ' ; % , d 5 I, -: ; XII \ v' / '~At, ~ ' H ~ tt4~ o, i: :f .7 . ,: . , : :, ; , , RALLY Continued from Page 1 "A sleeping giant has come to life after Webster and is striding across Michigan," said the rally's keynote speaker, National Abortion Rights Action League Executive Director Kate Michelman. Speakers stressed that T HE Y BELIEVE Michigan's legislators should be held accountable to the pro-choice majority. "If they don't understand, we will replace them with women and men who do," said Dottie Jones, Chair of the Michigan Women's Commission. Rev. Charles Bergstrom, an evangelical Lutheran minister and spokesperson for the People for the American Way action fund, said most mainline religious groups sup- port a women's right to choose a safe and legal abortion. "Too many on the other side want to impose their morality on us. On political issues, no one speaks for God," Bergstrom said. About 100 Ann Arbor residents and University students met at Pioneer High School for a send-off Thousands rally for abortion rights rally before leaving for Lansing. The speakers at Pioneer were Ann Arbor- Washtenaw County NOW president Jan Ben Dor, Ann Arbor city coun- cilmember Ann Marie Coleman (D- First Ward), and former Mayor Edward Pierce. In an interview after the rally, Sen. Lana Pollack (D-Ann Arbor), who opposes the proposed legisla- tion restricting abortion, said, "(The abortion debate) is a political fight now, and it is no longer along party lines." Many Republicans were at the event, she added, ensuring that the pro-choice message will clearly get back to other legislators. The Michigan chapter of the National Organization for Women was the main sponsor of the event, and the many co-sponsors included Planned Parenthood of Michigan, the League of Women Voters, Men for Choice, Catholics for Free Choice, and Grandmothers for Choice. College Democrats President Roger Kosson, one of several hun- dred University students who at- tended the rally, said he was pleased JULIE HOLLMANjDaily A woman rallies for abortion rights at the capitol; Catholics for Choice was one of the many groups represented at the rally. by the composition of the crowd. "My sense is there are a lot of every- day people here who have never been pxitically active," said Kosson, an LSA senior. "Everyday people are energized by the Webster decision." Members of the crowd carried signs painted with slogans like, "Mind your own uterus," "My mother is pro-choice and she loves me," and "Pope, politician, pizza maker, PTL's, stay out of my womb." Unlike past pro-choice 'demon strations in the state, there was no counter-protest during the rally. Emily Emerick, a senior at Mercy College, rights during the Lansing rally yesterday. JOSE JUAREZ/Daily shows her support for abortion I U I THIS WEEKEND THE PARTY'S OFF-CAMPUS p Cl Ci' Rr"';flr ..' '-f/A -\ N- C--A ,i A .* l ' . f iA-.. KK y Nl 5~! er' - !sr- f L\- .&- ' Pace yourself. This is no ordinary party. For starters, it's in Chicago., One block from North Pier. Home of the young and breathless. (So much to do, so little time.) Steady now, you don't want to miss any- thing. Like Rush Street. Or the "Magnificent Mile" of shops. Or how about the city's / hr_- -$59--- .(K >11 I1 We're aving tec ca icu tes. Don't stand by. If you're ready to graduate with a BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering (IE, ME, EE), Marketing, Finance or Business, come to our presentation. Don't just stand by. Stop by. 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