November 24, 2009
Health care overhaul revives abortion debate
by David D. Kirkpatrick
The New York Times
WASHINGTON -- Lobbying over abortion was turning into a sleepy business. But the health care debate has brought a new boom, and both sides are exploiting it with fund-raising appeals.
"The reaction has been phenomenal, like a match dropped on dry kindling," said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Abortion opponents have been blanketing their supporters with solicitations and alarms since House Democrats laid out their health care proposals three months ago. "The largest expansion of abortion since Roe vs. Wade," warns the Web site for Stop the Abortion Mandate, which directs visitors to sign up with the anti-abortion fund-raising group Susan B. Anthony List.
"It is far and away, in the history of our group, the biggest fulcrum of activism we have ever had," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the group's president, adding that the 12-year-old organization has seen its contributions rise more than 50 percent from 2007, the last year without a national election.
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