From: eyc@acpub.duke.edu (EMIL CHUCK)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.bush,alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.elections,alt.rush-limbaugh,talk.politics.misc
Subject: Does Al wear abortion flippers?
Summary: article by Julie Rovner
Date: 12 Sep 92 18:10:52 GMT
Followup-To: alt.politics.bush
Organization: Duke University; Durham, N.C.

I thought that title might get your attention. Below is an article by
Julie Rovner for _American Caucus_ magazine. Again, I only offer it for
the sake of discussion. This article is in _American Caucus_ Issue for
Jul 20- Aug 02 92, p9. Little bitty article.

DID GORE FLIP-FLOP ON ABORTION
Julie Rovner

Did Al Gore flip-flop on abortion? His staff says no, but his stance
hasn't always been what it is today.

Since winning election to the Senate in 1984, the Tennessee Democrat
has been a steadfast supporter of abortion rights, prompting the
National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) to praise his selection
as Bill Clinton's running mate.

But during his House tenure (1977-85), Gore's abortion record was
murkier. According to the National Right to Life Committee, Gore voted
with abortion opponents more than 80% of the time. And his pronouncements
at the time reflected that voting record. In a 1983 letter to a 
constituent, Gore wrote, "In my opinion, it is wrong to spend federal
funds for what is arguably the taking of a human life. ... Let me assure
you that I share your belief that innocent human life must be protected,
and I have an open mind on how to further this goal."

Gore aides dispute any suggestion that their boss has seriously altered
his position. "Senator Gore has always supported a woman's right to
choose," said Greg Simon, Gore's legislative director, although, "he
has consistently, since day one, opposed federal funding except in cases
of rape, incest, or the life of the mother."

But others have noticed the change. "Since he's been in the Senate, he's
been fine," said Bill Hamilton, head of the Washington Office of the
Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "But in the House, his record was
considerably more mixed."

A look at the record reveals a divergence between his House and Senate
voting records on the issue. One explanation is that most of the abortion
votes the House took during Gore's tenure were on funding questions, while
most of those in the Senate have been on other matters.

As a House member, Gore consistently voted against rape and incest
exceptions for federal abortion funding. Simon noted that most of those
amendments included language allowing federal funding for abortions
needed for health reasons, which Gore did not support.

In 1984, Gore voted for an amendment to a civil rights bill that would have
defined "person" to include unborn children from the moment of conception.
Simon said that, too, was consistent with Gore's position, since it would
have had funding implications.

But Gore has demonstrably flip-flopped on at least one abortion-related
issue -- whether the District of Columbia should be allowed to use its
own tax funds (not federal money) for abortions. In the Senate, Gore has
consistently voted "yes" on that issue, but as a member of the House in
1980, he voted the other way. Simon described the 1980 vote as "an
aberration."

Gore's rhetoric has changed, too. At a June 25 press conference, Gore
joined with more than two dozen Senate colleagues in endorsing the so-called
Freedom of Choice Act, which would bar by federal law most state abortion
restrictions.

"As others have said, the real question is not which choice a woman makes,"
Gore said. "The question is whether or not the woman will have the right
to choose, or whether instead the government will decide that it knows
best in every situation regardless of the circumstances."
*** END ***

------------------

Description of Albert Gore's voting record
courtesy (without permission) of _American Caucus_, ibid.

Presidential support: sided with the position of the President on a bill
Party unity: sides with a majority of voting Democrats opposing a majority
	     of opposing Republicans
Conservative Coalition: sided with position taken by coalition of Southern
	Democrats and Republicans when a majority of them were opposed
	by a majority of non-Southern Democrats
Scores from 1987 on have been adjusted for absences; for previous years, a
failure to vote lowers the member's score.

	Presidential	Party		Conservative
	Support		Unity		Coalition
Yr	S	O	S	O	S	O
	SENATE SERVICE: VOTING PERCENTAGES
1992*	28	72	94	6	24	76
1991	46	54	86	14	35	65
1990	38	62	93	7	41	59
1989	66	34	79	21	61	39
1988	53	47	93	7	24	76
1987	20	80	95	5	27	73
1986	29	71	83	17	33	67
1985	34	66	86	14	50	50
	HOUSE SERVICE: VOTING PERCENTAGES
1984	46	45	69	22	56	34
1983	29	61	77	13	39	58
1982	45	52	89	11	47	53
1981	39	59	80	17	47	53

1980	77	22	85	15	46	54
1979	78	21	83	16	38	62
1978	68	28	75	21	30	66
1977	77	23	77	22	35	64

* Through Jul 1 92

INTEREST GROUP RATINGS FOR AL GORE, ibid.
ADA: Americans for Democratic Action (liberal)
ACU: American Conservative Union (conservative)
AFL-CIO: American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations
	(labor)
CCUS: Chamber of Commerce of the United States (business)

Scores reflect percentage of times he agreed with the group's position
on votes it regarded as important.

Yr	ADA	ACU	AFL-CIO	CCUS
SENATE
91	75	14	83	20
90	78	9	89	17
89	55	19	88	60
88	60	9	83	45
87	60	6	100	10
86	70	9	87	32
85	65	17	86	41

HOUSE
84	65	22	62	31
83	70	20	88	28
82	70	29	90	18
81	70	13	93	11
80	50	29	79	67
79	74	12	80	22
78	65	15	70	22
77	45	30	78	41
-- 
Emil Thomas Chuck (Duke BME '93)		eyc@acpub.duke.edu
I'm too busy for my class, too busy for my clubs, too busy for my work.
I'm too busy for my mail, too busy for my news, too busy for my calls.
I'm too busy for this .sig. 
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