The Republicans tried to shoot themselves in the foot and missed. At a recent Republican gathering at Indian Wells, California, social conservatives introduced a resolution saying that those Republicans who do not oppose the partial-birth abortion should be denied party funds in their election campaigns. After some heated debate, this resolution was voted down by a wide margin. Republican leaders have ducked and weaved on abortion and other cultural issues so much that it is understandable that many social conservatives have become exasperated with them. If this resolution simply reflected this exasperation and this desire to have the party stand for something other than its own re-election, then that is understandable.
Results require power and power usually requires allies.
It is virtually inconceivable that a ban on partial-birth abortions can be legislated if the Republicans do not have control of Congress and of the Congressional committees that deal with this and other issues. Liberals have long understood such basic facts of political life. Republicans have too long ignored the concerns and priorities of social conservatives who have supported them. Steve Forbes' reaching out to such people is an overdue change. Politically, it is an ideal issue on which to build alliances across party and ideological lines, for there are non-religious people and even some liberals who cannot stomach this procedure, once they know what it is.