Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Obama Seeks Common Ground on Abortion

President focuses on reducing unwanted pregnancies

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 5, 2009 3:10 PM CST

(Newser) – President Obama is hoping a nuanced approach can soften the debate over one of the most contentious issues in America: abortion, writes Rob Stein in the Washington Post. Since taking office, Obama has lifted a Republican ban on funding international aid groups that provide abortion services, but also persuaded House Democrats to remove funding for contraceptives from the economic stimulus package.

While Obama has firmly declared his support for “a woman’s right to choose,” he’s urged both sides to examine the causes of unintended pregnancies. The strategy could lose him friends of both stripes, and many pro-lifers view it as nothing more than a Trojan horse. Still, the approach “could capture the imagination of the American people and do a lot to ease the culture wars,” suggests one professor.

Pro-choice activists, left, argue with pro-life activists on abortion issues in front of the US Supreme Court, Jan. 23, 2006 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

President Barack Obama speaks at the Energy Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama listens as Energy Secretary Stephen Chu speaks today. (AP Photo)

Pro-choice women protest President Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts Jr., July 20, 2005, in New York. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 4 comments

Doctor-Zaius

Feb 6, 2009 9:42 PM CST

Pubes hate the post for taking down their Heeero Richard Nixon.

Forderon

Feb 5, 2009 4:28 AM CST

Because the Post is way more respected, by Americans and the world in general, than the Times? Just because you agree with one over another doesn't mean it's better journalism. Look at the awards the Post has won...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prizes_won_by_The_Washington_Post....what has the Times won?

Guest

Feb 5, 2009 3:37 AM CST

Infidel I agree with your first point but your second point should be directed towards our liberal friends at the Washington Post. They won't be in business much longer anyway so I wouldn't worrry too much about the liberal bias over there. I think Newser just lifted it verbatim from them. However, how come they didn't lift it from the Washington Times instead? The article over at that fine example of good journalism might have been a bit more "nuanced".

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Washington Post (Source Grid »)

Christian right criticizes Obama's choice for deputy AG
Associated Press

Obama revamps Faith-Based Parnerships office to match abortion stance
Los Angeles Times

Politics • Crime & Courts • Health

Barack Obama • abortion • Barack Obama supporters • pro-life • pro-choice activists • Obama administration • President Obama

More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

(NEWSER) - Three years ago, Mitt Romney wrote that President Obama should " Let Detroit Go Bankrupt ," instead of bailing out the struggling auto industry, in a famous New York Times column. And today? Even with the American auto industry on the rebound, Michigan's GOP primary looming on Feb. 28, and Rick Santorum breathing down his neck in the polls , Romney still thinks bankruptcy would have been better than the president's "crony capitalism," he writes in the Detroit News . "I believe that without his intervention things there would be better," he writes. More»

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

(NEWSER) - President Obama officially unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget today, and as expected it draws a 2012 battle line, calling for higher taxes on the wealthy combined with spending measures intended to bolster the economy, the AP reports. "We built this budget around the idea that our country has always done best when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules," Obama said, according to CNN . "This is not about class warfare. This is about the nation's welfare." More»

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

(NEWSER) - The White House yesterday signaled a compromise over its contentious birth control decision, and the Wall Street Journal confirms that an attempt to accommodate the Catholic Church will likely be announced today. Details remain hazy, but one source tells the Journal that insurance companies, not religious employers, will become the ones who pay for contraception coverage. ABC News notes the move would be cheaper for health insurance companies than having to cover unwanted pregnancies and complications. But since the "accommodation" will still allow female employees access to birth control, Jake Tapper notes, it will likely not satisfy religious leaders. More»

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

(NEWSER) - President Obama continues to be successful raising money through small donations—and this time around, he's outpacing his campaign from four years ago. Last year, almost half of the money raised by the president's re-election campaign came from donors who gave $200 or less in total, a new report from the Campaign Finance Institute shows. In 2007, by comparison, just 22% of the $96.7 million he raised came from donations of $200 or less. In total, Obama raised $56.7 million from small donors last year, compared to the $38.1 million small donors contributed to all of his Republican opponents combined. More»

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

(NEWSER) - Ten of the first 11 states to apply for a waiver from the controversial No Child Left Behind law will be freed from the law's requirements by President Obama today, the AP reports. Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee received the waivers; New Mexico's application was not approved, but it is working with the White House to get the OK. Another 28 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are expected to seek waivers in the future; the heavily populated states of California, Pennsylvania, and Texas are among those that have not yet signaled they will apply. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Obama Seeks Common Ground on Abortion

President focuses on reducing unwanted pregnancies

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • abortion • Barack Obama supporters • pro-life • pro-choice activists • Obama administration • President Obama

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Obama Seeks Common Ground on Abortion

President focuses on reducing unwanted pregnancies

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • abortion • Barack Obama supporters • pro-life • pro-choice activists • Obama administration • President Obama

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?