Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 29, 1990 TAG: 9004290095
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
President Bush - in brief, rather restrained telephone comments to the "Rally for Life" that were boomed across the packed field - said, "Our mission must be to help more and more Americans make the right choice, the choice for life."
"Like you, I realize that the widespread prevalence of abortion in America is a tragedy, not only in terms of lives destroyed but because it so fundamentally contradicts the values we as Americans hold dear," the president told the crowd gathered under a blistering sun on one of the hottest April days on record.
Bush did not call, as he has in the past, for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion. Nor did he make any reference to efforts by the anti-abortion movement to persuade the states to pass restrictions on abortions.
Rather, with the Republican Party split on the issue, Bush spoke in a general way about the commitment of Americans to preserving "the sanctity and dignity of all human life."
While his comments drew only tepid applause, Vice President Dan Quayle stirred the rally with a firm declaration that "the pro-life movement is the humanitarian movement of our time."
"Will the American people continue to accept the notion that an unborn child is disposable?" said Quayle, long a foe of abortion. "Our answer is: not in this country. Not now. Not ever."
His comments drew cheers, whistles, a standing ovation and finally a prolonged chant, "Pro-life, pro-life, pro-life." But Quayle also omitted calls for a constitutional amendment or state-level anti-abortion legislation.
The U.S. Park Police estimated the crowd at 200,000, far larger than the anti-abortion march in January, which drew an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people. But it was less than the estimated 300,000 people who marched on Washington a year ago in support of abortion availability and put new pressure on elected officials.
Organizers of Saturday's rally, which was months in the planning, appeared pleased by the turnout from across the country, which was considered crucial to counteract the new strength of the abortion-rights effort.
The rally, organized by the National Right to Life Committee, with the theme "abortion stops a beating heart," was designed to counteract the impression that the anti-abortion forces have been on the defensive and in political decline as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services, which gave the states new latitude to restrict abortion.
The anti-abortion forces have suffered setbacks in elections as well as in state capitals since then.
by CNB