The Nation - Democrats shift their approach on abortion

For years, the liberal response to abortion has been to promote more accessible and affordable birth control as well as detailed sex education in public schools.

That's still the foundation of Democratic policies. But in a striking shift, Democrats in the House last week promoted a grab bag of programs designed not only to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but also to encourage women who do conceive to carry to term.

The new approach embraces some measures long sought by antiabortion activists. It's designed to appeal to the broad centrist bloc of voters who don't want to criminalize every abortion -- yet are troubled by a culture that accepts 1.3 million terminations a year.

"It's not as exciting as arguing," said antiabortion activist Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life. "But it's the best possible thing for women."

The Reducing the Need for Abortions Initiative provides millions in new funds to:

* Counsel more young women in crisis to consider adoption, not abortion.

* Launch an ad campaign to inform needy women that they can receive healthcare and other resources if they are "preparing for birth."

* Expand parenting education and medical services for pregnant women, in some cases by sending nurses to their homes.

* Offer day care at federal job-training centers to help new mothers become self-sufficient.

The initiative, part of a broader appropriations bill, passed the House with solid bipartisan support. A separate measure, still pending, calls for funding maternity and day-care centers on college campuses so pregnant students won't feel they must have an abortion to stay in school.

Such efforts are aimed at alleviating the concerns women often cite to explain why they've turned to abortion: financial strain, fear of raising a baby alone, disruption to work and school.

"We are willing to talk about anything that helps women make good choices," said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), co-chairwoman of the bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus. Preventing unplanned pregnancies, she said, "is not the whole story."

Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, a Democrat who opposes abortion, goes even further. For the first time, he said, his party is sending a forceful message to conflicted women: "Bring the baby to term, and we'll provide for you."