Obama's Test

(A minor footnote: In 1999 I tried to get candidate George W. Bush to propose an ultrasound initiative of that kind. He and his advisors agreed to do so. The plan was to announce that initiative on a particular day—but when Pat Buchanan announced his candidacy just before the planned Bush announcement, Bush postponed the announcement so as not to seem to be reacting to Buchanan. The measure fell off the agenda and never got back on, even after Bush gained the White House.)

Republican pro-life leader Chris Smith has co-sponsored the act, which would allow abortion choice but help it to become informed choice. Pregnant women would also have to receive information about adoption. Pro-life groups like Americans United for Life and CareNet have supported the act, and so have individuals and groups on the left such as Tony Campolo, Martin Sheen, and Sojourners.

Obama is conspicuous by his absence. He has received huge support from pro-abortion groups, but as he transitions from Democratic primary battles to the general election, let's watch whether he moves even slightly toward the middle by announcing his support for the act. If he won't even take that small step, I wonder how Christians can support him.

If he does announce his support of it, Obama will upset some of his radical backers, but he'll gain the support of many Casey Democrats in crucial swing states—and I suspect he will be the next president of the United States.