The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

p> MARCHING FOR LIFE br> "Most anniversaries are causes for celebration," said Philadelphia Roman Catholic Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua . "This one is not. It is a day of mourning. Mourning for this immoral, unjust, illogical [ Roe v. Wade ] decision." /p>

Bevilacqua, a stalwart in the fight against the murder of the unborn, led more than 100 priests and 7,000 attendees in an all-night vigil Tuesday night at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Later, on Wednesday morning, more than 50,000 gathered on the Mall before heading up to the Supreme Court building in the annual March for Life.

Both events were marked by the presence of thousands of young people from elementary and high schools around the country -- young enthusiastic kids with the most basic sense that abortion is wrong.

Now compare those events with the National Abortion Rights Action League/Pro-Choice America dinner held on Tuesday night in Washington. Dutifully seated at the dais was the "Democratic six-pack" of presidential wannabes: Dean, Edwards, Gephardt, Kerry, Loserman and Sharpton.

The event was made up mainly of middle-aged white women, bitter at the world, expecting the six men to service their desires for more unborn to be sacrificed at any political or moral cost. All six were up to the task.

"It was most disappointing to see Richard Gephardt up there selling his soul down the river," says a pro-life lobbyist in Washington. "He moved over to the dark side years ago, but hearing him rationalize his decision to support the killing of the unborn, when he was opposed to it early on his congressional career, is sad. He'd have so many more votes and admirers were he a strong pro-lifer. Look at Governor [Robert] Casey in Pennsylvania."

Gephardt couldn't put his heart into it, however. Speaking from prepared notes and a Teleprompter, Gephardt appeared more wooden than he usually does. Edwards and Kerry received the greatest applause, though it appeared that Dean had purchased a block of tables at the NARAL dinner, judging by applause from one side of the hotel ballroom after he spoke.

Out on the March for Life trail, there was grumbling that President George Bush had (once again) chosen only to call in comments to the crowd. "We've come far enough along since President Reagan did that that we should have greater representation from this administration," says the lobbyist. "We helped Bush win this election, whether he wants to admit it or not. We helped him win the congressional majority. The Republicans owe us more than a phone call."

To be fair, Bush was meeting with pro-life activists in Gephardt's home turf of Missouri on Wednesday morning, before going telephonic. And in the end, what more can the Administration do, beyond putting in place a Supreme Court majority that will turn Roe. v. Wade back to the states? "That's all the more reason for them to give us the symbolic signs of support," says the lobbyist.

topics:
Abortion, Supreme Court, Military, Iraq, NATO