LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Linda Wertheimer, of National Public Radio, begins report on abortion rights debate, providing context of the battle between pro-life and pro-choice sides ever since the Roe v. Wade decision. A recent failure of constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion failed in the Senate, but the pro-life faction has had small victories in Congress and U.S. President Ronald Reagan is on their side, which brings the issue to the forefront in an election year.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Excerpt from the Annual Convention of the National Religious Broadcasters, January 30, 1984. President Ronald Reagan addressing pro-life audience, reviling practice of abortion. "We cannot pretend that America is preserving her first and highest ideal, the belief that each life is sacred, when we've permitted the deaths of fifteen million helpless innocents since the Roe versus Wade decision. Fifteen million children who will never laugh, never sing, never know the joy of human love, will never strive to heal the sick, feed the poor, or make peace among nations."
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Jean Doyle, National Right to Life Committee: "Well I don't think there ever was another President in the history of our nation who took up a cause so strongly as he (Reagan) did the pro-life cause." Nanette Falkenberg, National Abortion Rights Action League: "There is more of the old emotional, more violent activity around clinics now then there's been in several years."
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Adult Caucasian woman in car arguing with adult African American male pro-life supporter, holding a sign: "Abortion is Murder"; adult Caucasian male pro-life supporter standing by, watching, smiling. Three adult Caucasian men pro-life supporters walking on a sidewalk, one man holding "Save the Babies" sign; pile of bloodied, mutilated baby dolls in the FG. Male and female pro-life supporters picketing an abortion clinic, chanting slogans.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Nanette Falkenberg, National Abortion Rights Action League, believes U.S. President Ronald Reagan's rhetoric feeds into the emotional aspects of the issue really helps fuel that, so that s a big part now of their strategy. Adult Caucasian man and woman entering side door of an abortion clinic; people's voices heard off screen yelling at them not to go through with it. A man in confrontation with a male pro-life protester, giving a religious argument against letting his wife go through with an abortion; man walks away, followed by man and women pro-life protestors. Adult Caucasian female walking, holding her baby to her chest. Jean Doyle, National Right to Life Committee, explaining that clinic protesters are there to counsel women, who will tell them this is not their only option.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Adult Caucasian male and female anti-abortion proponents holding a protest next to a federal building; Linda Wertheimer, in voiceover, notes the loss their movement suffered with the defeat of Constitutional amendment in the Senate, but smaller wins in the House of Representatives with abortion funding restrictions. U.S. House Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) speaking in Congress. Rep. Smith speaks to Wertheimer in office, on restricting federal funding for abortion services, which has to be done on a piecemeal basis on various pieces of legislation.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
U.S. House Representatives Victor Fazio (D-CA) and Bill Green (R-NY) at press conference; Linda Wertheimer, in voice over, notes pro-choice forces are fighting back through proposed legislation that would roll back all federal funding restrictions for abortion. Rep. Green states the purpose of the legislation is to repeal all the current restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion, and do so in a way that there will not have to be annual fights on appropriation bills; elderly adult Caucasian men sitting and listening, one adult Caucasian woman among them. Rep. Fazio accuses those who oppose abortion of using the budgetary process as a way of blackmailing the Congress into going along on a piecemeal basis; men and women standing and listening. Rep. Green standing at lectern, flanked by adult Caucasian and African American women; Wertheimer, in voice over, notes the proposed legislation has fifty co-sponsors.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Linda Wertheimer in the office of Ann Lewis, Political Director of Democratic National Committee: "Something really wonderful happened in the political system after 1980. I think the battle axe has become a boomerang. I think the American people are so turned off by vicious, negative, personal campaigning. They have had less and less effect in every district." Three adult Caucasian female pro-life protesters picketing outside U.S. House Representative Tom Harkin's (D-IA) office. Life Amendment Political Action Committee (PAC) leader addressing a group of men and women on their belief that "these social parasites have forfeited the right to hold office." and that targeted Congressmen will be given plants that have not yet opened sprayed with black paint to signify the unborn children, the pre-born children that are buds that will not open; Wertheimer, in voiceover, notes they have a list of twelve Congressmen to defeat in upcoming elections.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Ann Lewis, Political Director of Democratic National Committee, says no candidate wants to be the target of attacks, or that millions of dollars can be raised out of state to oppose them, but the bottom line shows that pro-life groups have lost a lot of their effectiveness. U.S. House Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) believes that the movement can support or provide of volunteers into any given Congressional race. Pro-life poster of fetus in an office: "Speak out for the silenced minority"; zoom out to adult Caucasian female volunteers working at a table, stuffing envelopes.
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Excerpt from the Annual Convention of the National Religious Broadcasters, January 30, 1984. President Ronald Reagan addressing Pro Life audience, "Suffer the little children to come unto me..."Nanette Falkenberg, National Abortion Rights Action League: "This election year, I would say our first priority is the defeat of President Reagan. The future of Roe vs. Wade, the decision that guarantees the right to choose, is very much in jeopardy if President Reagan is re-elected and has the opportunity to appoint two or more additional Justices to the Court."
LAWMAKERS June 21, 1984 - Abortion Clinic Protests
Host Paul Duke and Linda Wertheimer, in studio, discuss the salience of abortion to the campaign. Duke asks Wertheimer just how big a campaign issue abortion will be. Wertheimer doesn't see it being as big an issue as it was in 1980. Social issues are not top line issues as much as pocketbook issues.