Pro-Life Democrat Will Represent Party Despite Abortion Battle

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 9, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 9
, 2005

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A leading pro-life Democrat announced Friday he will serve as a spokesman for the Democratic Party despite losing a battle over for the party chairmanship over the controversial issue of abortion.

Former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer told an audience at the National Press Club that he has been asked by representatives of the Democratic National Committee to speak for the party on social issues at local Democrat functions.

Roemer made a bid for the party chairmanship and said the party needed to reconsider its strong pro-abrotion views to attract more voters in the South and Midwest. However, he lost to former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, an abortion advocate who lost the presidential nomination to John Kerry but found himself the darling of pro-abortion groups and the party;s liberal wing.

Although abortion advocates ran a fierce campaign against Roemer — snubbing him from meetings and booing him at gatherings — Dean decided he would be a valuable speaker.

"They’ve reached out and asked if I want to go to different states, give Jefferson-Jackson speeches, reach out and talk about some of the issues I talked about in the DNC race," Roemer said.

"There were missed opportunities in the last election," Roemer added. "The American people are right, and exhibiting their common sense on these issues. Neither one of the candidates did an effective job in communicating with them.”

Roemer said no schedule had been arranged yet for him to speak at local functions but he indicated he has received several offers to attend gatherings.

Roemer told the National Press Club panel that the Democratic Party should address issues like abortion, but in a more moderate way.

"The Democratic Party has an ocean of room and a huge opportunity to address these issues in the future," Roemer said. He added the party has been offering an "inarticulate response" on the issue.