The Republican Party has a narrative for being pro-life that goes something like this: keep electing Republicans to office and then someday in the future (if we can all hold office for long enough) we’ll repeal Roe v. Wade.
That’s pretty much it. The entire plan can be summed up in the words “vote Republican.” But voting Republican has changed hardly anything.
I have been asked one question more than any other by conservatives who find out about my Obama Year project. When I say that I’m going to spend a year as a progressive the first thing that occurs to them isn’t fiscal policy, healthcare, or marriage equality. They don’t quiz me on foreign affairs, drone strikes, or immigration. Instead, they look at me with a mixture of concern and horror and ask “are you going to switch your position on abortion?”