Roe Vs. Wade Anniversary Marked

Monday, January 22nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) â€” Abortion rights supporters are used to battle. But the ground has changed for the 28th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Abortion foes were energized by the changed political landscape and planned to be out in force Monday, marking the Supreme Court ruling with marches and protests.

Bill Clinton, who helped the cause for keeping abortions legal, is gone from the White House, replaced by anti-abortion President Bush, who has nominated an even more staunch abortion opponent, John Ashcroft, as attorney general.

White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card served notice Sunday that several key abortion policies would be quickly reviewed by the Bush administration.

Asked about the recently approved RU-486 abortion pill, Card said, ``We're going to take a look at all of the regulations. We're going to take a look at all the executive orders.''

Another regulation approved by Clinton restored federal funding for some groups that offer abortion counseling overseas. ``That's an important matter,'' press secretary Ari Fleischer said. ``The president does not support using federal funds to promote abortion.

``Certainly we can't count on the White House now,'' said Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women. ``And we may not be able to count on the court even now â€” but for sure if one more nominee gets through that's anything like the Ashcroft model.''

As a Republican senator from Missouri, Ashcroft proposed a constitutional amendment that would outlaw nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape and incest. He also opposes most forms of contraception.

Republicans also control Congress now, and Bush could appoint one or more Supreme Court justices. Just one appointment could tip the balance â€” with many decisions now being made on 5-4 votes. Any nominee, however, would have to be approved by a Senate divided 50-50 along party lines.

``It's like a shot across the bow â€” a warning of things to come that could impact long past Bush's term, even if he's a two-term president,'' Ireland said.

First lady Laura Bush broke from her husband's views last week and said she did not think the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling should be overturned. But that gives little comfort to abortion rights supporters.

Regardless of what his wife thinks, ``Bush has signaled that he is going to act on his personal convictions that a woman should not have the right to choose,'' said Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Abortion opponents are more upbeat than they have been in years. They include Norma McCorvey, the ``Jane Roe'' of Roe v. Wade who now runs Dallas-based Roe No More Ministry, a speakers' referral service for the anti-abortion cause.

``I think the majority of pro-lifers are really looking forward to President Bush getting into office,'' McCorvey said. ``I think we all have the same dream: We'd like to see Roe v. Wade overturned.''

Abortion opponents think it's just a matter of time before abortion is outlawed again. ``I think pro-life people â€” and I think that's a majority in the country â€” certainly feel better now,'' said David O'Steen, executive director of National Right to Life.

McCorvey, meanwhile, dismissed Ashcroft's statement at his Senate confirmation hearing that he would not try to make abortion illegal.

``I would like to think that John didn't really mean that,'' she said.

But neither side is taking anything for granted.

Monday's marches and other events by abortion opponents were being countered with efforts by abortion rights groups to mobilize their forces against Ashcroft with radio ads and Internet campaigns.

Americans in general remain split on abortion. An exit poll in the presidential election found more voters favored keeping abortion legal, 55 percent to 42 percent. But only 20 percent thought it should be legal in all cases and 35 percent said it should be legal in most cases.

Outlawing abortion after nearly three decades won't be easy.

The fight isn't solely about Roe v. Wade anymore, said Laura Woliver, a political scientist and associate director of women's studies at the University of South Carolina. Abortion access can be eroded in other ways â€” through regulation or by giving states more power, she noted.

As attorney general, Ashcroft would decide how to enforce such laws as the Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrances law that seeks to ensure that patients and employees can come and go safely, Woliver said.

Anti-abortion groups want Bush to repeal some Clinton executive orders. One eliminated the rule barring clinics from discussing abortion if they receive federal funds. Another ended the policy preventing foreign aid from funding abortions or educating people about them.

Bush supports tightening standards for doctors administering the newly approved abortion pill RU-486, and has said he would sign legislation banning the late-term abortion procedure critics call ``partial-birth abortion'' that Clinton has vetoed. Bush also opposes federally funded research using stem cells from discarded human embryos.