Anti-Abortion Movement on Defensive After Doctor's Slaying

The slaying of Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas abortion doctor, has put the anti-abortion movement on the defensive. Despite condemning the killing, leaders are worried that the backlash could temporarily silence the abortion debate. At a time when the movement is reeling from the failure to dominate last year's election and is concerned that their cause won't be at the center of the hearings on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, anti-abortion leaders are delicately distancing themselves from the accused killer while positioning their stand as one shared by a majority of Americans.

Key Takeaways:

• Anti-abortion leaders condemned the killing of Dr. George Tiller, but are worried that the backlash could temporarily silence the abortion debate.
• The anti-abortion movement has been on the defensive since the failure to dominate last year's election and is concerned that their cause won't be at the center of the hearings on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee.
• A Gallup Poll found that 51 percent of Americans now call themselves pro-life rather than pro-choice, the first time since 1995.
• Anti-abortion leaders argue that public opinion is moving towards their position, despite the killing of Dr. Tiller.
• The women's clinic run by Tiller, where abortions are performed after the 21st week of pregnancy, has been a lightning rod for abortion opponents for decades.
• The clinic has been the site of repeated protests and was bombed in 1985, with a protester shooting Tiller in both arms eight years later.
• Some anti-abortion leaders believe that Tiller's abortion practices have been "glossed over" and are not being given enough attention.
• Abortion opponents have long argued that the public opinion is moving towards their position, with several saying that they don't expect this trend to change with Tiller's death.

Statistics:

• 51 percent of Americans now consider themselves pro-life rather than pro-choice, according to a Gallup Poll published last month.
• The clinic run by Dr. Tiller is one of three in the nation where abortions are performed after the 21st week of pregnancy.
• The clinic has been the site of repeated protests and was bombed in 1985.

Sources:

• Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, as quoted in the article.
• Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, as quoted in the National Press Club in Washington.
• Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, as quoted in the article.
• David O'Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee, as quoted in the article.
• The Gallup Poll, cited in the article.