Abortion Rights Group Vows GOP Platform Fight

Seventy-five Republicans who back abortion rights Saturday promised an all-out political battle at the 1992 Republican National Convention to change the anti-abortion stand in the party’s platform.

The GOP activists, calling themselves Republicans for Choice, staged a strategy session and talked about running primary challengers against President Bush in some states.

Delegates under such a “favorite daughters” approach would be pledged to Bush but would back abortion rights.

The GOP platform has adopted the anti-abortion position, but “we’re not going to roll over again,” said Ann Stone, the group’s chairwoman. “We have stopped being civil and silent.”

The view that the Republican Party “isn’t big enough for the two of us has got to go,” said Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), a member of the group. Adhering to an anti-abortion stance could jeopardize the party’s future, she said.

Stone said the White House and GOP leaders have been told that depending on how party platform hearings turn out, “there will be a floor fight” at next year’s convention. “We can guarantee them that,” she added.