Giuliani’s Abortion Figures Are Compared to National Trend

NY Times ^ | May 17, 2007 | KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

[neverdem]

In the first two Republican presidential debates, Rudolph W. Giuliani has addressed questions about his stand on abortion by citing figures showing that abortions declined when he was mayor of New York, while adoptions increased.

Mr. Giuliani’s implication was that he had successfully reduced abortions at least in part by encouraging adoptions.

“We should do what I did in New York, which is to try to reduce abortions as much as you can, try to increase adoptions,” he said during the debate on Tuesday night, adding that the number of adoptions in the city increased 133 percent during his years as mayor, while abortions dropped 16 percent.

A review of the figures from Mr. Giuliani’s years as mayor, from 1994 to 2001, shows that although abortions did decline and adoptions did increase, the changes mirrored national trends.

Furthermore, other factors probably contributed to those changes, calling into question Mr. Giuliani’s suggesting correlation between the two trends.

On abortions, the number decreased in New York City in Mr. Giuliani’s tenure by 18 percent, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which studies reproductive health and policy. Nationally, the number fell in that period by 13 percent.

As mayor, Mr. Giuliani continued a strong tradition of supporting abortion rights, including using public money to provide poor women with abortions, as well as contraceptive services.

JoAnn M. Smith, president and chief executive of Family Planning Advocates of New York State, attributed the decline in abortion in New York chiefly to the state’s having long been a leader in providing and expanding contraceptive services and supplies through Medicaid.

“If you’re going to make a dent in abortion rates, you have to make sure women have prevention services,” Ms. Smith said, “and New York State has made a real commitment to that. Giuliani was part of the....”

[juliej]

They have no problem with all the liberal girl babies being aborted by their pals.

[Kenny Bunk]

some irresponsible people would realize that abortion is not a legitimate form of birth control.

I would not bet that way.

BTW, thanks for your succinct explanation of the effects of Roe vs Wade. However, in re Giuliani, claiming "credit" for adoptions and fewer abortions: it's an American political tradition. Office holders get credit for anything good that happens on their watch. Conversely, they get blamed for anything bad. Clinton gets credit for a "robust economy" during his tenure, which was really Bush I's doing. Giuliani can claim credit for anything perceived as good happening while he was mayor, a period now entering "legend" status, i.e. like PT 109, the story gets better with each telling.

[juliej]

Yes, Giuliani is trying to grab credit for the number of adoptions increasing in NYC and believe me, he had nothing to do with that. National Review summed him up very nicely: “Pro lifers will have to turn elsewhere . . . Giuliani could simply have stated [as the late Senator Paul Coverdell did] that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision and that this should have been left to the states”. He has made it clear that he is no friend of pro lifers. Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas is technically not pro life but has a strong pro life voting record. Rudy simply has no respect for the preborn. I cannot bring myself to vote for him because of this.