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For over thirty years the Republican Party has claimed they were the Pro-Life Anti-Abortion Party and history proves somewhat otherwise.In 1973 when the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade Richard Nixon was President. The Court was made up of 6 Republican appointed Justices with the remaining 3 being Democratic appointees. The Roe decision was 7-2 with one Republican Rehnquist and one Democrat White voting against it.
In June 1992 the Republican advantage grew to 8 to 1. Abortion could have been overturned when they ruled on Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Instead they chose not to 5 to 4. ( http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/306/ ) Notice it only passed by one vote.
Again in June 2000 the Republicans with a 7 to 2 advantage had a golden opportunity to reverse Roe v. Wade when it decided Stenberg v. Carhart but didn't.
Instead they ruled it legal to perform Partial Birth Abortions 5 to 4. Again passing by one vote.
In November 2003 President Bush signed a Bill outlawing this procedure knowing it had been tested in the Supreme Court and struck down. It would take a Constitutional Amendment giving the unborn rights instead of a law to change this. (http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/678/ )
The Republican Party will claim they need to be in the White House so if a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court they can appoint a conservative Judge. Because a large number of voters will base their decision on how they vote on that issue alone the Republicans aren't going to give up their one vote carrot on a stick. Then come next election they'd lose all those sure votes
