Nancy Pelosi: Democrats Can Be Against Abortion

WASHINGTON, DC — Asked by "Meet The Press" host Chuck Todd Sunday if a Democrat could be against abortion, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said, "Of course."

"I have served many years in Congress with members who have not shared my very positive — my family would say aggressive — position on promoting a woman's right to choose," said Pelosi.

Todd brought up the issue in relation to Independent Senator — and a Democrat candidate for president last year — Bernie Sanders' endorsement of pro-life Democrat Heath Mello for mayor in Omaha, Nebraska. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Pelosi's fellow Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, had a different take when he appeared on CNN Sunday morning. Asked by CNN's Dana Bash if he was "with [pro-choice group] NARAL or Senator Sanders?" he replied, "I am committed to women's rights under the law, reproductive rights certainly, and our party is."

"We've made that part of our platform and position for a long, long time, Durbin continued. "I know within the ranks of the Democratic Party there are those who see that differently on a personal basis, but when it comes to the policy position, I think we need to be clear and unequivocal.

"We need to be understanding of those who take a different position, because of personal conscience, but as long as they are prepared to back the law, Roe versus Wade, prepared to back women's rights as we've defined them under the law, then I think they can be part of the party."

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