Abortion and the Democrats

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THE PARTY OF DEATH: THE DEMOCRATS, THE MEDIA, THE COURTS AND THE DISREGARD FOR

HUMAN LIFE

By Ramesh Ponnuru, Regnery, $35.95, 303 pages

Let's get straight to the controversy about this book. Liberal journalist Kevin Drum, writing recently in the Washington Monthly blog, put it this way: "Why does everybody obsess about the title of the book?"

His answer: "Because in 100-point type it blares 'The Party of Death,' and the subtitle makes it clear who [Ramesh Ponnuru is] talking about: 'The Democrats, the Media, the Courts, and the Disregard for Human Life.'"

All true. Mr. Drum continues: "[I]f you decide to join the Ann Coulter school of book naming, you shouldn't complain when people get [upset] at the title of your book."

But "party of death" is not exactly a Ponnuru original. As he explains, the words are an adaptation of liberal (and pro-choice) philosopher Ronald Dworkin's honest summation that "abortion...and euthanasia...are both choices for death."

Nor is Mr. Ponnuru's use of the phrase to describe in large measure the Democratic party unique. One Democratic operative warned Democrats gloating over the Republican failure to save Terri Schiavo's life that "We can't just be the party of death." So for Mr. Drum and others to complain that the title is too biting for the fragile nature of their liberal constitutions is a shameless dodge.

Next question: "Why aren't serious lefties giving it serious reviews?"