Fool Me Umpteen Times, Blame on Me.

Those who've faithfully read National Right to Life News and its online sister "Today's News & Views" remember that as far back as the immediate aftermath of pro-abortion Sen. John Kerry's 2004 loss to pro-life President George Bush, Democrats knew they had to recalibrate their rhetorical position on abortion, an issue that had hurt them badly. After a number of dry runs, a two-pronged strategy emerged.

First, they went back to the future. They've attempted to enlarge what it means to be "pro-life."

If this sounds familiar, it ought to. For decades pro-abortionists have attempted to subsume/neutralize the abortion issue by making it just one among many issues. This time around they are getting more help than usual from religious "progressives."

Second, they insist that even on abortion itself, they are pro-life. The difference is, they say, that they are in favor of what might be called "soft power." That is, more emphasis on persuasion and incentives than on legislation.

Some very well-meaning people are entranced. Others, who ought to know better, are intrigued. Still others, knowing this is all speed and no altitude, are exuberant. What say we to this?

Let's look at it through the prism of the Democrats' new language on abortion, part of the platform that was adopted at the National Democratic Convention in Denver.

According to a Washington Post blog, "Left-leaning opponents of abortion rights" love the new language. (Proving yet again that headline writers often misread copy, the headline read, "Conservative Dems Hail Party Platform's New Abortion Plank." The last thing any of those quoted in the story would do is describe themselves as "conservative.")