Changing Course On Abortion

PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY HAVE WEASELED ON SOME of his campaign promises, but not his pledge to liberalize Washington's attitude toward abortion. Last week the White House unveiled two more proposals. One would undo the Hyde amendment, the 16-year-old ban on federal financing of abortions for poor women through Medicaid; the other would permit federal aid to international population- control groups that provide or pay for abortions.

Pro-choicers praised the Administration for aiming to ensure that all women, rich and poor, have the same reproductive options, and for getting serious about global overpopulation. Opponents, who will fight the proposals in Congress, accused Clinton of forcing many taxpayers to help pay for what they believe is murder. Both measures could become flash points in a dispute that is sparking increasing violence. Just three weeks after a doctor who performed abortions was gunned down in Florida, an abortion clinic in Montana was set ablaze.