Obama Breaks Campaign Promise to Sign Abortion Bill Immediately

President Obama made clear on Wednesday that a controversial abortion rights law is not among his top priorities, despite a campaign promise that signing the bill would be his first act in office.

In his third primetime news conference marking his 100th day as president, Obama said he was more interested in finding ways to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, especially teen pregnancies.

"The Freedom of Choice Act is not my highest legislative priority," Obama said. "The most important thing we can do is to tamp down some of the anger surrounding the issue to focus on those areas we can agree on."

That was a sharp departure from his comments at an address before Planned Parenthood in the summer of 2007.

"The first thing I will do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act," he said at the time.

The measure, which has provoked furor among opponents of abortion, seeks to codify Roe v. Wade -- the landmark 1973 Supreme Court abortions rights case -- into federal law and remove all restrictions on abortion in state statutes, including restraints on late-term abortions and parental notification laws.

On Wednesday, Obama said both sides must recognize abortion is both a moral and an ethical issue, adding that proponents of abortion rights are mistaken when they say abortion is merely "about women's freedom" without recognizing any other consideration.

"I'm pro-choice because I don't think women take that issue casually," he said. "Women are in a better position to make those decisions ... than members of Congress or the president of the United States."

Planned Parenthood did not return calls seeking comment but applauded Obama in a press release for making women's health a national priority during his first 100 days.

"While on the campaign trail, President Obama promised women and their families that he would not only tackle health care reform, but also end the politicization of women's health," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood.

"It's been a tremendous 100 days for those of us committed to strengthening women's health care and ensuring that young people have the information and care they need to become healthy and productive adults."

"Thanks to President Obama's leadership, health care decisions are now being driven by sound science and not political ideology," she added.