MEDIA ADVISORY, Jan. 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- "It is amazing to watch the venom and hatred that is being directed at Tim and Pam Tebow and Focus on the Family by the National Organization of Women (NOW) for a Super Bowl ad that they have not seen," said Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission. "This backlash exposes the irrational hatred of NOW who apparently despises any hint of a positive Christian message. CBS is to be commended for their willingness to not censor a wonderful story of a mother's courage and love."

Tim Tebow is a Heisman-winning, University of Florida quarterback and NFL prospect. The ad tells the story of his mother Pam in the ad funded by Focus on the Family. They tell of her high-risk pregnancy when she and her husband were missionaries in the Philippines. Although advised by her doctor to have an abortion, she chose to risk her own life and Tim Tebow was born.

Erin Matson of the National Organization for Women said, "This ad is frankly offensive. It is hate masquerading as love. It sends a message that abortion is always a mistake."

"Pam Tebow personifies virtues that everyone admires- faith, courage and sacrifice. Ironically, NOW attacks a woman for doing a very brave and virtuous thing because they will not look past their ideological blinders," said Cass. "NOW should be ashamed. Their disproportionate overreaction against the ad exposes their irrational anti-Christian bigotry." Christian NewsWire

Pro-Abortion Group Emily's List Shocked by Scott Brown Defeating Martha Coakley

Emily's List is quite possibly the most well-funded pro-abortion political group in the country and it directs millions of dollars to its candidates. The group lined up behind pro-abortion activists Martha Coakley in Massachusetts and, today, is reeling from the Scott Brown victory.

The organization is not used to losing and its outgoing president, Ellen Malcolm, will have to live with the legacy of the final election over which she presided ending in defeat in one of the most reliable pro-abortion states in the nation.

In an email to her supporters that LifeNews.com obtained, Malcolm said her group is "deeply disappointed in the results" and is trying to figure from its Wednesday morning daze to figure out what happened. LifeNews read more

Abortion is a ‘God-Given Right,’ Declares Liberal Leader

Rev. Carlton Veazy, president and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, told a small crowd of pro-abortion protesters that women have a “God-given right” to abortion and that opposition from pro-life congressmen and religious leaders would never take it away.
 
Veazy, closing speaker at a “Stop Stupak” rally on Capitol Hill staged by major pro-abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL-Pro Choice, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) told the crowd that not only did they have a constitutional right to abortion, but that they had a God-given one as well.
 
“Don’t let anybody tell you that religious people don’t support choice,” Veazy said at the gathering in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. “You not only have a constitutional right for abortion, but you have a God-given right.” read more CNSNews

Abortion Groups Plan Capitol Hill Lobby Day

On the heels of their efforts to send coat hangers to intimidate pro-life Democrats in the House, abortion groups are organizing a lobby day on Capitol Hill tomorrow.  Planned Parenthood tells The Hill that they expect approximately 500 activists. 

After being criticized for being late to the party on health care, the abortion lobby is desperately seeking to undo pro-life gains in health care reform.  Earlier this year Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) built a coalition of pro-life Democrats who forced Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to add language excluding government funding for abortion or plans that cover abortion in health care reform legislation. 

Pro-Life groups are working hard to ensure health care reform is not hijacked to include the greatest expansion of government-funded abortion since Roe v. Wade.  Fortunately, we have the American people on our side.  Recent polls show that 61% of Americans oppose funding abortion on-demand. Townhall

Upset Abortion Groups Meet at White House

Feminist abortion rights groups upset about abortion funding restrictions in the healthcare bill met with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel today. They made the outrageous claim that the funding restrictions in the bill will "push women into the back alley." Why are these femmies so upset - I thought we were all told the bill didnt allow for the federal funding of abortion?

ABCNews reported the following:

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and Domestic Policy Council director Melody Barnes, health care reform czar Nancy-ann DeParle and other White House officials met with a dozen officials from liberal women's and abortion right's groups this afternoon where they had a "frank exchange," in the words of one attendee.

The subject of the meeting was the amendment added to the House Democrats' health care reform bill Saturday night that bans abortion services from being covered under the government-run public insurance option and prohibits women who receive government subsidies for health insurance from buying private plans that cover abortion, offered by Reps. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and Joe Pitts, R-Penn.

Women's groups have reacted strongly to the amendment, with Terry O'Neill, the president of the National Organization for Women, telling ABC News that the president should not “achieve that goal [of passing health care reform] by pushing women back into the back alleys to die.”

Attendees included representatives from NOW, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, EMILY's List, the Feminist Majority, the National Women’s Law Center, the Guttmacher Institute, the Black Women’s Health Imperative, the National Latina Reproductive Health Institute, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and the National Partnership for Women and Families.

The White House sought to downplay the meeting, with spokesman Reid Cherlin saying in a statement, "As part of our ongoing outreach surrounding health insurance reform, staff met with today  with representatives of the women’s rights community.  Staff will also be meeting in coming days with leaders from communities of faith and other groups involved in the effort.”

Pro-abortion Emily's List Endorses Catholic Politicians

Eight Catholic Politicians Endorsed for 2010 Race

Emily's List spends millions of dollars supporting the campaigns of pro-abortion rights women. They advocate for complete and unrestricted access to abortion.

EMILY's List boasts that they are the largest political action committee (PAC) with more than 100,000 members. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has raised over $240 million and claims to have helped elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 15 to the U.S. Senate, and nine women Governors to state houses.

Pro-abortion women candidates benefit greatly when landing an endorsement from Emily's List. For the 2007-2008 election cycle, Emily's List raised $43 million to help elect the pro-abortion women they endorsed. A small percentage of the money goes directly to the candidates themselves, Emilys List like many PAC's uses their funds directly to influence specific races. Thus far, for the 2010 midterm election, Emily's List has receipts of over $9 million.

Emily's List has endorsed eighteen women for 2010 races. While twelve are incumbents with proven track records advancing abortion rights; five are candidates for the U.S. Senate and House, and one is a Gubernatorial candidate for the state of Florida.

Eight Catholic women have been endorsed by Emily's List so far, up from four Catholics in the 2008 election; three incumbent U.S. Senators, a senate candidate and four incumbent U.S. Representatives.

Over the years Emily's List has directed over $700,000 to these three CatholicSenators; $460,000 to Senator Murray, $118,000 to Mikulski and $135,000 to Gillibrand. Emily's List would report that their monetary investment has seen great returns. All three senators have received high marks from abortion rights groups--100% from Planned Parenthood and NARAL for their anti-life votes. read more

NARAL Gaffe Has Petition Opposing Denying Seniors Tax-Money for Abortions

Given the normal seriousness of the abortion debate and how the practice kills children and hurts women, there are few times when pro-life advocates can get a good chuckle. They received that today thanks to a NARAL gaffe that has the pro-abortion group wanting tax-funded abortions for America's senior citizens.

NARAL is on the attack against pro-life advocates like the Family Research Council, which is trying desperately to keep taxpayer funding of abortions out of the Congressional health care bills.

The pro-abortion group has a petition seeking signatures from abortion advocates.

Some 32,000 people have signed the document, which reads: "Anti-choice extremists at the Family Research Council are launching an outrageous media and lobbying campaign claiming that Congress' health-care reform bills will deny seniors the medical care they need in order to pay for abortion."

Thomas Peters of the American Papist blog noticed the blooper and informed LifeNews.com.

"Yes, you read that correctly -- NARAL is worried that seniors might lose their medical coverage for abortion," he chided. read more LifeNews

Pro-Abortion Group NARAL Attacks Pro-Life Democrat Bart Stupak on Health Care

Abortion advocates normally reserve their ammunition for attacks on pro-life Republicans and groups. They rarely focus their sights on pro-life Democrats, but they're now going after Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan because he is pressing for a vote to make sure the House health care bill doesn't fund abortions.

Stupak is leading the battle in Congress on HR 3200 and against the Capps Amendment that pro-abortion lawmakers added to deceive the public into thinking abortions will not be funded.

Because of his stalwart stance, NARAL has produced a new video attacking him that its president Nancy Keenan mailed to pro-abortion activists today.

"I'll be honest -- we all expected a fight from the usual anti-choice agitators on health-care reform," she said. "We expected it from Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), the Family Research Council, and the American Life League." read more LifeNews

Catholic Rep.Markey gets abortion-rights group's backing

Rep. Markey has a 33% pro-life voting record since taking office in January 2009.

Rep. Betsy Markey was among four House freshmen to win the endorsement of the nation's largest abortion-rights group in its first wave of choices last week.

Markey and the other three incumbents "all have strong records of protecting and defending a woman's right to choose, and we are committed to mobilizing our members in support of their respective re-election efforts," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

All three of Markey's likely Republican opponents oppose abortion rights. NARAL Pro-Choice America also endorsed Markey in 2008 when she unseated Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave. coloradoan

Catholic pro-abortion Senator Dodd wins NARAL endorsement

 "Sen. Dodd has a long and distinguished record of protecting and defending a woman's right to choose," -- Nancy Keenan, NARAL President

Abortion Advocates Upset by Dogged Pro-Life Campaign on Health Care Bills

The nation's biggest abortion advocacy groups are "frustrated" and "disheartened" by the debate over abortion funding in the health care reform bills, according to a new AP report today.

The news agency talked with a slew of pro-abortion activists who are also upset with President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats.

The pro-life movement has worked overtime to expose the abortion funding in each of the three main health care vehicles in Congress, HR 3200 and the Kennedy and Baucus bills.

It has led to millions of phone calls, emails and letters to members of Congress and numerous amendments, though they have all been defeated so far.

Stephanie Poggi of the National Network of Abortion Funds, which gives women money for abortions but not to carry a pregnancy to term, expressed the frustration.

"I'm profoundly disappointed," she told AP. "We felt health care reform is supposed to be about expanding care, not expanding inequality."

Terry O'Neill, the new president of NOW, said she is upset with Obama and colleagues who she says are backing down on abortion funding -- even though all three bills contain abortion subsidies and mandates. read more LifeNews

NARAL claims "far-right groups" are lying about abortion mandate - Main stream media outlets disagree

The following was sent to subscribers from pro-abortion group NARAL to solicit donations:

Stop the Lies!
Staunchly anti-choice politicians and far-right groups like the Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America are shamefully claiming that health-care reform will require "an abortion mandate." They are flooding the airwaves and blogosphere with outrageous distortions and outright lies.

Their primary goal is a nationwide abortion ban in the private health-insurance market, which would end coverage women already have, and derail legitimate health-care in the process.

Sadly, the lies are taking hold and women could pay the price.

Contribute today to help us fight the lies and spread the truth to the public.

Pro-life groups continue to fight denial by abortion rights groups that the health care bill in the House is a federal expansion of abortion. Even President Obama last week denied the bill allows for abortion coverage. But main stream media outlets, the Associated Press, Time magazine, and the nonpartisan FactCheck.org watchdog have acknowledged abortion coverage in the bill.

Catholic congresswoman who sponsored phony "Common Ground" Abortion Bill helping Emily's List

From LifeNews:

Rosa DeLauro has deceived the media and hopes to deceive pro-life advocates into thinking her Congressional bill is an attempt at "common ground" on abortion. But, the House member from Connecticut exposes her hand in a new fundraising email for Emily's List that bashes pro-life advocates.

DeLauro is the co-sponsor of a new bill along with pro-abortion Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio that is billed as a middle ground in the abortion debate.

The measure, which provides funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business and would require direct taxpayer-funding of abortions, has been panned by pro-life advocates as disingenuous.

Now, DeLauro tips her hand in a Tuesday fundraising pitch for the pro-abortion group Emily's List, and shows how much contempt she has for pro-life advocates.

"Disrupting town hall meetings, running radio ads attacking my colleagues, targeting 70 districts in 2010," she complains. "[Pro-life advocates] will do whatever it takes to regain the majority in the House."

"It's a chilling thought, given the work we need to do to get our country back on track. But I'm not discouraged; I'm fighting back," DeLauro says.

"And so is EMILY's List. They're working to protect my fellow Democratic incumbents under attack by the GOP and helping to elect more pro-choice Democratic women who will reject the political games of the right and work toward positive change in Washington," DeLauro continues. read more LifeNews

Former President Bill Clinton Pens Fundraising Email for Emily's List

Bill Clinton may no longer occupy the White House, but the abortion advocate can still make use of his fundraising prowess. Clinton penned an email fundraising pitch for the big pro-abortion group Emily's List that it sent out today to its members.

The email focuses on the 2010 Congressional elections and Clinton asks abortion advocates to give Emily's List money to supports it efforts to keep pro-abortion stalwarts in control of the House.

'We can't afford to lose our Democratic majority in 2010, and women -- our nation's most progressive force -- will be crucial to protecting and building upon our strength,' Clinton writes. "In 2010, EMILY's List will be critical to electing more progressive women to help President Obama make change happen."

Clinton said he is happy with the results of last year's elections, which saw pro-abortion presidential candidate Barack Obama win and more abortion advocates elected to Congress.

"But we can't rest on our laurels. History shows us that in 15 out of the last 17 midterm elections the party in the White House has lost seats in Congress. In 2010, if Congress switches hands, Republicans will regain power and President Obama's progress will grind to a halt," Clinton writes. read more LifeNews

NARAL Endorses Sotomayor for Supreme Court

  One of the country’s largest and oldest pro-abortion groups has officially endorsed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

     Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America (also known as the National Abortion Rights Action League), made the endorsement in a statement released today.

“President Obama made a sound choice in nominating Judge Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court,” the statement reads. “From the beginning, we have said her nomination reflects the president’s commitment to ensuring that justices…understand how the law affects everyday people’s lives, including the need to keep politicians from interfering in our personal, private medical decisions.”

The group also said she more strongly embraced the Roe v. Wade decision than did Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, the previous two nominees to the nation’s highest court.
    
     During her hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, Sotomayor said all precedents of the Supreme Court were “settled law”, to include Roe v. Wade. But when pressed by Sen. Lyndsey Graham (R-South Carolina), she admitted that “The word abortion is not used in the Constitution.” read more SBAList

NARAL Pro-Choice America Commends Catholic Sen. Dodd, HELP Committee Members for Preserving Abortion in the health care bill

NARAL: "Sen. Dodd’s leadership, along with other pro-choice senators, stopped divisive anti-choice attacks from undermining the first health-reform bill to clear a committee"

Full NARAL Statement:

NARAL thanks Catholic Congressman Jose Serrano for leading the effort that retained public funding of abortion

Bill goes to full House next week - Rules cmte to decide if pro-life amendment can be re-introducd in House

On Tuesday, July 7, the House Appropriations Committee voted 26-33 against reinstating the Dornan amendment in the budget bill for the District of Columbia. The Tiahrt-Davis Amendment was offered after the Dornan amendment was left out of the bill at the president's request. The Dornan amendment has prohibited public funding of abortion for 18 years.

In an email to supporters, Nancy Keenan, the president of NARAL praises the Catholic Congressman for leading the effort to oppose the pro-life amendment, "We cleared an important hurdle, thanks to the leadership of subcommittee chairman Rep. Jose Serrano and our pro-choice allies on the House Appropriations Committee," Keenan said.

To contact New York Congressman Jose Serrano By email

WASHINGTON OFFICE
2227 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3216
(202) 225-4361
Fax: (202) 225-6001

NARAL, Planned Parenthood Ramp Up Efforts to Keep Abortion in Health Care Reform Bill

Two major pro-abortion groups are ramping up their efforts to keep abortion coverage in the health care reform bill the Senate Finance committee is crafting. Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL, without ever using the term abortion, asked their members this morning to call to keep it in place.

As Congress considers various bills to restructure the health care system, pro-life advocates are asking that specific language be included to exclude abortion.

They say that, without such language making it clear that abortions are not covered in the government-run health care or paid for with taxpayer dollars, that the federal government or courts could include abortions.

With flowery language claiming women would lose access to "reproductive health care," Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards urged her troops to blast the Senate with calls and emails demanding abortion coverage and funding.

"We've feared all along that women and their reproductive health care could be the first to go when push comes to shove in health care reform," she says. read more LifeNews

Political Organizer, Terry O’Neill, wins NOW Presidency

Lawyer and political organizer Terry O’Neill won the Presidency of the National Organization for Women (NOW) by a slim margin — a mere eight votes — by promising to “restore NOW’s revenue stream,” “reverse our membership losses,” and “revitalize our message.”  Those goals, of course, acknowledge the facts that the premier feminist organization has been struggling to regain relevance and the feminist myths that undergird the organization are passé.  During the campaign for the NOW presidency, both candidates stressed the “need to energize” and rebuild its ranks.

O’Neill, who worked on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, ran against Lyles, an Obama supporter, bringing to the forefront the rancorous divisions in the Democrat party.  The narrow victory of O’Neill over Lyles exposes the disillusionment over Obama’s promise of change that lies just under the surface of the leftist political party.  The fact that the liberal membership of NOW was unwilling to take a chance on Lyles, who promised leadership in Obama’s pattern, indicates an erosion of support for the U.S. President who ran on a promise of “hope and change.”  The outcome of the NOW election indicates problems within the grass-roots base of the Democrat Party.  O’Neill’s victory spotlights fissures in the bulwark of support for the President just months into his presidency; the honeymoon is over, and he faces real problems enacting the rest of his agenda.  The base of the Democrat Party is no longer solidly behind Obama’s programs; NOW’s rejection of Lyles indicates that the feminists are not interested in moving in a more radical direction.  Lyles would have taken NOW in an even more extremist direction on the central issues of abortion, quotas, “equality,” and “justice.” read more Townhall

45 vigils planned for Tiller in 24 states

NARAL Pro-Choice America said that as of Saturday, 45 vigils had been scheduled in 24 states in honor of George Tiller.

Vigils were scheduled Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., and Santa Monica, Calif. Vigils are scheduled today in Madison, Wis., Milwaukee, Portland, Ore., and Allentown, Pa.

During the coming week, vigils will be held in Washington, D.C., Denver, Baltimore and Rochester, N.Y.

The group, which was founded as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws and later became the National Abortion Rights Action League, said that more than 12,500 people had put their names on an Internet memorial wall for Tiller. The wall is located at www.remembertiller.com. witchita eagle

O'Reilly Denounces NARAL Woman: You 'Flat-Out Lied' In Washington Post Op-Ed Piece

On Thursday night's O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly lit into NARAL publicist Mary Alice Carr for her Washington Post op-ed blaming him for the murder of abortionist George Tiller -- and following up on the NewsBusters report on her article's reckless factual errors, whacked her for lying:

Writing in The Washington Post today, pro-abortion zealot Mary Alice Carr says, quote, "O'Reilly is being incredibly disingenuous when he claims that he bears no responsibility for others' actions in the killing of Dr. George Tiller on Sunday. When you tell an audience of millions over and over again that someone is an executioner, you cannot feign surprise when someone executes that person. O'Reilly knew that people wanted Tiller dead. He knows that his words incite violence."

Well, that is a complete bull. We analyzed Tiller honestly, and I'm entitled to my opinion on his methods.

Here's a personal note to Ms. Carr. Your pro-abortion zealotry, madam, has led to the destruction of thousands of potential human beings. So don't take that righteous tone with me. Also, you flat-out lied in your Post op-ed, and you should be ashamed. newsbusters

NARAL, NOW Support Obama Supreme Court Pick Sonia Sotomayor

Leading pro-abortion groups expressed support for President Barack Obama's selection of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. If confirmed by the Senate, Sotomayor would replace outgoing pro-abortion Justice David Souter, and likely keep the court's apparent 5-4 pro-abortion majority.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, was one of the first to chime in with her backing for the appeals court judge.

“President Obama has selected a nominee with a distinguished record of professional accomplishments as a judge, prosecutor, and community leader," she said in a statement.

"This impressive personal biography signals that she possesses an understanding of how the law affects everyday people’s lives,” Keenan said. “We are encouraged by the strong support she receives from her peers and other legal scholars and the fact that the Senate has twice confirmed her for federal judgeships."

Nominated to serve as the third woman and first Hispanic on the Supreme Court, the pro-abortion National Organization for Women (NOW) said it would "celebrate" the nomination. read more LifeNews

and from Emily's List:

“Judge Sotomayor will help add balance to the court and her unique perspective will help ensure that women’s rights are protected and that their experiences continue to play a role in the highest court in the land,” said Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY’s List, which supports women candidates who favor abortion rights. “With her nomination the court is one step closer to reflecting the diversity that makes our country so great.” freep

Just Another Pro-Abortion Catholic Politician... WA State Governor Praises NARAL Director

Gov. Gregoire speking of NARAL Director, Karen Cooper, "She is obviously an icon in this state."

Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Catholic and down-the-line supporter of abortion rights, spoke to a gala retirement luncheon for longtime NARAL Pro-Choice Washington director Karen Cooper.

"We are blessed to have had you as our great leader," Gregoire said of Cooper. The governor spoke of "those, candidly, not yet born who will benefit from your leadership."

Outside the hotel, 40 pro-life demonstrators held up signs with such slogans as "Adoption is a Living Option" and "Abortion is Homicide." They prayed the rosary and sang hymns.

"We want to be a witness for the dignity of human life," said the Rev. Phil Bloom, pastor of Holy Family Parish in West Seattle.

The presence of a pro-choice, Catholic governor was on the demonstrators' minds.

"We want to challenge her on that," Bloom said. "I know the archbishop has had conversations with her. I would like to have a conversation with her. Why does she not connect this (life issue) with her faith?" read more seattlepi

NARAL Goes Early For Catholic Pro-abortion Gillibrand

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will pick up the endorsement Friday of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, a leading abortion-rights group that in the past has backed all of the senator’s rumored Democratic challengers, the DN's David Saltonstall reports.

“We see a champion in Kirsten Gillibrand,” NARAL president Kelli Conlin told the DN. “We want to back that champion and be a part of her victory.”

Gillibrand, who was appointed by Gov. David Paterson in January to fill Hillary Clinton’s old U.S. Senate seat, doesn’t have to run for re-election until next year.

But a number of Democrats - among them Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel, and Carolyn McCarthy and Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer - have all signaled they are mulling a primary against the upstate Gillibrand, whose congressional record has often leaned to the right (although not, it should be noted, when it comes to abortion rights).

Enter NARAL, who, like Sen. Chuck Schumer, is hoping that an early announcement of support Gillibrand - coupled with her prodigious fundraising - will scare the other Democrats away.

NARAL president says Obama's choice for supreme court should make views on abortion known

"We should no more confirm a nominee who refuses to discuss these fundamental rights than one who claims to have no position on the rights to free speech, freedom of religion or jury trials."

The next Supreme Court justice to replace retiring Justice David Souter, as well as the confirmation process, "should represent a clear break with the policies" of former President George W. Bush, Kate Michelman, NARAL Pro-Choice America president from 1985 to 2004, writes in a Philadelphia Inquirer opinion piece. She adds, "The clearest sign that President Obama is committed to the demand for change would be the nomination of a justice who is committed to forthrightly and unapologetically defending America's fundamental liberties," including a "commitment to the constitutional rights to privacy and equality that found crucial meaning and historic expression for women in Roe v. Wade."

Obama has indicated that he believes in these rights, and it is likely that he will choose a nominee who also does; however, the U.S. public might never know what the nominee believes because of "the conspiracy of silence that governs judicial nominations," according to Michelman. She writes that the "generally accepted 'rules'" of judicial nominations -- in which presidents "promise not to apply 'litmus tests,'" and nominees pledge to be silent on cases and precedents -- should change, adding, "We should no more confirm a nominee who refuses to discuss these fundamental rights than one who claims to have no position on the rights to free speech, freedom of religion or jury trials." read more MedicalNewsToday

NARAL President Celebrates Barack Obama's 100 First Days of Promoting Abortion

For the majority of Americans who take a pro-life position on abortion, the conclusion of President Barack Obama's first 100 days is clear -- he has unequivocally promoted unlimited abortion. For abortion advocates like NARAL president Nancy Keenan, the "milestone" is a time to "celebrate."

In a commentary "celebrating" the 100th day of the Obama administration, Keenan said pro-abortion Americans should "mark this milestone" of how important it is to elect abortion advocates.

"President Obama is leading our country during an especially challenging time,' she says and she applauds the "signs of change" that have happened under the Obama administration.

She lauds the president for being a lap-dog for the political interests of abortion advocacy groups by overturning the Mexico City Policy that stopped sending taxpayer dollars to pro-abortion groups that perform and promote abortions overseas.

Keenan praised Obama for funding the UNFPA, which has supported forced abortions in China, taking the first step to overturn Bush administration protections for doctors who don't want to do abortions, and for signing a budget bill that cuts abstinence education funding. read more LifeNews

Abortion Rights Group Seeks to "Normalize" Abortion through Abortion Pride Movement

"Abortion...a moral and ethical decision that is ...good for society?"

You really need to read this...It's hard to believe that some individuals have such a moral vacuum. This woman advocates a "proud to have had an abortion" movement. This is a CHILD, a unique and special human being that abortion rights advocates want to easliy discard... abortion as a human right? What about the basic and fundamental right of this unique human person to have a right to life!

“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.” - Blessed Mother Teresa

From RHReality Check:

The importance of abortion as a human right integral to women's dignity, the destigmatization and normalization of the experience as common for women - there are now more than 46 million abortions occurring in the world today (close to half of which are illegal and unsafe) and one in three U.S. women will have an abortion by the age of 45 - and ending the silence and shame that women may still feel cannot be underestimated in the global struggle for reproductive justice and gender equality. When we normalize abortion as a fact of women's lives, and discuss abortion as an honorable and loving choice that helps women to become better mothers in the future, we are showing respect, understanding, and support for the complexity of women's choices.

So it was with great interest that I read and reflected upon  Jacob Appel's "It's Time for an Abortion Pride Movement." This author and bioethicist emphasizes: "The political and social reality today is that pride is a necessary prerequisite for acceptance and equality. That is why the movement is ripe - more than ripe - for an Abortion Pride Movement."

I passionately agree. I also believe that the framework for such a movement already exists and is quite powerful. Talking about abortion pride as a social change movement, destigmatizing abortion - and by extension, destigmatizing women - are concepts I have believed in and fought for all of my adult life. Apple refers to the stigma that abortion still carries: "In contrast to women who have foregone abortion, women who have chosen to terminate their pregnancies are rarely encouraged to take pride in their decisions. This is unfortunate...women who step up to the ethical plate and have the strength to say, ‘This is the wrong time,' or ‘This is the wrong fetus,' should hold their heads up high in the street."to read more

 

Pro-Abortion Group NARAL Asks Members of Congress to De-Fund Abstinence Education

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The prominent pro-abortion group NARAL has asked members of Congress to eliminate funding for abstinence education programs in the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill.

NARAL president Nancy Keenan sent a letter to pro-abortion Rep. Paul Hodes, a New Hampshire Democrat, last week urging him and his colleagues to press for eliminating or cutting the funding further beyond the cuts the pro-abortion Congress made to abstinence previously. “I thank Rep. Hodes for taking the lead and answering the public's call to move away from the failed Bush-backed 'abstinence-only' policies that have put our teens at risk," Keenan claimed. "For eight long years, President Bush and his anti-choice allies in Congress pushed hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into [abstinence education programs].”

NARAL's ridiculous claims that Crisis Pregnancy Centers are "fake clinics"

Abortion rights groups are upset Crisis Pregnancy centers will receive funding through the sale of pro-life license plates in Virginia.

Virginia NOW also released a statement that they are “outraged by Governor Kaine's shameful decision to allow 'Choose Life' license plates to be sold by the state.

NARAL and other pro-abortion rights groups are unhappy Virginia Governor Tim Kaine signed legislation on Monday that will enable the sale of a "Choose Life" license plate in the state. According to the Washington Post, $15 of the $25 fee for the license plates will go towards funding crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs).

NARAL Pro Choice America released a statement from National President Nancy Keenan and Virginia NARAL President Tarina Keene. Both leaders said "the revenue from the 'Choose Life' plates would go to many CPCs that use deceptive, intimidating, and emotionally manipulative tactics to block women from learning the facts about, or choosing, legal abortion…No pro-choice license plate would make that right." feminist.org

If abortion rights groups like these really are concerned with the overall welfare for each and every young woman, why are they so opposed to them choosing life for their unborn babies. Every abortion claims two victims, the unborn child and the mother.

Why do pro-abortion feminist groups oppose options to abortion clinics?

NARAL Campaigns to Stop Money to Crisis Pregnancy Centers - Virginia State Senator Ken Cuccinelli, a Catholic sponsored the Choose Life plate bill - $15 from each plate goes to Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Abortion advocates claim they are pro-choice, but they are undertaking a concerted effort to pressure Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to veto a bill that promotes the kind of choice they don't like -- life. Kaine is considering signing a bill giving state residents the choice of purchasing a Choose Life license plate.

The plate features a cartoon drawing of a child and the words Choose Life.

But the problem for abortion advocates is that motorists who decide to have the plate on their cars agree to have the proceeds from the sales of the plates go to crisis pregnancy centers.

And the problem with pregnancy centers is that they cut into the profit Planned Parenthood and abortion centers make because they offer women alternatives to abortion and support in a difficult pregnancy situation.

But Nancy Keenan, the head of NARAL claims that offer of help to pregnant women is "propaganda."

"During this time of economic crisis, when more and more of Virginia's women are losing health-care coverage, the Commonwealth should focus its efforts on supporting legitimate, comprehensive health-care options instead of CPCs whose missions have nothing to do with health care and everything to do with propaganda," she says.

NARAL has organized an effort to get its members in Virginia to ask Kaine to veto the Choose Life plate bill and it claims 14,000 people have done so.

As in other states, the Choose Life plates would allow some of the purchase price to go to groups that help women avoid abortions by providing them with adoption and pregnancy help. Of every $40 spent on the plates, $15 will go to pregnancy centers. read more LifeNews

President Obama on March 11 created a "White House Council on Women and Girls

Why were only pro-abortion women present for this at the White House?

Having been advised that female CEOs run only three percent of the Fortune 500 companies, and that women earn 78 cents for every dollar that men earn in comparable jobs (about which more later), the president wants some two dozen department heads to help remedy those deficiencies in the name of "fulfill[ing] the promise of democracy for all our people."

The East Room was jammed for the signing ceremony. Interestingly, the guest list released by the White House revealed that professional advocates for abortion comprised the largest single group of attendees after politicians.

Pretty words about fairness for all could not obscure the fact that the president pitched most of his remarks to the pro-choice wing of "grievance feminism." As a result, representatives from influential contrarian groups like Feminists for Life, Concerned Women for America, and the Independent Women's Forum were nowhere to be found. read more AmSpectator

Emily's List Congratulates Pro-abortion Catholic Hilda Solis upon being confirmed Secretary of Labor

Hilda Solis has accepted $250,000 from abortion rights groups like Emily's List and others

Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which supports female candidates who back abortion rights, added her congratulations.

"Today, I congratulate Secretary Hilda Solis and wish her well as our new Secretary of Labor. Along with the thousands of EMILY’s List members who petitioned Senate Republicans standing in her way, I am heartened to see the Senate confirm Solis and put progress ahead of partisan politics. It is critical that the Department of Labor have a strong, intelligent, and effective leader like Secretary Solis to advocate for our nation’s workers during these tough economic times,” she said in a statement.

NARAL Exploits Bristol Palin's Teen Pregnancy to Solicit Donations and Advocate for Comprehensive Sex Education

To promote their own agenda, NARAL misrepresents an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren and Gov. Palin's eighteen year old daughter Bristol, who recently gave birth to a baby boy.

Here's the email.

This week, in an interview with Fox News, Bristol Palin said about teens “…everyone should be abstinent but it’s not realistic.”  Bristol Palin’s courage and candor made an impression on me because she spoke from the heart about teen pregnancy, an issue that is a national-health crisis.

The truth is that Governor Sarah Palin needs to listen to her daughter. Anti-choice politicians continue to play politics at the state and federal level at the expense of young people’s health!

Please give $10 today to NARAL Pro-Choice America to help us promote medically accurate sex education in our schools so teens get the information they need and to help us advance our work at all levels. 

The United States has unacceptably high rates of teen pregnancy, and one in four teenage girls has a sexually-transmitted infection. People’s lives are affected because politicians won’t let young people be taught the facts in schools. It’s time that changed, and you can do something about it! Donate to help us turn this around today!

The truth is “abstinence-only” programs are failing our teens. Some studies even show that young people who go through these programs are less likely to use contraception and protect themselves when they become sexually active. Governor Palin and other national anti-choice hardliners don’t want to equip young people with the facts.

We have a chance with the new Obama administration and pro-choice leaders to fix this! 

Your $10 contribution to NARAL Pro-Choice America can help us work with President Barack Obama and pro-choice leaders in Congress to undo the Bush legacy of failed "abstinence-only" policies…the policies anti-choice politicians like Sarah Palin force on our teens with your tax dollars! Your gift will help with our work across the country.

American families deserve better! And you can help do something realistic about it.

The exchange between Greta and Bristol actually went like this:

Greta: "Do you have a philosophical or religious opposition to (contraception)?"

Bristol: "No I don't want to get into detail about that -- I think abstinence is, like, the ... I don't know how to put it, like ... the main -- everyone should be abstinent or whatever, but it's not realistic at all."

Greta: "Why?"

Bristol: "Because it's more and more accepted now ... among kids my age."

Greta ask: "How do you change that?"

Bristol: "To see stories like this, and to see other stories of teen moms. ... You should just wait 10 years; it would be so much easier."

We are grateful to Bristol for her generous heart. Her appearance on television was to reach out to teen girls and remind them that teen pregancy is a reality, not to advocate for comprehensive sex education.

Don't be fooled by the promotion of comprehensive sex education programs to delay teen sex. Read the study by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) reports the following on this study.

The HHS issued a report on so called “comprehensive” sex education curricula.The government report reveals how the most commonly used sex education programs have virtually no effect in keeping teens from having sex yet contain numerous sexually explicit lessons taught to teens as young as 13. Of the nine commonly used curricula studied in the HHS report, most showed no impact in preventing teen sex, and one failed to even evaluate program effectiveness. All the programs reviewed by the HHS devoted an overwhelming amount of teaching time to topics such as condom usage, condom demonstration and sexual game play as methods of “safe” sex.

“Although they receive ten times the amount of government money as abstinence programs, so-called ‘comprehensive sex education’ has not been proven to delay teen sex,” states Valerie Huber, Executive Director of National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA). “The predominant message encourages sexual activity. The message of abstinence is virtually non-existent.” read more NAEA

Missouri Abortion Advocate Robin Carnahan gets Pro-Abortion Senate Support from Emily's List

This week, pro-abortion Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced her bid for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat and she immediately received the support of a top pro-abortion group. Ellen Malcolm, the head of Emily's List, urged supported to join Carnahan's campaign.

"One of only two Democrats to win a statewide race in 2004, she easily won re-election as secretary of state in 2008, earning more votes than any other candidate on Missouri's ballot. Robin received support in both campaigns from EMILY's List's ," Malcolm said in an email LifeNews.com obtained.

"Now we have the chance to elect another outstanding woman candidate from Missouri: Robin Carnahan," Malcolm said.

"Taking over Republican-held seats like this one will be critical to achieving the 60 votes Democrats need to overcome GOP filibusters and allow for passage of President Obama's" pro-abortion agenda, she added.

Carnahan will face one of several Republicans that have shown an interest in the race, led by pro-life Rep. Roy Blunt. read more LifeNews

Emily's List celebrates pro-abortion Catholic Kirsten Gillibrand appointment to senate

Gillibrand has accepted $500k from abortion rights groups - During her time in the House, she maintained a 100 percent pro-abortion voting record and also supported forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research.

One of the wealthiest pro-abortion groups is delighted that New York Gov. David Patterson has chosen pro-abortion Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Clinton as a New York senator. Emily's List is " celebrating the news," according to an email from its president Ellen Malcolm to LifeNews.com. "In Gillibrand, New York Governor David Paterson selected a true champion of" of abortion, Malcolm says. She hoped her group's supporters will "join me in sending your personal congratulations to our newest pro-choice Democratic woman senator."

Malcolm said her group "stood with Gillibrand when she chose to challenge an entrenched [pro-life] incumbent" and she thinks Gillibrand "will be a strong candidate to hold this important Senate seat for Democrats when she is on the ballot in 2010." The Emily's List head also noted that Gillibrand had received an award from the Human Rights Campaign, another pro-abortion group. LifeNews

Ex-NARAL member to join in Walk for Life

“I can help others to learn from my mistakes”

A former “card-carrying member of NARAL” will be among the more than 25,000 people expected to peacefully walk along San Francisco’s waterfront on Saturday, January 24, in the 5th Annual Walk for Life West Coast.

The Walk began in 2005 when a handful of San Franciscans decided they wanted a San Francisco-style walk with an outreach to women, particularly women who have experienced abortion or who are struggling with an unwanted pregnancy.

“That’s what it is about,” said Walk co-chair Dolores Meehan, a fourth-generation San Franciscan. “My grandmother was left on a doorstep as an infant at the beginning of the 20th century. In the 21st century, we want to make having a baby a choice that all of us support. And, we want to make sure that women who have had abortions know we are there for them in sympathy and support.” read more CalCatholic

NARAL goes after your kids with their "free.will.power" campaign

NARAL wants to indoctrinate your children - reaches out to them through Facebook, Myspace and Twitter

Offers a contest for best design - go to MyFreeWillPower

Across the country, lawmakers are attacking our rights one-by-one. Their actions affect all of us, our friends and family, our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. Do your part to ensure that reproductive rights will not become a thing of the past.

Join the free.will.power movement.

• sign the declaration
show what free.will.power means to you!
• quiz yourself on reproductive rights
• check out the free.will.power slideshow
• learn about state laws
• share this site with your friends and family

Feminist groups unhappy only five women represented in Obama cabinet

This feminist complaint reveals a deep tension within feminism today by raising a question: Does American feminism seek to achieve sex parity or policy representation?

Feminists were devastated by Senator Barack Obama’s final Cabinet selections. Although Obama has not reversed any of his policy positions, he has committed a major crime in their eyes. He selected five women for his twenty Cabinet positions. This is not enough for them. That he chose one-fourth of his Cabinet positions to be filled by women instead of one-half is the problem.

Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization for Women (NOW), is not happy. In a December 22nd CNN article she said, “When you are looking at a Cabinet and you have such a small number of women in the room when the big decisions are being made, there need to be a lot more women's voices in this administration.”

NOW’s position on Palin’s nomination implies that NOW supports candidates based on whether they “speak for women” and represent feminist policy positions, regardless of sex.

Having lost the Cabinet battle, NOW and the Feminist Majority wrote a letter to Obama asking him to create a Cabinet-level White House Office on Women, and twenty other women’s organizations have signed a petition calling on Obama to create a Presidential Commission on Women. read more Townhall

NARAL targets Catholic hospitals in covert survey

NARAL researcher posed as a rape crisis counselor and phoned 70 hospital emergency rooms statewide asking if they could provide emergency contraception to a rape victim, as required by a 2005 Massachusetts law.

Almost all said yes, but staffers at two - Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton and Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen - said no, according to NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the abortion rights group that conducted the survey this past summer and shared its results with the Globe yesterday.

Both hospitals are part of Caritas Christi Health Care, which issued a statement yesterday stating that all six of its hospitals, including the two mentioned by NARAL, remain in full compliance with the 2005 law - meaning they dispense emergency contraception to rape victims.

Caritas is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, and the church has long opposed contraception, including emergency contraception, or the "morning-after pill." Last week, the Vatican issued a document reiterating its opposition to use of the morning-after pill, which it said is a form of abortion and therefore "gravely immoral." read more Boston.com

...just another pro-abortion Catholic politician

NARAL California celebrates election victories including reelection of pro-abortion rights Catholic congressman and defeat of the family notification bill.

Why is NARAL against protecting young teen girls from sexual predators and the harms of abortion?

NARAL celebrates relection of pro-choice Catholic congressman Jerry McNerney to the U.S. Congress and the defeat of Prop 4. Prop4 the "Family Notification" bill which would have required that doctors notify a parent before performing an abortion on a minor.

With a great deal of financial help from NARAL and Planned Parenthood the proposition was defeated.

NARAL CA is soliciting funds from supporters to take on any challenge to limit abortion rights even at the expense of teens. Shame on them and the Catholic politicians who help them!

Embryo Adoption Service Opens in Seattle

Pro-abortion rights groups take case with the use of the word "adoption"

An "embryo adoption" service was founded earlier this month through the Cedar Park Assembly of God Church in Seattle by Maria Lancaster, whose daughter Elisha was conceived after an embryo donation. Nationally, there are close to 400,000 frozen embryos currently in storage left over from in vitro fertilization procedures.

According to the Seattle Times, brochures advertising the Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park indicate that the organization opposes embryonic stem-cell research. Currently, couples who undergo in vitro fertilization treatment have the choice to donate extra embryos to research facilities or to infertile couples, to store remaining embryos, or to have the embryos destroyed.

Several groups have taken issue with the term "embryo adoption". According to the Seattle Times, Sean Tipton, spokesman for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, says the group supports a couple's right to choose to donate their embryos, but the term "adoption" helps groups who "want to elevate the moral status of the embryo to be the equivalent of an existing child." Similarly, Karen Cooper, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, called the term "a political stunt, appealing on emotions." FeministWire

NARAL raising funds to defeat pro-life Senator Chambliss in Georgia

NARAL'S message to pro-abortion rights supporters:

On December 2, voters in Georgia will choose between vehemently anti-choice Sen. Saxby Chambliss and pro-choice challenger Jim Martin. This race is extremely important to pro-choice Americans, as a Martin win will increase our gains in the U.S. Senate. But we spent nearly every dime we had during the general election. Please donate today to help us win this special election!

Support Senator Chambliss' reelection!

Update: NARAL celebrates Victory in Election

We know what to expect from the following pro-abortion rights elected members of Congress - the following from the NARAL president

Here is a list of pro-choice electoral highlights:

• Pro-choice Sen. Barack Obama wins a decisive victory, picking up traditionally conservative states with his common-ground message.
• Pro-choice Americans defeat anti-choice ballot measures in South Dakota, California and Colorado. In South Dakota, a state won by John McCain, voters made clear their opposition to a dangerous abortion ban by defeating the measure for the second consecutive election.
• At this point, election results show that Americans elected a net gain of 16 fully pro-choice members in the House, and moved five Senate seats out of the anti-choice column - with four more Senate seats still waiting to be called. Even as some races remain too close to call, there are multiple examples of pro-choice gains:

* Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) and Mark Udall (Colorado) defeated anti-choice incumbent senators in their high profile races].
* Sen. Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina) lost her seat after one term. She consistently voted anti-choice, and supported the Bush agenda on almost every issue.
* In Virginia's 11th Congressional District, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed candidate Gerry Connolly defeated anti-choice Keith Fimian.
* In Michigan's 7th Congressional District, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed candidate Mark Schauer defeated anti-choice Rep. Tim Walberg. In the state's 9th Congressional District NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed candidate Gary Peters defeated anti-choice Rep. Joe Knollenberg.
* In New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed candidate Martin Heinrich defeated anti-choice Darren White and in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed candidate Harry Teague defeated anti-choice Ed Tinsley. The entire New Mexico congressional delegation in now pro-choice.

NARAL celebrates the election of a pro-abortion rights president and 16 new pro-abortion rights members to Congress

NARAL sent the following email to pro-abortion rights supporters:

Together, we helped make history! After eight long years, we can finally celebrate the election of a pro-choice president, Barack Obama, and pro-choice gains in Congress!
On behalf of NARAL Pro-Choice America and women everywhere, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your work. You own this victory.

• You volunteered with us to knock on doors and make calls to voters in Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia;
• You spread the word reminding your friends and family about the importance of voting pro-choice with email, video, text messaging, and postcards; and
• You donated your hard-earned dollars that enabled us to reach 290,000 pro-choice households in eight battleground states.

NARAL, Abortion Advocates Endorse Washington Assisted Suicide Initiative

Leading pro-abortion groups in Washington have taken the somewhat unusual of step of endorsing a ballot measure that would make the state the second to legalize assisted suicide. A leading pro-life advocate says he's not surprised the pro-abortion movement has linked up with euthanasia advocates.

Calling it an "important" vote to "promote progress in Washington" Planned Parenthood of Washington emailed its supporters a copy of a voting guide it compiled along with other liberal groups in the state.

The names of the groups endorsing a specific candidate or ballot issue are listed, and NARAL is indicated as endorsing the assisted suicide measure. read more LifeNews

NARAL Accuses John McCain of OKing Women Dying From Illegal Abortions

Leading pro-abortion group NARAL is going a little further than fellow abortion advocates with a new email on Wednesday accusing John McCain of being okay with women dying from illegal abortions. The email makes no mention of the fact that women are killed and injured by legal abortions.

With the eerie headline, "Does John McCain Understand Women Could Die?" the NARAL email features doctored photos of McCain and pro-life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in a deep red color to make them appear sinister.

NARAL features a transcript of remarks of John McCain from an interview with Meet the Press in 2000 where he indicated he was okay with a constitutional amendment to ban abortions. read more LifeNews

NARAL warns voters about McCain's pro-life record

Timed with the third and final presidential debate, a major abortion rights group is sending out the latest in its series of videos reminding voters of an issue that hasn't been much discussed so far: the future of Roe v. Wade.

Unveiling the video tonight, NARAL-Pro Choice America said it will be sent to 500,000 activists on Wednesday, just before the debate Wednesday night. “John McCain’s position on choice is extreme and dangerous,” the group's president, Nancy Keenan, said in a statement. “Not only does McCain’s record show that he’s voted against a woman’s right to choose 125 times, but this video allows voters to hear the truth right from the candidate's mouth. John McCain wants to outlaw abortion, even if it means women’s lives will be at risk.” read more boston.com

Catholic Relief Services personnel support Obama, Emily's List

Lauded by nonprofit watchdogs for its efficiency, Catholic Relief Services performs the corporal works of mercy on a massive scale. But articles earlier this year in Our Sunday Visitor and Catholic World Report raised troubling questions about the US bishops’ relief agency’s cooperation in providing information about condoms, resulting in an investigation by the US bishops’ doctrine and pro-life committees.

An analysis of federal election records shows that Jennifer Nazaire – Catholic Relief Services’ representative in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea – has donated $1,100 to Emily’s List since 2005. Emily’s List’s sole purpose is to elect candidates who support legalized abortion to office. According to the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Rights, abortion is banned in the Central African Republic and permitted in limited circumstances in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

In addition, all eight of the federal election donors in the 2007-8 election cycle who identified themselves as Catholic Relief Services employees made contributions to the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama. Most prominent among them is Mark Palmer, the executive vice President and chief financial officer of the $597-million agency. CatholicCulture

National Organization for Woman Endorses Obama, Snubs Palin

The nation's oldest and largest women's rights organization made a rare endorsement in a presidential contest, endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president over the Republican ticket that features female Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The National Organization for Women, which had originally endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, made no mention of Palin in its Statement, calling Obama "the candidate who is out there every day standing up — clearly and consistently — for women."

NOW has not endorsed a general election candidate since their endorsement of Democrats Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, the last year a woman was featured on a major party’s presidential ticket. read more CNN

NARAL, Planned Parenthood and EMILY's List to spend $30 million, combined, to defeat McCain's presidential run, citing Palin as the main reason.

A number of pro-choice groups are targeting Sarah Palin, spending a ton of cash in an effort to make sure women - particularly undecided voters, no doubt - don't take too much of a liking to the feisty Alaska governor and cast their vote for John McCain in November.

Three major advocates of abortion rights are planning to spend nearly $30 million to defeat John McCain's run for president, citing his new running mate as the core reason, The Hill reports.

NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood and EMILY's List plan to spend $30 million, combined, to defeat McCain's presidential run, citing his anti-abortion running mate as the main reason. read more aol.com

EMILY'S List: Palin will not attract women who voted for Hillary

On the eve on the most important speech Alaskan Governor and presumptive Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin will ever give, EMILY’S List has released a survey indicating that the choice of Palin will not result in a major defection of women supporters of Hillary Clinton to the McCain ticket.

Conducted by national pollster Geoff Garin of Garin-Hart-Yang, the poll surveyed 800 likely Democratic, Republican and Independent women voters between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

“By the end of the survey, a 55-percent majority of Clinton’s voters say that Palin’s inclusion on the ticket makes them less likely to vote for John McCain,” Garin concluded. “Just 9 percent say her presence on the ticket makes them more likely to support McCain.” read more Seacoastline

NARAL president rails against McCain’s pro-life positions in DNC speech

According to the Keenan biography provided by the DNC, Keenan was “born into an Irish-Catholic family” in the state of Montana, for which she later served as a state legislator.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver on Monday afternoon, saying DNC delegates will nominate Sen. Barack Obama as the “next pro-choice president of the United States.” Warning supporters of abortion that “reproductive freedom is on the line,” she claimed a McCain presidency could endanger permissive abortion laws in the U.S.

Claiming the party is united behind the “core moral values” of supporting and defending “a woman’s right to choose safe, legal abortion,” she said the Democratic Party believes in doing more to prevent “unintended pregnancy” to reduce the need for abortion. She pressed for “honest, realistic sex education” while professing a shared stand in the “right to choose contraception.” She also said the party stands with women who choose adoption. read more CNA

Emily's List supports pro-abortion Catholic Senator Biden as VP nominee

Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY’s List, issued the following statement in support of Sen. Barack Obama’s selection of Sen. Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential nominee:

“I applaud Senator Obama’s choice and welcome the addition of such a passionate advocate for women to the Democratic ticket. Senator Biden’s commitment to family will resonate with women voters across this country.

"His strong commitment to Roe v. Wade sends a clear, positive signal to this critical voting bloc. Together, they will deliver the change that this country so greatly desires. Seacoastonline

Pro-abortion group EMILY's List Argues Obama's Case

Emily's List, the organization founded to help elect more pro-choice women to governor's offices and Congress, upset some of its supporters and Democratic allies when it spent heavily during the primaries to attack Barack Obama as inferior to Hillary Clinton on issues important to women voters, notably abortion rights.

Now, it wants the world to know that Obama is doing just fine with women voters, thank you very much, despite the group's earlier critiques.

The organization today released the results of a survey it did earlier this month showing that Obama holds a solid lead among women voters -- 51 percent backed Obama and 39 percent John McCain. That gives Obama a larger preconvention lead among women than those enjoyed by either John Kerry in 2004 (one percentage point) or Al Gore in 2000 (nine points). Obama's 12 point lead is also larger than the final margin of victory for Kerry (3 points) and Gore (11 points) among women.

"This is a very solid showing for Senator Obama. In historical terms, it's a showing that augurs well for him," said pollster Geoff Garin, who oversaw the survey. read more WashPost

Top NARAL Activist Promises to Keep Democratic Party Platform Pro-Abortion

NARAL president Nancy Keenan urged the pro-abortion activists to send emails to members of the platform committee to keep the language as pro-abortion as possible

Every four years Americans elect a president and both political parties hold conventions to coronate their nominee and build up excitement in advance of the November elections. They also review and approve party platforms and one top pro-abortion is ready to get involved.

NARAL president Nancy Keenan informed her supporters on Tuesday that she is headed to Pittsburgh this Thursday to participate in the Democratic Party's platform committee meetings.

When she's there, she promises to keep the party's position in support of unlimited abortions paid for at taxpayer expense in place.

"On Thursday, I have the privilege of traveling to Pittsburgh to sit on the Democratic Party Platform Committee to discuss, amend, and ratify the party platform," she told NARAL members in an email.

"Send a message to the Democratic Party Platform Committee by Thursday so that I can hand-deliver your petition to the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee,' she pleaded. read more LifeNews

NARAL backs Kerry in Senate race

NARAL says Kerry needed to "shepherd" good nominees through the Senate - nominees who will support abortion rights.

Catholic Senator John Kerry has staunchly supported abortion rights throughout his political career. His voting record has consistently received a 100 percent from NARAL.

NARAL Pro-Choice America, the women's advocacy group dedicated to fighting for abortion rights, endorsed U.S. Sen. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston)John Kerry's (D-Boston) reelection campaign Tuesday, bolstering the senator's abortion rights credentials.

"Sen. Kerry is a visible and effective advocate for a woman's right to choose," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL. "His leadership is critical in such a closely divided Senate where choice-related votes are often won or lost by one vote."

"I am honored to have the endorsement of NARAL, one of the nation's leading advocates for women's rights," Kerry said. "Throughout my 24 years in the U.S. Senate...I have always been proud to have the support of NARAL. I'm proud of the fights we've fought together, and I am looking forward to a time when the rights of women are no longer under assault in this country."

Kerry is currently in a primary race against Gloucester attorney Ed O'Reilly and a general election race against Republican Jeff Beatty.

In particular, Keenan commended Kerry for fighting the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. "We faced long odds at the time...but Sen. Kerry reinforced the threat Alito posed to our constitutional right to privacy. Even with President Obama in the White House, we will need Sen. Kerry to help shepherd good nominees through the Senate." read more Politicker

Emily's List hoping to defeat pro-life Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels

Last month, Indiana Right to Life endorsed Daniels for re-election saying there is a striking difference between the two candidates on abortion.

Indiana gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson trails pro-life Gov. Mitch Daniels in the money race in terms of cash spend and cash on hand. But the money she does have is coming to her from a top pro-abortion group because she support unlimited abortions paid for at taxpayer expense.

A new report indicates Thompson raised $1.6 million for her campaign from April through June 30, just under the $1.83 million Daniels took in during the same time period.

Of those funds, much of it came from the pro-abortion group Emily's List, the top pro-abortion group in the country when it comes to bankrolling candidates.

The Washington based special interest group gave $200,000 to Thompson in the second quarter -- bringing the total money it has infused from out of state in the Thompson campaign to $400,000.

According to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Daniels bested Thompson when looking at donations from individuals with Daniels receiving $1 million in donations and Thompson getting $400,000. read more LifeNews

NARAL Continues Attack on John McCain on Abortion, Birth Control

Leading pro-abortion group NARAL is continuing its attacks on John McCain in the latest fundraising email sent to its donors and the attacks focus on abortion and birth control. NARAL, which has already endorsed pro-abortion presidential candidate Barack Obama, says McCain is unfit to be president because he opposes abortion.

Can EMILY's List Get Its Mojo Back?

Of the 31 House and Senate challengers whom the group endorsed in 2006, just 26 percent--eight in all--won office.

Polls showed voters decidedly unhappy with President Bush and the Republicans, and EMILY's List sent a boastful press release to reporters just before the election suggesting that it would be a banner year for women. Voters turned that prediction on its head--at least as far as EMILY's List's endorsees were concerned. Although Democrats seized control of Congress and installed Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as the first female House speaker, EMILY's List's candidates lost big.

Of the 31 House and Senate challengers whom the group endorsed in 2006, just 26 percent--eight in all--won office. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, however, had a stellar election, helping to oust 22 Republicans and wrest control of Congress from the GOP. Two female challengers triumphed without EMILY's List endorsements--Reps. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., and Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H. Both wanted to campaign free of any shackles from an interest group.

As EMILY's List scrambled internally to figure out what went wrong in 2006, the organization jumped into the bruising presidential primary fight, endorsing Clinton in January 2007. It was the first time that EMILY's List had backed a presidential candidate. read more National Jornal

NARAL's False Poll Shows Women Switch to Obama Over McCain

A leading pro-abortion group says that women voters, when told John McCain is pro-life, say they prefer voting for Barack Obama this November. The pro-abortion organization NARAL says the results of the poll show it needs to do more to educate voters that McCain is pro-life.

However, the poll appears to give women voters a misleading picture of where Senator McCain stands on abortion.

The poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, included Republican and independent women from 12 presidential battleground states.

According to the poll, Obama gains 13 percentage points among independent women voters who are pro-abortion when they're told McCain is pro-life.

This group of voters supposedly comprises nine percent of the total electorate and, as a result, yields an overall shift of 1.6 percent to Obama.

Elizabeth Shipp, the pro-abortion group's political director, says she's not too worried yet about the polling results -- saying NARAL has time to run attack ads against McCain across the country. read more LifeNews 6.16

EMILY's List backs Obama

Another of Hillary Clinton's most vocal supporters has fallen in line behind Barack Obama, on the eve of her formal endorsement of the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Adding her voice is Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, a political action committee that funds female candidates who support abortion rights. She was withering in her criticism of NARAL's national PAC when it endorsed Obama last month despite a long history with Clinton.

But in a statement issued today, Malcolm is far more conciliatory in pledging her group's support to Obama.

"At every turn in this long journey, Hillary Clinton has filled me with tremendous pride and honored all women with the courage, grace, and dignity of her historic campaign. Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton competed in every state, unleashing a tidal wave of enthusiasm and support. Now that the primaries have concluded, I wholeheartedly congratulate Sen. Barack Obama. He has inspired millions of Americans and shown that he is more than ready to take on Sen. John McCain," the statement says. read more boston.com 6.6

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in its own words: "Planned Parenthood performed 289,650 abortions in 2006"

Planned Parenthood opposes any “legislation that would elevate the legal status of a fetus, at any stage of development, to that of an adult” 2

Planned Parenthood believes pro-lifers are “waging a war on women.” And claim, “this is the real face of Bush's compassionate conservatism — a war on women and children across the globe” 3

Planned Parenthood actively ignores statutory rape reporting laws and campaigns against efforts to enforce or strengthen them. 4, 5, 6, 7

Planned Parenthood would willingly accept donations for racist purposes. 8

Planned Parenthood promotes itself as a “non-partisan” organization, yet promises to turn out millions of votes and dollars to elect pro-abortion candidates to the White House, Congress, and State Governments. 9, 10

Planned Parenthood reports that it is a “not-for-profit” organization and receives over $336 million in government grants and contracts, and yet it had an “excess of revenue over expenses” of almost $56 million in 2005 and $112 million in 2006. 11 read more ThomasMoreSociety 6.3

NARAL fuels pro-abort civil war

It is ideologues vs. pragmatics. Those who are feminists first and abortion zealots second support Clinton. The presidency is their grail. Those who are abortion zealots first and industry dependents second support Obama. They believe he will do more to keep abortion legal and lucrative.

On Jan. 24, when the pro-abort divide between Clinton and Obama supporters was escalating into civil war, National Abortion Rights Action League, or NARAL, President Nancy Keenan issued an appeal for all sides to remain calm and focused on the real enemies, preborn children.

Keenan assured factions that all Democrat candidates were equally qualified to advance prenatal killing.

Who knew Super Tuesday would not determine their presidential predator, nor the Potomac Primary, nor Super Tuesday II, nor even Super Tuesday III on May 6?

Meanwhile, NARAL tried to redirect attention to the "staunchly, rigidly, undeniably anti-choice" Republican nominee John McCain in its almost daily e-alerts, which I receive.

But NARAL was unsuccessful. Thanks to sexier issues like Bosnia and Jeremiah Wright, the mainstream media didn't bite.

Meanwhile, the infighting continued. The Clinton camp kept pounding Obama as being soft on abortion because he voted "present" seven times as state senator on abortion legislation and because he wasn't a woman. read more WNDaily 5.21

WomenCount PAC Denounces NARAL Endorsement of Barack Obama

The newly formed WomenCount PAC strongly denounces the endorsement of Barack Obama by NARAL Pro-Choice America, joining mounting opposition to the move from Emily's List, a long list of woman Members of Congress, and other longtime supporters of NARAL.

"The idea that NARAL would create a divisive and potentially permanent rift in the pro-Choice movement is a shortsighted, irresponsible rush to judgment," says Allida Black, a founding member of WomenCount PAC and editor of The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers at George Washington University. "Using this important issue in such an irresponsible way can only be interpreted as blatant pandering."

WomenCount views the endorsement as disrespectful not only to Sen. Hillary Clinton's lifelong commitment to protecting women's reproductive rights but also to the millions of women around the country who are supporters of both NARAL and Sen. Clinton. read more news.yahoo 5.16

Leading Pro-Abortion Groups Feud Over NARAL Obama Endorsement, Clinton

Just hours after NARAL announced it had endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination, leading abortion advocates who are backing Hillary Clinton began grumbling. Emily's List officials are upset their pro-abortion counterpart has joined the Obama camp.

NARAL president Nancy Keenan said her group endorsed Obama because it appears likely he will become the nominee.

She said her group's board of directors wanted to immediately focus on a potential Obama matchup with John McCain, the eventual Republican nominee who opposes abortion.

However, the abortion activists over at Emily's List have been on Clinton's side since early in the presidential campaign and have spent heavily trashing Obama.

Ellen Malcolm, the president of the group, considered one of the most heavily bankrolled political action committee's in the country, told The Hill newspaper she's upset with NARAL.

“I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton -- who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade -- to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process," Malcolm said. read more LifeNews

NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president!

This email issued today to NARAL subscribers:

I'm excited to announce that today, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president!

We have been so fortunate to have two fully pro-choice candidates running for the Democratic nomination, and we praised both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama for their leadership in standing up for women's reproductive rights. But only one candidate can advance to the general election.
NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is making our endorsement now because every day that passes, Sen. McCain gets a free ride on the issue of choice. That free ride ends today.

Too many voters think that McCain is a moderate. Can someone who's voted anti-choice 125 times out of 130 opportunities on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues be a moderate?

It's time to put that myth to rest. To win in November, NARAL Pro-Choice America will educate swing voters who can tip this election: Republican and Indepdendent women. And we cannot let one more day go by without comparing Sen. Obama's fully pro-choice record to Sen. McCain's anti-choice record.
On one hand, we have Sen. Obama—who has been a fully pro-choice ally from day one and whom women can trust.

And on the other hand, we have Sen. John McCain—who has gone even further than George W. Bush in his anti-choice rhetoric by directly calling for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.
I believe that Sen. Obama is the leader who can unify our country behind commonsense ways to prevent unintended pregnancy.
We need you to be a part of our work to defeat Sen. McCain and elect Sen. Obama.

Feminists sharply divided between Clinton, Obama

No constituency is more eager to see a woman win the presidency than America's feminists, yet — despite Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic candidacy — the women's movement finds itself wrenchingly divided over the Democratic race as it heads toward the finish.

Clinton supporter Gloria Feldt, former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, accepts that the women's movement is not single-minded, yet worries that the Obama-Clinton rift is eroding whatever clout it might have.

"We're squandering an opportunity to be seen as a voting bloc that turns elections," Feldt said. "Unless we are working together, in a strategically thought-out effort to vote in our own best interests, we are in danger of never having another election where people will say women can determine the outcome." read more news.yahoo

Emily's List Girl's could lose endorsement over Obama

Not even the pro-abortion faction within the Democrat establishment is immune from the spillover rancor that is emanating from the divisive Clinton-Obama mêlée. According to the AP, Ellen Malcolm, a top Clinton supporter and the chief of the powerful pro-abortion group EMILY's List, is taking a "wait and see" approach regarding the political futures of Sens. Claire McCaskill and Amy Klobuchar, both Obama supporters. Malcolm, whose group is the top donor to the pro-abortion McCaskill, had this to say when asked what effect McCaskill's support for Obama could have on her political future:

"There's no question that some of our members are very angry," said Ellen R. Malcolm, president and founder of the EMILY's List political action committee, which gives money to female candidates who favor abortion rights. ...

Asked whether Klobuchar and fellow freshman Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, another Obama superdelegate, risk losing their seats over these endorsements, Malcolm said, "We'll just have to wait and see." News-Leader 4.21

NARAL Pro-Choice America Launches Website To Highlight McCain's Position On Abortion  

NARAL Pro-Choice America recently launched the website MeetTheRealMcCain.com to highlight presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) position on abortion rights, Newsweek reports. MedNewsToday

NARAL Worried John McCain's Presidential Bid Succeeding

A leading pro-abortion group is beginning to run scared and sent an email to its membership on Friday pleading for donations because it worries John McCain's candidacy is succeeding. NARAL says having McCain and his views against abortion in the White House would be a "disaster" for abortion activists.

"McCain’s candidacy is growing stronger since he’s become the Republican nominee for president," NARAL president Nancy Keenan admits in the email.

"You and I know there’s nothing moderate about John McCain when it comes to a woman’s right to choose," she says.

Keenan said she hopes her members will "take the next step" in their commitment to abortion by signing up other donors. read more LifeNews 4.18

EMILY's List founder sees mobilization of women's vote

Twenty-three years after founding a political network for Democratic women who support abortion rights, Ellen Malcolm finally has the chance to support a woman for president.

Malcolm is the founder of EMILY's List, which has helped elect 13 female senators, 67 House members and eight governors and become one of the nation's biggest political action committees in money raised with $46 million in contributions in 2006.

For the first time, the 100,000-member group has endorsed a presidential candidate, throwing its weight behind Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. read more statesman jounal 4.15

NARAL's disinformation campaign doesn't seem to have worked in Maryland.

You’d think that Maryland state legislators would have more important issues to deal with — considering the subprime mortgage crisis, and all — instead of listening to legal challenges to the pro-life work of pregnancy centers in the state. But the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws is engaged in an ongoing national effort to disparage the reputation of pregnancy centers and deter women from visiting them for help. Fortunately, the showdown in Annapolis didn’t turn out as NARAL expected.

It all began when NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland released an undercover “investigation” claiming that pregnancy centers misled women about their services and provided false information about abortion risks. The report was based on 11 visits to pregnancy centers by women pretending to be pregnant — hardly scientific research, and yet it was enough for NARAL to accuse 42 Maryland pregnancy centers, serving some 30,000 clients annually, of wrongdoing. NRO read more

NARAL Warns Supporters John McCain Will Appoint Pro-Life Supreme Court Judges

A leading pro-abortion group is convinced eventual Republican presidential candidate John McCain will appoint pro-life Supreme Court judges. Those judicial picks could tilt the balance of the high court in favor of reversing the Roe v. Wade decision that has allowed 35 years of unlimited abortions.

In a fundraising email sent to supporters on Friday, NARAL political director Elizabeth Shipp says the group needs more money to get that message out.

"The next president of the United States will likely appoint two Supreme Court Justices. Sen. John McCain voted to confirm Justices Thomas, Roberts, and Alito," Shipp writes. read more LifeNews 4.4

Abortion Rights Groups Plan Fall Push

Unprecedented Spending Raises Concerns From Conservatives

Abortion-rights groups are planning to spend unprecedented sums on voter outreach and education in this fall's elections, as they broaden their electoral targets in an effort to change the make-up of the House and Senate.

Target: Congress

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is promising to spend $10 million this election cycle — three times more than the organization has spent in any previous election.

NARAL Pro-Choice America has also budgeted $10 million for the 2008 election campaign — the most it has spent in any election year since 2000.

Both groups are expanding their strategies beyond the presidential race and gubernatorial elections, where they have spent the bulk of their money in previous years.

Planned Parenthood is targeting a series of critical Senate races, while NARAL is making plans to spend heavily in nearly three dozen House races nation-wide. read more ABCNews 3.27

NARAL Pro-Choice America Applauds Senate’s Rejection of Two Anti-Choice (Pro-Life) Amendments to Budget Resolution

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, tonight praised senators for defeating two divisive anti-choice amendments to the budget resolution, but she said the close votes illustrate for Americans the need for even more pro-choice lawmakers to stop attacks on freedom and privacy altogether.

"The Senate's defeat of these amendments is a clear sign that this Congress understands that Americans are tired of such desperate attempts to clog the legislative calendar with anti-choice politics," Keenan said. "Tonight, we blocked two anti-choice measures by razor-thin margins. Pro-choice Americans made tremendous gains in the 2006 elections and restored pro-choice leadership in Congress, but anti-choice members still outnumber pro-choice lawmakers in both chambers. Until the numerical composition of Congress matches America's pro-choice majority, we will continue to see dangerous and divisive assaults on the values of freedom and privacy." CommonDreams

NARAL Announces New Website Attacking John McCains Pro-Life Voting Record

The following is from MeettheRealMcCain.com

Meet The Real McCain!

The REAL John McCain is not the "moderate maverick" the pundits like to swoon over. The REAL McCain has spent the last 25 years doing everything in his power to roll back the reproductive rights we've fought so hard to protect.

If elected president, he has pledged to be the anti-choice movement's most faithful ally, carrying their water and enacting their dangerous agenda: "If I am fortunate enough to be elected as the next President of the United States, I pledge to you to be a loyal and unswerving friend of the right to life movement." [Statement by Sen. McCain read by Sen. Sam Brownback at the March for Life in Washington, DC, January 22, 2008.] 3.18

NARAL Won’t Oppose Bill Reducing Abortions on Disabled Babies

A leading pro-abortion group has said it will not oppose a bill that will help reduce the number of abortions on babies who are potentially afflicted with Down Syndrome. The measure has already received approval from a Senate committee and is headed to the full chamber for a debate and vote.

Last month, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved the Pre-natally and Post-natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act on a unanimous vote.

The bill is designed to help reduce the number of abortions of babies with Down syndrome and other conditions.

Sen Sam Brownback, a pro-life Kansas Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, says it would require giving families who receive a diagnosis of Down syndrome or any other condition, pre-natally or up until a year after birth, pertinent helpful information. read more LifeNews 3.11

Hillary and Emily's List Bring Out the Female Voters

By Jeff Birnbaum
In mid-February, EMILY's List, the nation's largest political action committee, began to send mailings to nearly 150,000 targeted women voters in Ohio, and to appeal to women with radio commercials in Texas.

Their message: vote for Hillary Clinton. EMILY's List supports Democratic women candidates for federal office who are pro-choice, and there's only one person who fits that description running for president.

The effort may have paid off. It's hard to narrow down cause and effect precisely, but on Super Tuesday II last week, women comprised 59 percent of the electorate in Ohio, a seven percentage point increase over 2004, and in Texas, women made up 57 percent of the electorate, a four point rise over four years ago.

Clinton won big among women voters in both states. According to exit polls, she beat Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) among women in Ohio by 16 points and among women in Texas by 11 points.

Maren Hesla of EMILY's List says her group is planning another marketing barrage aimed at women in Pennsylvania, which will hold its pivotal primary on April 22. WashPost The Trail 3.11

Pro-Abortion Group NARAL Continues Bashing Verizon Wireless Despite Decision

Officials at a leading pro-abortion group continue to bash Verizon Wireless about its prior decision to prevent NARAL from sending mass text messages on its system, even though Verizon reversed it months ago. NARAL is hoping its members will contact the FCC about the matter.

Last September, a regional unit of Verizon initially denied NARAL's request to send out text messages to its membership. But higher-ups at the wireless carrier reversed the decision shortly afterwards.

Now, the organization is bashing Verizon again as it urges its members to tell the FCC it wants to loosen restrictions on setting up text-messaging services.

Nancy Keenan, NARAL's president, sent her supporters an email message on Thursday from Laura Scher, the head of a pro-abortion wireless company, CREDO Mobile.

"The fact that Verizon feels it can reject or block politically motivated messages should leave us all very worried," Scher said in the email. "After all, how would you feel if Verizon decided to drop your phone calls the minute you started discussing a 'controversial' issue like reproductive freedom?" read more LifeNews 3.6

NARAL behind bill aimed at pregnancy help centers

A Frederick pregnancy center fought back Wednesday against a state bill targeting pro-life centers that do not offer abortions or referrals for abortions.

The bill would require those centers to issue a disclaimer stating they are not required to provide factual information.

State Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr., a Democrat representing Montgomery County, proposed the bill in response to an investigative report issued by the advocacy group NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland.

Volunteers for NARAL found that in each of the 11 visits during the investigation, centers gave them "factually incorrect information" about abortions. The volunteers also said the centers were not up-front about their pro-life status and, in some cases, lack of medical services .read more Frederick News 3.6

EMILY's List WOMEN VOTE! Delivers in Ohio and Texas for Hillary

EMILY's List, a political action committee that helps female candidates and is supporting Clinton, just put out an analysis today that suggests that women increased their share of the Democratic electorate in all four states that voted Tuesday.

Last night we saw the fruits of a continuing effort by the EMILY's List WOMEN VOTE! program to turn out women voters for Senator Hillary Clinton. Starting in mid-February (see full releases on OH and TX), EMILY's List began reaching out to nearly 150,000 targeted women voters in Ohio and women across the state of Texas who were likely voters.

The Women’s Electorate in Ohio & Texas:

The EMILY’s List WOMEN VOTE! program targeted several key groups of registered Democratic women voters in Ohio, including non-college educated women, rural women, and older women who have suffered most in this economic down-turn and thus have the most at stake in this election. In Texas, EMILY's List ran a state-wide radio campaign targeting women voters, particularly Latinas. We wanted to maximize support for Senator Clinton and expand the women’s electorate and we succeeded in both goals.

The Results:
Turn out amongst women far exceeded the 2004 level. Women made up 59 percent of the electorate in Ohio, a seven point increase over 2004. In Texas, women made up 57 percent of the electorate, a four percent increase over 2004. Senator Clinton won women in Ohio by 16 points and women in Texas by 11 points. (See MSNBC Exit Polling) emilyslist.org

The EMILY's List campaign materials used women from the states to deliver the message about Clinton.  And when the results came in, women had not only turned out in great numbers, but had voted for Clinton by a significant majority. Emilys List spent $150,000 on a mailing spread over the two states. blogscourant

MD NARAL Says Church-backed pregnancy centers mislead

Why does NARAL oppose Pregnancy Help Centers who offer alternatives to abortion? Why shouldn't these volunteers offer a pro-life alternative to abortion? An alternative that is not only pro-life but pro-woman!

NARAL of Maryland claims volunteers at the crisis pregnancy centers supported by the Catholic Church provide inaccurate and deceptive information to advance anti-abortion agendas, abortion rights advocates testified Wednesday in Annapolis.

An abortion rights organization released a report detailing visits to 11 Maryland pregnancy centers, where “investigators” said they were told abortion leads to infertility or breast cancer. Volunteers at the faith-based centers attempt to “coerce” pregnant women to give birth, said Melissa Kleder, who authored the report for NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland. read more Examiner 2/21

Washington: NARAL Wants Greater Access to Morning After Pill

NARAL is putting together a grass roots campaign, pushing for pharmacists to carry the pill.

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington recently conducted a study on the number of state pharmacies carrying the pill.

Project volunteers contacted abut 80 percent of the pharmacies in the state. According to NARAL's Web site, results show that 7.4 percent of surveyed pharmacies do not stock Plan B, and 3 percent of surveyed pharmacies have a pharmacist on staff that refuses to dispense Plan B.

Last November a U.S. district judge imposed an injunction allowing pharmacists the right to refuse to sell Plan B if they refer the customer to another nearby source. The injunction is part of a lawsuit by two pharmacists and a drug store owner who claim the state's birth control sales rules violate their civil rights.

On Friday the state, Planned Parenthood and several other organizations will appeal that ruling. read more king5 2/14

NARAL Sends Senate Emails Against Pro-Life Judicial Pick

Abortion advocates have generated tens of thousands of emails against a pro-life nominee for a federal judicial post. NARAL, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and others have lobbied fiercely against Honaker's nomination in advance of a Tuesday hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The pro-abortion complaints center around the confirmation of Wyoming pro-life advocate Richard Honaker to be a federal district court judge.

Honaker, an attorney and former state legislator, received an appointment from President Bush to the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming.
Pro-abortion groups have fiercely opposed Honaker's nomination because of his efforts to prohibit abortions in Wyoming. read more LifeNews 2/8

 

Naral Reporting to it's Members that John McCain is Solidly Pro-Life

NARAL stated the following on its website: "Sen. John McCain served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1986 and in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to present. During his four years in the House, then-Rep. McCain cast 11 votes on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues. Ten of these votes were anti-choice. In the Senate, through 2006, Sen. McCain cast 117 votes on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues, 113 of which were anti-choice."

"In addition to his solidly anti-choice record, Sen. McCain has never cosponsored or supported legislation that would prevent unintended pregnancy or reduce the need for abortion."

NARAL is correct. Senator McCain has supported every pro-life bill with the exception of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.

In a recent conversation with Catholic leaders, Senator McCain was asked if the new breakthrough in turning adult stem cells into an embryonic-like state would change his mind on the issue. McCain said he's not sure the research is strong enough yet to prompt him to change his position on the issue and said he was concerned about being perceived as a flip-flopper -- something that has caused pro-lifers to question Romney's convictions to the pro-life cause. He stated that the continued progress with adult stem cell research could make this issue academic. ONUG

Pro-Abortion Group Castigates Ted Kennedy for Endorsing Barack Obama

Senator Kennedy, the long-time pro-abortion Catholic Massachusetts senator, has backed his Illinois colleague and NOW activists in New York are upset.

“Women have just experienced the ultimate betrayal," the NOW chapter said in a statement. "Senator Kennedy’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic presidential primary campaign has really hit women hard."

Despite his adamant pro-abortion views, NOW-New York said Kennedy has given them the "greatest betrayal." "We are repaid with his abandonment," the group added. "He’s picked the new guy over us. He’s joined the list of progressive white men who can't or won't handle the prospect of a woman president who is Hillary Clinton." LifeNews 1/29 read more

 

NARAL President Tells Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama to Stop Abortion Fight

"I'm more pro-abortion then you..."

NARAL president Nancy Keenan has had enough -- not of pro-life Americans educating the public about abortion's risks and dangers but of Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama fighting each other. Since before Iowa voters went to their caucuses, the two have been going at it.

The debate started with Clinton attacking Obama on votes he case while he was a member of the Illinois legislature.

Clinton claims Obama did pro-abortion activists a disservice by voting "present" on several abortion-related bills, including one that would make sure babies who are born alive after a botched abortion get proper medical care.

Obama responded to the attack by saying he worked in concert with Illinois Planned Parenthood.

He worked with the abortion business to hatch a political strategy that would protect pro-abortion legislators from criticism from pro-life groups during election time when they would point out votes against the common sense bills. LifeNews 1/28 read more

 

Anti Obama groups, AFSCM and Emily's List Stirring Controversy

The leaders of Emily's List, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), have become ensnared -- through their own actions -- in the complexities of federal campaign law.

Emily's List, an organization that backs Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights, and the two labor unions, have each set up independent expenditure (IE) subsidiaries for this election cycle to be able to finance thousands of dollars worth of television ads in support of Clinton. HuffPolitics read more

 

At Daughter's Urging, Senator McCaskill Backs Obama
Senator McCaskill is a Catholic who supports abortion rights and has accepted campaign donations from pro-abortion advocacy groups

Sen. Barack Obama won the endorsement of Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), an up-and-coming freshman who scored one of the biggest Senate upsets of the 2006 midterm election cycle, in what is now a vital Feb. 5 battleground.

McCaskill has been an enthusiastic supporter of Obama for months, sources close to the senator said, but had been reluctant to step forward earlier out of loyalty to Emily's List, the pro-choice Democratic women's group that invested in her race against former GOP Sen. James Talent. Emily's List is backing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primary. McCaskill is the second high-profile female lawmaker to announce for Obama this week, following Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. WashPost 1/13 read more

How Clinton Won Women in NH

A large part of that success came because of EMILY's List, which has been targeting women voters for over twenty years and enthusiastically backs Clinton. In Iowa, the group targeted registered Democratic women who voted in 2006 but had never caucused before, educating them about the caucuses arcane procedures. They got a big turnout, but not as big as Obama. EMILY's List Women Vote Director Maren Hesla credited the Obama campaign with "reshaping the Iowa electorate" and bringing out young women, particularly 17-24-year-olds, along with women who previously identified as Independents. Yahoo 1/11 read more

 

AFSCME, Emily's List Deny Any Role In Anti-Obama 527 Scheme

The Huffington Post had a blockbuster scoop today reporting that top independent expenditure groups backing Hillary are thinking of creating a massive anti-Obama "527 committee" to go after the Illinois Senator.

But two major players in this world are already moving rapidly to disavow any involvement in any such effort TPMElectionCentral 1/9.read more

Enlisting Emily's List

"Why Caucus?"

That's the question asked in the eye-pleasing whispy text of new mailers from Iowa Women Vote! (the state's political arm of pro-choice org Emily's List). Emily's List is throwing big money behind Hillary Clinton in the effort to maintain her grip on the female vote in Iowa; polls show HRC losing ground to Barack Obama among women. So the barrage of mail couldn't come at a better time.

Here's a description of the two of the mailers hitting boxes now (full color, 8.5x11) ...

The first one features photos of a mother of two who plugs Clinton's record with kids. She says: "I'm supporting Hillary Clinton because she has always stood up for our childen. The least I can do is stand up for her at the Caucus."

The second profiles a teacher, who echoes the praise for Clinton's focus on children. "I've been going to the caucus for 28 years because it's just too important to skip," reads her quote.

Both mailers direct readers to the pro-Hillary girl-power site www.yougogirl.com to learn more. NationalJournal

 

Year of the Woman?

Emily's List says twice as many Democratic pro-abortion women will be on the ballot in 2008 as in 2006; such candidates have already won two of three special elections this year. Emily's List, backing Clinton for president, has launched an aggressive online campaign in Iowa at www.yougogirl.com.

 

Emily's List steps up efforts for 2008

During the 2006 election cycle, the 100,000-member network that promotes Democratic candidates who back abortion rights raised more than $40 million for female candidates for state and national offices.

EMILY's List is stepping up a nationwide educational effort to persuade more women to run for office or participate in politics. sacbee read more

 

Hillary — "a moral conservative" — Emily's List doesn't think so!

Last week a Time Editor made a statement that Hillary Clinton is a "moral conservative." Emily's List, an abortion advocacy group that only supports strict pro-abortion Democratic women for office, is on record for giving Hillary over $210,000 thus far in the campaign. Apparently they dont believe she's a "moral conservative" either.

 

Emily's List targets women via new channels

EMILY’s List will target women who are interested in the election but more focused on, say, the holidays and their own lives than the Jan. 3 caucus. The group will post ads on yoga, health care and children’s sites, as well as on Google, where searches for “election” and “eggnog” might direct voters to the same caucus ads.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) stands to benefit because EMILY’s List has been with her since she announced her candidacy. Politico