Obama Supports Pro Choice Policy
I just noticed that the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARRAL) is asking pro-choicers to sign an online petition to President Obama urging him to allow abortions for “high risk” women to be performed in the new health cooperatives that are being established under the new health care reform law. I used to work for NARRAL. No, check that. I used to work for the “National Abortion Rights Action League” but sometime after I left they felt a need to add “Reproductive Rights” to the title. Never understood that one.
Anyway, it’s clear to me that NARRAL does not have much to do these days. Generally, things are going well for them on the national level because we have a pro-choice President. That’s the good news. The bad news is that when things are going well, it hurts your fundraising. And when the money stops coming in, you gotta find an issue that gets your supporters riled up. Hence, this new and rather bogus campaign.
The bottom line is that President Obama signed an Executive Order months ago clarifying that no federal tax dollars would be used for abortions in these new programs. If he hadn’t signed that document, we would not have had health care reform, plain and simple. He had a gun pointed at his head. He needed the votes of some pro-life Democrats.
Now, before any of you pro-choicers jump all over my butt, remember that I have put my time in with the movement and I am as strongly pro-choice as anyone. But the fact is that since the 1970’s, there have been prohibitions on the use of federal dollars for abortions (the “Hyde Amendment”). The Congress doesn’t even vote on the issue anymore. We just don’t have the votes to change that policy. So this Order was just clarifying that long standing policy. It changed absolutely nothing.
But NARRAL is outraged! Sign our petition DEMANDING that he change the policy.
The fact is that NARRAL knows darn well that Obama cannot rescind the order. But, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. So, sign this petition today! And, by the way, now that we have your mailing address you’ll probably receive a fundraising letter by tomorrow. Oh, and please notice in the top right hand corner of this page that we have a convenient DONATE button.
To line their own coffers, NARRAL is putting an already teetering President in more danger. They are riling up the troops who no doubt will be disappointed when Obama does not heed their demands. Sure, they may still vote for him but they will not doubt be less enthusiastic come election time because he has “failed” the pro-choice movement.
President Barack Obama speaks to a joint session
The pro-choice organizations sometime forget that their goal is to work their way out of a job. They don’t’ know how to claim victory because, if they do, then they’re on the unemployment lines. So, they are driven to come up with false issues, to try to rev up the troops who, hopefully, will send money to help their national organization fight for this “important right for women.”
This is not only shameful, but it is a dangerous effort that could hurt our PRO-CHOICE President.
Abortion - Abortion Clinics, Abortion Pill, Abortion Information 
September 1, 2010 at 3:48 pm
All it takes right.
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September 1, 2010 at 5:17 pm
This is one of those posts that helps if I’m depressed.
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September 2, 2010 at 10:08 pm
pattypoo, one of the qualities i respect about you is that you point out the flaws in your own camp. for what it is worth, i think that quality is very admirable.
the type of thing you were pointing out here is what i was referring to when i spoke of some choicers who are so caught up in the politics that they lose sight of what is in the best interests of the mother and the baby.
the pro-life camp has our equivalent as well. you know, the people who are so quick to condemn a woman seeking an abortion and have no compassion for her, despite the circumstances that she might be going through.
personally, though, i think that health care reform could have been passed far quicker were it not for some members of congress.
there seemed to be one side who was more concerned with the possibility of getting their name in schoolbooks in 50 years. we all heard the quotes of “historical health care reform!”, over and over.
just as we heard the efforts to scare people with “socialized medicine!”, trying to relate it to communism.
in the meantime, people face financial and medical catastrophe if dire illness arises.
yet they concern themselves with re-election if their constituents are pissed off because they think they have to pay for someone else.
but doesn’t a compassionate society take care of those who need help taking care of themselves?
i am not so concerned about myself. i am pretty healthy for my age. but i hate the thought of any child, senior, or anyone with chronic illness going without the health care that they need.
but i digress. imagine that. ;-D
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September 4, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Rog, I used to work on Capitol Hill years ago and I can tell you in those days, there was much less partisan bickering and sniping. I worked for Democrats and we had some pretty intense debates but after the debate everyone would shake hands and go get a beer. We also worked with the Republicans to cradt solutions.
Nowadays, because of 24 hour news and very short attention spans, everyone is just posturing. That’s why the Republicans oppose everything that Obama proposes. The goal is to take down your opposition so you can prevail in the next election. That’s why this country is going to hell and a handbasket….
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September 18, 2010 at 5:30 am
This is one of those posts that help if I’m depressed.
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