Abortion Rises To The Top in Dem Primary

[Lone_Star_Dem]

DERRY, N.H. - Barack Obama's campaign fought back against rival Hillary Rodham Clinton Sunday in an under-the-radar dispute over who would best protect abortion rights.

Obama's campaign made automated phone calls to New Hampshire voters accusing Clinton of "last-minute smears.''

The recorded message came in response to a Clinton mailing that said Obama failed to stand up for the right to choose abortion. The mailing said that while serving in the state Senate in Illinois, Obama voted "present'' seven times on abortion legislation instead of taking a yes or no position.

In the Obama campaign call, Wendy Frosh, chair of the board of Planned Parenthood in Northern New England, said Obama ``has a 100 percent pro-choice record and has always been a champion for women's rights.''

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7585093&nav=0s3d


At least they're arguing over who is going to protect our right to choose better. The Republicans would just as likely be arguing over who can effectively push through legislation that we must be submissive to our husbands.

[earthlover]

1. Planned Parenthood I trust more than a desperate politician making political hay on abortion

Hillary disgusts me more each day. Planned PArenthood supports Obama. A partisan politican behind in the polls throws the smear. I trust planned parenthood. I think they know what they are talking about.

Hillary apparently doesn't quite get it. Her negative campaigning in Iowa made a bad thing worse. Now it will likely make a worse thing even more so. What could better illustrate the "old politics" that Hillary can't make up her mind whether to oppose or practice.

Hillary is trying, in her style, to triangulate experience and change! She calls herself a change agent for things her husband did 35 years ago. I just don't think she gets it.

You can't argue for something new and experience at the same time. Makes as much sense as an experienced virgin.

[sallyseven]

5. Did he vote yes or no. Present doesn't cut it

[cynatnite]

9. Planned Parenthood endorsed Hillary in 2006 n/t

[laconicsax]

2. The question is

why did he vote 'present' instead of taking a position. It's clear that in his Senate voting record is pro-choice and he has made several statements backing that up. I've also read that he did have a pro-choice voting record while in the Illinois state Senate. Why then did he vote 'present' those seven times?

[City Lights]

3. He was voting as Planned Parenthood asked him to vote.

Here's something on this from Buzzflash:

Yet, as was the case in Obama's senate race, this was clearly disproven by the head of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, who says that Obama was a strong supporter of choice. A recent Associated Press article confirms: "During his eight years in the legislature, Obama cast a number of votes on abortion and received a 100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council for his support of abortion rights, family planning services and health insurance coverage for female contraceptives. He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive, a vote that especially riled abortion opponents."

Yet the Clinton campaign, even after being chastised for being dishonest about Obama's choice record during the Iowa Caucuses race, is continuing to use this false accusation in New Hampshire -- and has continued to feed the misleading attack to the national press.

It involves a practice allowed in the Illinois Senate of voting present on some bills. Obama, at the request of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, voted present on some abortion bills in order to attract Republicans and wavering Democrats because if enough of them voted present the offensive bills would be defeated by allowing them an option other than voting yes. In short, according to the head of Planned Parenthood of Illinois at that time, Obama was doing what they asked of him.

"The poor guy is getting all this heat for a strategy we, the pro-choice community, did," said Pam Sutherland, president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council.

The misleading and dishonest attack on Obama isn't even original. As we said -- and we know because BuzzFlash is in Chicago and obviously follows politics in Illinois -- it was used by Democratic primary opponents during Obama's senate run. (The Linked column from the Chciago Tribune was first published on March 19, 2004.)

[laconicsax]

12. Interesting

thanks for the info.

[College Liberal]

4. Oh, please...

Hillary is really getting desperate.... :eyes:

[sallyseven]

6. No Obama is desperate.

[College Liberal]

8. A desperate WINNER?

That is the dumbest thing i heard all day :eyes:

When Hillary wins some primaries then i will listen :eyes:

[City Lights]

7. Yes she is. eom

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Of course. Because THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE PRO CHOICE.

A fact that gets lost all too often in the bullshit blather about the "all powerful values voter".

Meanwhile, "nice" Mike Huckabee wants to make the birth control pill illegal.

Personal freedom, self-determination about one's own body, and choice are winner issues for us. We should not back away from them.

[Nailzberg]

11. Her dishonesty on this is appalling.

One of my best friends works for PP-Chicago. She has waited for the day she could vote for a woman for President. BUt she will instead vote for Obama, and from what I understand, a lot of PP people have taken Hillary's attack on the present strategy personally.