Obama Names Pro-Abortion Lawyer, Ex-NARAL Staffer to Judicial Team

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 20, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Obama Names Pro-Abortion Lawyer, Ex-NARAL Staffer to Judicial Team

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 20
, 2008

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — In a move that underscores Barack Obama’s dedication to promoting abortion, the incoming president has named a prominent pro-abortion attorney to serve as a member of his Department of Justice Review Team. Dawn Johnsen is a professor at the Indiana University School of Law.

But she is more than that — she is a longtime abortion advocate and worked for one of the leading abortion advocacy groups.

Johnsen was the Legal Director for NARAL from 1988-1993.

After that, she served in the Clinton administration as the Acting Assistant Attorney General heading the Office of Legal Counsel from 1997-1998 and as Deputy Assistant Attorney General from 1993-1996.

Johnsen also served on the Clinton transition team in 1992.

The Department of Justice Review Team is charged with "assur[ing] continuity in the faithful execution of the laws and in the conduct of the affairs of the Federal Government."

The news is upsetting to Mike Fichter, the executive director of Indiana Right to Life.

"Obama’s pick is disturbing evidence that the promotion and advancement of abortion on demand will be a high level priority for the incoming administration," he says.

Other key appointments from Obama have disappointed pro-life advocates.

Obama chose pro-abortion Illinois congressman Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff, has selected pro-abortion former Sen. Tom Daschle as his Health Secretary, and a top bioethics advisor is a leading embryonic stem cell research supporter.

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