NARAL Report Gives United States D on Promoting Abortion, Up Since Obama
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 17, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The pro-abortion group NARAL has issued a new nationwide report grading the country and each state on its promotion of abortion. Since President Barack Obama took over the White House, NARAL says the nation’s pro-abortion grade has improved from a "D-" to a "D."
"For pro-choice Americans, 2009 was a roller-coaster ride," NARAL president Nancy Keenan says in a statement accompanying the report.
"On the one hand, we saw positive changes in policies that will make a difference," she continued. "On the other hand, anti-choice politicians used health reform to advance destructive and divisive attacks on women’s access to abortion coverage."
NARAL credits Obama with compiling an extensive pro-abortion record that "began to undo eight years of damage" under the administration of President George W. Bush, who protected pro-life advocates from funding abortions and abortion promotion with taxpayer dollars.
Looking at the individual states, NARAL notes: "In 2009, 14 states and Washington, D.C. enacted 21 pro-choice measures" while "14 states enacted 29 anti-choice measures."
"Every time we take a step forward, we will face unrelenting resistance from anti-choice politicians who will sink to new lows to undermine [abortion]," Keenan lamented.
Fifteen states received an A grade for promoting abortion the most or rejecting pro-life legislation to limit abortions: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
States earning an F for their pro-life legislation included Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Dave Andrusko of the National Right to Life Committee noticed the new report and wasn’t surprised that NARAL singled out Obama for praise — calling him "the most pro-abortion President in American history."
"NARAL also praised Obama for stocking his Administration with allies in key positions and for nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court," he noted.
"A particular bone in their throat is the enactment of laws that establishes ‘Choose Life’ license plates. The thought of some of this money going to poverty-stricken women helping centers is almost more than Keenan can endure," he adds.
The NARAL report also praises late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller, who was shot and killed in Kansas by Scott Roeder, who has no affiliation with the pro-life movement.
"Through his life’s work, Dr. George Tiller compassionately and heroically served women from all across the country in order to ensure their right to reproductive-health services," the report says. "Dr. Tiller often spoke of his values – kindness, courtesy, justice, love, and respect – which he brought with him to work everyday."
NARAL also dedicated the report to the late pro-abortion Sen. Ted Kennedy, who was considered a pro-life Democrat before he flip-flopped and became a stalwart abortion advocate.
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