Iowa Abortion Advocate Attacks Pro-Life Democrat Governor Candidate 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 1, 2005
Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) — One of the Democratic candidates for governor in Iowa is slamming pro-life Democrat candidate Mike Blouin’s opposition to abortion. Pointing out that he co-spopnsored two bills for constitutional amendment banning abortion in the 1970s when he serve in Congress, Patty Judge said Democrats should opt for someone in next year’s primary who backs abortion.
Judge, the state agriculture secretary, said Blouin should explain his Congressional record and she compared his pro-life votes in Congress to former Republican conservative Jesse Helms, a former Republican senator.
"These anti-choice amendments show that Mike Blouin is out of touch with the views of Iowa Democrats," Judge said in a statement.
Blouin, a Catholic has not been shy about saying he is pro-life and opposes abortion, separating him from the rest of the Democratic field in the governor’s race.
He told the Associated Press he would not sign a bill that would ban abortions and go against Roe v. Wade. Pro-life advocates say such a bill would only be struck down anyway and that it’s better to wait until after Roe is reversed.
Even then, Blouin, who stepped down as the state’s economic development director to run for governor, wouldn’t agree to sign a state abortion ban if Roe is overturned, AP reported.
"As I have said before, Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land," Blouin explained on Monday evening. "My campaign is not a discussion of the past but rather of the future. It is a reflection of my desire to deal meaningfully with health care, education and job creation."
Judge responded to Blouin by telling Democrats they need an abortion advocate as their nominee.
"As Democrats, we need a candidate who will tell you that they are pro-choice," she said.
Other Democrats in the race include Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver, state Rep. Ed Fallon of Des Moines, Shenandoah Mayor Gregg Connell, Sioux City engineer Sal Mohamed, and Wallingford Mayor Mark Yackle. Republicans include Rep. Jim Nussle and Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats.
