Pro-Life News: Washington Post Abortion Bias, Virginia Loss, Oakland Limits Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 7, 2007
Washington Post Biased, Describes Pro-Abortion Org as "Women’s Group"
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The Washington Post is at it again when it comes to bias on the issue of abortion. This time, a Monday Post article the pro-abortion National Women’s Political Caucus was tagged as "an organization that promotes the election of women." The description came in the obituary for the late Grace Suydam Orlansky, "a longtime civic activist" who died on October 22. Orlansky "worked for the caucus from 1975 to 1991, chiefly as assistant executive director," readers learn from a 12-paragraph obit written by Adam Bernstein. Not once was the word "abortion" or "pro-choice" featured in the article. Ken Shepherd, who writes for the Media Research Center’s Newsbusters site had this to say: "What is it with the mainstream media painting liberal, pro-choice political action groups as outlets to get women elected, when in fact the groups in question skew leftward and are staunchly pro-choice on the abortion issue." He said at least the NWPC accurately describes its pro-abortion mission. On the group’s web site it clearly says, "NWPC recruits, trains and supports pro-choice women candidates for elected and appointed offices at all levels of government regardless of party affiliation."
Virginia Abortion Advocates Happy Democrats Took Over State Senate
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) — Abortion advocates in Virginia scored a victory in the small number of off-year elections on Tuesday night. The Democratic Party was successful in yesterday’s election in taking control of Virginia’s State Senate. Because the new leadership of the Senate and new members support abortion, that’s a strong gain for abortion advocates. NARAL’s state affiliate there claims in a press release that 84% of the candidates endorsed by the group were victorious. "This shift will not only help us protect access to abortion services in Virginia," Jessica Bearden, deputy director of NARAL’s Virginia group, said in the statement. "It will allow us to pursue commonsense legislation, such as increasing access to birth control, that will prevent unintended pregnancies and thus reduce the need for abortion." The victory for Democrats marks the end of ten years during which the Republican Party has had control over the chamber.
Oakland City Council Approves Eight Foot Abortion Facility Protest Limit
Oakland, CA (LifeNews.com) — The Oakland City Council voted Wednesday morning for an 8-foot "bubble" around patients, staff and people accompanying women going to abortion businesses. The vote came after pro-life advocates waited six hours to make their views heard. A final vote on the ordinance is scheduled for December 4 and, if adopted, the new measure would impose penalties of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000. Councilmembers Nancy Nadel (Downtown-West Oakland), Jane Brunner (North Oakland) and Jean Quan (Montclair-Laurel) led the call for the new ordinance and claimed "intimidation and harassment" at three of the four abortion centers in the city. Walter Hoye, a Union City resident who hands out pro-life literature says it is abortion activists who need rules to follow. "I’m a witness to the opposite – I’ve seen the escorts push and shove protesters," Hoye said. "The ordinance is one-sided, and there is no need for it." He stood with two elderly women who pass out information about abortion alternatives. "I want you to take a good look at us," he said. "We are not a public-safety threat."