Karl Rove Applauds Pro-Life Advocates, Says Barack Obama is Too Pro-Abortion
RSS Newsfeed 
Email article
Printer friendly
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 5, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Hundreds of pro-life activists at the National Right to Life convention were treated to a morning keynote speech from political strategist Karl Rove on the anniversary of the nation’s independence. Rove, the much-celebrated and much-maligned political advisor to President Bush said owes his elections to the work of the pro-life advocates.
Rove said he’s been appreciative of the support pro-life advocates have given to President Bush and that the president has done everything possible to advance the pro-life cause.
“This is a president who is deeply and passionately committed to the goal you have — which is to foster a respect for life in this country,” Rove said.
“He has been forthright and clear and deliberate in his rhetoric and has been aggressive in his actions,” Rove added. “He’s happy to work together with you for a great common cause.”
Rove said Bush started his pro-life advocacy in his first day in office by reinstituting the Mexico City Policy, which makes sure taxpayers aren’t forced to fund abortions overseas.
Rove said Bush was delighted to sign pro-life bills into law like the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, ban on partial-birth abortions and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.
He said Bush also worked closely with pro-life advocates to make sure judges were appointed to the Supreme Court who would strictly interpret the laws rather than make them up from the bench.
Rove discussed the August 2001 decision of President Bush to make sure no taxpayer funds are spent on any new embryonic stem cell research that would destroy human lives. He said the president values alternatives like adult stem cell research or direct reprogramming that does not involve the destruction of human life.
“It was not an easy decision. I was there and said through the meetings in the Oval Office with bioethicist and scientists and parents with children with diseases who hoped that if only the president would allow the destruction of human embryos their lives would be improved,” he said.
“But we’ve got to be careful about crossing lines that, once crossed, would have devastating effects on our culture,” Rove said. “It would be crossing a very dangerous ethical barrier that would turn life into a commodity.”
He said President Bush understands that science and ethics need not be at odds and credited pro-life advocates with helping to defend President Bush’s decision.
“You’re to be applauded for it because you stuck with the fight in good years and bad years to help Americans understand we should create a culture that values human life,” he said. “You’ve been active in politics and debate and law and legislation.”
Rove commended the pro-life Democrats in the audience who have stood up against a pro-abortion party who wouldn’t allow former Pennsylvania governor Bob Casey to speak at the Democratic convention during the time of President Bush.
“Without those 16 Democrats, the partial-birth abortion ban would never have passed in the U.S. Senate,” he said. “These men and women deserve out thanks and appreciation.”
However, he said Democrats haven’t come far enough because their presidential nominee, Barack Obama is the “most pro-abortion candidate the Democrats have put forward.”
That’s because Obama has vocally opposed the partial-birth abortion ban, a co-sponsor of a bill to overturn pro-life laws across the country, and is a supporter of taxpayer funding of abortion.
“How can you bring Democrats together when you support the divisive practice of supporting abortions with taxpayer dollars?” Rove said. “He just can’t square that circle.”
Rove took Obama to task for his votes and speaking on the floor of the Illinois legislature against a bill that would have offered medical care for infants who are born prematurely or survive failed abortions.
On the other hand, Rove said John McCain I clearly pro-life on abortion and has a strong pro-life voting record on abortion issues. He also said McCain has put his pro-life words into action by adopting a daughter from an impoverished nation.
“Every American ought to know about the McCain’s visit to Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Bangladesh,” he said. “It’s one thing to vote or speak but it’s another thing to demonstrate a culture of life like that.”
Rove said the only way pro-life advocates will win in November is if pro-life people get out and work overtime to get pro-life people to the polls and to convince undecided voters to support McCain over Obama.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
