Pro-Abortion Women’s Group Says Sarah Palin Making it Support Barack Obama
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 16, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A leading pro-abortion women’s group says John McCain’s selection of pro-life Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is forcing it to endorse Barack Obama. However, the so-called National Organization for Women (NOW) has already met with Obama and heaped words of praise on his running mate.
NOW president Kim Gandy said on Tuesday that the Palin pick has forced its hand and made it so the organization is forced to back Obama for president.
"NOW is going to be endorsing the Obama-Biden ticket," she told NPR.
She said her group "very, very rarely endorses in a general election" but "the addition of Sarah Palin gave us a new sense of urgency."
"She is being portrayed as a supporter of women’s rights … as a feminist when in fact her positions on so many of the issues are really anathema to ours," Gandy said about Palin’s pro-life stance.
"There’s no question that a lot of women think it’s a great thing for a woman to be running for vice president," Gandy said on NPR. "But they are completely dismayed when they find out her positions."
"The idea that she opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest — those kinds of positions are completely out of step with American women and once they find out about those positions, they get a little less excited about a woman running for vice president," Gandy said.
Yet, the idea that NOW is only backing Obama because of Palin doesn’t square with its actions and Gandy’s own comments.
NOW heaped praise on Joe Biden, the pro-abortion Delaware senator Obama chose as his vice-presidential running mate. She also admitted at the time that her group would be opposing McCain.
"Senator Hillary Clinton was our first choice, and that of 18 million primary voters, but presumptive Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama’s pick, Joe Biden, is … a strong selection for Vice President," she told LifeNews.com in a statement.
"NOW welcomes this important opportunity for one of our champions to participate in a national dialogue around issues that are facing our country and our world," she added.
Gandy’s group confirmed its opposition to McCain because of his abortion position.
"We know that Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is a longstanding opponent of [abortion] and NOW PAC will actively work to prevent him from [becoming president]," she said.
In August, Obama met with leading pro-abortion activists like Gandy who support unlimited abortions paid for at taxpayer expense. Gandy was joined in the private shin-dig by leaders of Emily’s List, NARAL and Planned Parenthood.
Ellen Malcolm, the head of Emily’s List described the private powwow as "a very friendly and cordial meeting" where Obama "did a lot of listening."
Gandy herself said Obama mentioned that "he knew there had been frustration with stuff directed at Sen. Clinton by the media."
"It was very important for him to reach out [to abortion activists]," Gandy said afterwards. "Obviously he needed to reach out to women in the same way that he has reached out to Latinos and to labor leaders and to environmentalists, and even to evangelicals."
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