Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius Comments on Abortion Gala Controversy

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 1, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius Comments on Abortion Gala Controversy

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 29
, 2008

Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) — Pro-life groups have slammed Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for hosting a special dinner for late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. A Sebelius spokeswoman tried explain away the controversy and now Sebelius herself is talking about the event.

As LifeNews.com reported, the pro-life group Operation Rescue produced photos of Sebelius appearing at the mansion reception with George Tiller, who does late-term abortions in Wichita.

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran spoke with the media in response and said the April, 9, 2007 event at Cedar Crest was given as a prize to the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, a group that promotes pro-abortion candidates.

Late Wednesday, Sebelius dismissed the notion that she threw a lavish party for the abortion practitioner but confirmed the event took place.

She backed up Corcoran’s comments that the dinner was one Tiller purchased at a fundraising event for the pro-abortion political group. The event, known as the Torch Dinner, includes donated auction items to raise more money and the reception with Sebelius was included.

“I have offered, at the Torch Dinner in previous years, auction items to come to Cedar Crest,” Sebelius said, according to the Lawrence Journal World. “This was one of those years, and Dr. Tiller happened to be the bidder on this event."

“And it is not something that I invite the bidder to bid. It’s not something that I choose the guests," she said.

"It’s been a tradition … for a variety of groups whose causes I support: We offer an opportunity to come to lunch at Cedar Crest, come to dinner at Cedar Crest," the governor explained. "The expenses are reimbursed, and this just happened to be one of them.”

However, Kansans for Life director Mary Kay Culp told LifeNews.com she doesn’t buy the explanation.

"It doesn’t matter if the Tiller party was an extension of the TORCH auction dinner," Culp says.

"What matters most is that late-term abortionist George Tiller and his entire staff got to party-hardy at our tax-funded Governor’s mansion while he was under criminal investigation by the attorney general," she explained.

"That ought to matter to every citizen, no matter what their abortion stance," Culp said.

Sebelius also dismissed criticism that the dinner with the abortion practitioner was not listed in her public schedule. She said many of the receptions at the governor’s mansion don’t make the list.

“That isn’t something that we do,” Sebelius said. “A lot of what we do at Cedar Crest is private.”

Related web sites:
Kansans for Life – https://www.kfl.org