President Obama Removes Pro-Life Gregg From Senate, Newman Unknown
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 3, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — President Barack Obama has officially nominated pro-life Sen. Judd Gregg to become the next Commerce Secretary, but the appointment doesn’t mean Obama is opening himself up to the pro-life perspective. In fact, the nomination has pro-life advocates concerned.
With Gregg out of the Senate, pro-life groups lose a reliable vote against the expansion of abortion.
Gregg’s replacement, so-called moderate Republican Bonnie Newman, is also a concern.
There seems to be little information about where Newman stands on abortion, but what is known is that she led the charge to unseat pro-life Gov. Craig Benson by co-chairing Republicans for Lynch.
That was the campaign apparatus to siphon Republican votes from Benson and turn them over to pro-abortion Gov. John Lynch, who appointed Newman today as the state’s next senator.
When looking at the other candidates Newman has supported for clues, there is evidence that leads some political observers to say she is not pro-life.
Newman backed pro-abortion Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe and, in 1995, supported pro-abortion then-California Gov. Pete Wilson for the GOP nomination for president.
In one hint of things to come, Newman is apparently not regarded highly by conservatives in the state, and there is already talk of challenging her in the 2010 primary election.
Ultimately, in the Senate, the pro-life movement is very concerned about the potential for passage of the Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would make unlimited abortions the national law and overturn 36 years worth of pro-life state laws that are reducing abortions.
With a House and Senate controlled by abortion advocates, the only potential for stopping the FOCA bill could be a filibuster by pro-life senators. With Gregg, a sure vote against the bill, leaving and an unknown taking his place, that ability to hold up the pro-abortion bill becomes more complicated.
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