Obama Admin Ignores Pro-Life Democrats Group Before Stem Cell Decision
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 10, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — President Barack Obama has left out the concerns of pro-life advocates at every turn, whether decisions concern abortion or bioethics issues. But one pro-life group had inroads into the White House says it got kicked to the curb before Obama’s decision to forced taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research.
Kristen Day, the director of Democrats for Life of America, said her group opposed Obama’s previous decision overturning the Mexico City Policy.
However, Obama officials gave the pro-life Democratic group "an opportunity to air our concerns with representatives of the Administration" about his decision to make taxpayers fund groups that promote and perform abortions abroad.
"But the announcement that President Obama would allow expanded use of embryonic stem cells came as a surprise," Day said.
She told LifeNews.com that the lack of communication will sour her group on its attempt to build bridges with Obama and his staff.
"DFLA has had a productive relationship both with the campaign and the early stages of the new Administration. To have no opportunity to weigh in on this controversial issue signals a cooling of our relations," Day explained.
Although some pro-life Republicans may have a hard time understanding how Democrats can either be pro-life or be able to work with a pro-abortion stalwart, Day makes it clear her group doesn’t support Obama or his decisions.
"DFLA is against President Obama’s decision, period," she explained. "There are workable and successful options available to private sector research operations that use umbilical cord blood and non embryonic stem cells."
"To frame this decision as a necessity to cure finding medical research is not accurate," she added.
Day says she has no confidence that calls from her group or pro-life advocates for Obama to reverse course will succeed, but she still hopes to work with Obama on other issues.
She hopes the president will be open to the Pregnant Women’s Support Act — the main pro-life legislation Democrats for Life has supported for the last few years.
The measure combines traditional pro-life legislation to reduce abortions along with support for pregnant women by emphasizing and supporting day care, pregnancy help and other options.
"We will work with the President to pass this landmark abortion reduction bill and we are hopeful that he will see the PWSA is a far better way to work with pro-life Democrats than focusing on divisive issues that highlight our differences on issues dealing with life and the unborn," Day concluded.
But with Obama’s long pro-abortion record he’s crafted already, Day’s group will have another uphill battle.
Related web sites:
Democrats For Life of America – https://www.democratsforlife.org
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