Democrats for Life Dinner Honors Courageous Pols, Promotes Abortion Reduction
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 15, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — President Barack Obama may talk a good game when it comes to advocating the reduction of abortions, but Democrats for Life of America took the occasion of its annual dinner on Tuesday to honor lawmakers who are sticking their necks out in an unfriendly caucus to do something about it.
Democrats for Life is a small ,but influential, group that has the unenviable task of promoting the pro-life perspective in a party dominated by fierce pro-abortion proponents like NARAL and Emily’s List.
So when Pennsylvania Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper won her Congressional primary against abortion advocates, as a proudly pro-life Democratic woman, some political observers thought it was a fluke.
During her campaign, admittedly against a pro-life Republican incumbent, Dahlkemper spoke about her experiences as a single mother.
Since her election, Dahlkemper has become a key partner of all those or those who defend life in Congress. She joined longtime pro-life leaders in June in an effort to stop President Obama’s international abortion agenda.
As DLFA tells LifeNews.com about its awards dinner honoree, "Her ability to work constructively with other Congressional colleagues, while coming from a state that is perceived as pro-choice, has already made her a valuable voice for pro-life Democrats and an advocate for the preborn."
But DFLA executive director Kristen Day says the dinner and her group’s mission is exemplified in the courage Dahlkemper, and others like her, have shown.
"Our annual dinner is one of the rare chances for our membership to interact with our pro-life elected leaders and talk about successes and opportunities when it comes to protecting life," she told LifeNews.com.
The central component of the DFLA mission for the last few years has been a bill that would put the kind of campaign rhetoric Obama has displayed in speech into action.
The Pregnant Women Support Act is a Congressional bill that combines two highly-regarded approach of laws that limit abortions along with social service programs that provide help for pregnant women at a time of need. With true abortion limits and a helping hand to poor and young women, the bill is a reflection of the tried and true pro-life, pro-woman approach.
"With the Pregnant Women Support Act making real progress in Congress," Day told LifeNews.com this year’s dinner was the best yet.
Day says her group thrives on the ability to make connections to Democratic Party leaders, like Obama and his staff, that many pro-life groups may not be able to achieve. That, she hopes, will lead to concrete actions to reduce abortions.
"We are hopeful that DFLA is going to be seen as the group that helped bring a broad coalition together to pass the most historic abortion reduction measure ever passed by Congress," she said.
"As such, we expect a lot of energy and optimism about what the future holds for pro-life Democrats across America," Day concluded.
Related web sites:
Democrats For Life of America – https://www.democratsforlife.org
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