President Barack Obama Awards Abortion Advocates With Medal of Freedom
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 30, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — President Barack Obama today named 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed on its citizens. Obama’s group of recipients includes abortion advocates who have repeatedly earned condemnation from the pro-life movement.
In a statement LifeNews.com received, the White House said the medals were awarded to recipients who "make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States."
The recipients were said to have promoted "world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors" and "were chosen for their work as agents of change" and because they "have changed the world for the better."
Sen. Ted Kennedy has earned pro-abortion records for decades for repeatedly voting to promote abortion, including his opposition to a ban on partial-birth abortions. yet he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama.
In the statement, Obama called Kennedy " one of the greatest lawmakers – and leaders – of our time" even though the health care bill that bears his name in the Senate would promote the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.
Obama also awarded a medal to pro-abortion former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Not only did O’Connor repeatedly promote an unlimited right to abortion throughout pregnancy during her tenure on the Supreme Court, she authored the high court decision that overturned state bans on partial-birth abortion.
The Supreme Court had to go back, years later, and reverse her decision to allow the national partial-birth abortion ban to stand.
Obama also gave an award to Nancy Goodman Brinker, the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Although the group has been lauded for its work in supporting breast cancer research and prevention, it has drawn boos from pro-life advocates for giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to Planned Parenthood abortion businesses.
Komen has also come under fire for denying research confirming that abortion raises the risk of contracting breast cancer when abortion prevention could easily become a leading way to reduce the number of breast cancer cases.
Obama also gave a presidential medal to Billie Jean King, the acclaimed professional tennis player in the 1960s and 1970s. However, King joined the pro-abortion group Emily’s List in march 2007 to work for the presidential campaign of abortion advocate Hillary Clinton.
Reverend Joseph Lowery also received a medal from Obama even though he participated in an event in October 2006 where he joined with pro-abortion black leaders Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson in saying abortion is not an issue for black Americans.
That earned him condemnation from Rev. Clenard Childress and other pro-life African-Americans.
"We are all appalled by the statements made by Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson and Joseph Lowery at their Dallas pastors event," Childress said. "How can any Black leader say that abortion is irrelevant to the Afro-American community?"
Childress said abortion targets the black community "more than any other ethnic group in the country."
Obama also gave an award to Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Although Ireland laws protect unborn children, Robinson supports abortion as a human right.
Only one pro-life advocate made the list of medal winners. Obama gave an award to former congressman and NFL football player Jack Kemp, who took a very strong pro-life stance during his career.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
