Obama Administration Issues No Response to Slaying of Pro-Life Advocate

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 11, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Obama Administration Issues No Response to Slaying of Pro-Life Advocate

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 11
, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The administration of President Barack Obama was quick to respond to the shooting death of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. But, when it comes to the murder of a pro-life advocate urging students at a Michigan high school, the Obama administration hasn’t said a word.

LifeNews.com has searched the daily press releases from administration officials, the White House website, mainstream media stories on the shooting, and news search engines.

The search reveals the Obama administration has been silent on the Friday shooting death of pro-life advocate Jim Pouillon by an abortion advocate who was upset that he protested abortion outside a local high school.

LifeNews.com sent an email to Obama’s press and faith offices hours after the shooting looking for reaction and never received a reply.

CNS News also indicated it sent requests to both the White House and the Department of Justice asking whether a statement would be released on Pouillon’s death and never received a response.

Reid Cherlin, the White House spokesman that CNS News was told would be the one most likely to issue a response, did not respond to any of its repeated requests for comment or reaction.

When it came to the Tiller murder, Obama released a statement and the Justice Department announced an investigation.

"The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to determine the full involvement of any and all actors in this horrible crime, and to ensure that anyone who played a role in the offense is prosecuted to the full extent of federal law," said Loretta King, head of the department’s civil rights division.

Obama also directed the U.S. Marshals Service to offer protection to abortion practitioners.

Leading pro-life advocates are concerned about the lack of response.

Representatives of Operation Rescue, Concerned Women for America, the National Clergy Council, and the Christian Defense Coalition participated in an afternoon press conference and called on Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama to condemn the killing as they did when Tiller was shot.

Troy Newman of Operation Rescue said the pro-life movement has been vigorously attacked since Obama was elected and since Tiller was shot.

“There has been an uptick in the amount of death threats we have received," he said. "There seems to be a stonewalling on the investigation."

Judy Zabik, who is the spokesman for Flint Area Right to Life is calling on tougher protections for pregnancy centers and pro-life advocates.

"I would publicly insist that all crisis pregnancy centers be afforded the same protection that Eric Holder gave to all the abortion clinics around the country after Tiller was murdered," she said.

Former Republican presidential candidate and American Values leader Gary Bauer said he has seen a different approach from the mainstream media in its reporting on the Pouillon shooting.

"Regrettably, there have been incidents of violence at abortion centers in recent years. We, and virtually every pro-life group, have condemned those acts," he told LifeNews.com. "At the same time, Big Media never missed an opportunity to use each example to condemn the entire pro-life movement as if it consisted entirely of hate-filled people."

"Today, a pro-life activist was shot and killed outside of a Michigan high school. The victim has been described in press reports as a 63-year old man, who wore leg braces, occasionally used a walker and a portable oxygen tank," he continued.

"Will reporters and journalists offer commentary on the extremism of the pro-abortion movement and the culture of death that it perpetuates? Will this story even make the evening news?"

Thus far, the media reporting has been light compared with the blow-by-blow details given to the Tiller shooting.

But from the White House and President Obama, there is no response at all.

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