Pro-Life Gov Tim Pawlenty Heads Susan B. Anthony List Dinner, Bashes Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 25, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a pro-life advocate seen as a potential 2012 presidential candidate, keynoted the Susan B. Anthony List gala last night at the posh Willard Hotel in Washington. Rep. Michele Bachmann, also of Minnesota and a rising conservative star, join him and both bashed abortion.
Pawlenty and Bachman both took the administration of President Barack Obama to task and criticized the pro-abortion health care bill he signed.
And Congressman Bart Stupak, the recipient of much pro-life venting over his decision to trade votes against the abortion funding bill for an executive order that doesn’t effectively stop it, found himself on the receiving end of boos from the crowd.
Pawlenty told the audience, "“This administration and this Congress is being more hostile and challenging the pro-life position and values than any time since Roe v. Wade."
"We don’t honor the Constitution when we elevate a vague idea that is the right to privacy over the right to life,” Pawlenty added.
The governor urged pro-life advocates to re-engage in the long-term battle despite losing the skirmish over the pro-abortion health care bill.
“We have to realize that this is not just about the tactics,” he said, according to Politico. “The laws and the court decisions and the like will change when hearts are changed and minds are changed.”
“Our values are under attack and under siege,” he added. “We’re on the right side of history when it comes to protecting and defending life.”
Bachmann took on Bart Stupak and his colleagues and talked about what she termed a betrayal to the pro-life cause by going back on their opposition to the bill because of the abortion funding in it.
“We saw a myth exploded this week, the myth of people who said they would stand with the pro-life movement,” she said. “But for five pro-life Democrats, we would not be here tonight observing the greatest expansion of abortion right since Roe v. Wade.”
She, too, urged the pro-life audience to move forward.
“After Sunday we were all devastated around the midnight hour when this bill passed,” Bachmann said. “But when I woke up on Monday, the first thing that occurred to me is now we have clarity."
“Our nation knows exactly where a certain contingent stands in this country,” she added. “The pro-life movement was a little moribund, but no more. We are energized.”
Stupak had been expected to receive an award from the pro-life group, but it withdrew the award based on Stupak’s pro-abortion health care vote and gave it to Emily Buchanan, the Susan B. Anthony List executive director, instead.
A crowd of almost 400 attended the event, including many pro-life luminaries and political figures.
Republican Reps. Steve King of Iowa, Trent Franks of Arizona, Todd Tiahrt of Kansas and Jean Schmidt of Ohio attended as did
Jeri Thompson, the wife of former presidential candidate Fred Thompson, conservative fundraising guru Richard Viguerie, and Mary Ellen Bork, the wife of defeated Supreme Court nominee Richard Bork, also attended.
Bob Livingston, Ed Gillespie, Carlyle Gregory and Kathryn Lopez of National Review also attended the gala, according to conservative writer Matt Lewis.
Related web sites:
Susan B. Anthony List – https://www.sba-list.org
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