VIDEO: Abortion rights Round 2: Chris Matthews calls out Bishop Tobin

By GottaLaff

If these organizations aren't up for a good fight, then fuggetaboutit:

To their credit, NARAL and Planned Parenthood are have already shown their willingness to do what's necessary to win this next round. They have threatened to withhold funding from Ciro Rodriguez and Harry Teague, the two members of Congress who got money from the groups in the last election cycle and proceeded to vote for Stupak anyway. And Planned Parenthood has announced its intentions to pull its support from any reform bill that includes Stupak.

There's more hardball to be played. These groups, along with the prochoice PAC EMILY's List, could announce that they'll "score" a vote for a healthcare bill that contains abortion restrictions like the Stupak amendment as an antichoice vote, for instance. That's important because these lobbying organizations use their scores to determine which legislators gets their money--and how much. (Planned Parenthood and NARAL have not yet decided how to score votes on health reform bills that contain antiabortion provisions, though NARAL's policy director, Donna Crane said, "That's a very serious question being discussed in our organization." EMILY's List has not returned calls.)

This was a very extensive piece. Please go read the whole thing.

We have to be as tough as nails on this, consistent, persistent, clear, and unified.

In fact, check out how hard core in-your-face Chris Matthews was on this subject on today's Hardball. He was debating Rev. Thomas Tobin, Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island about banning Patrick Kennedy from Holy Communion for his views, among other things:

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Tim Kaine Signs Bill Creating 'Choose Life' License Plate

By GottaLaff

The chairman of the DNC is calling it a freedom of speech issue. Will we see a license plate with a pro-choice message?

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine came under fire Monday for signing a bill to create a "Choose Life" license plate, a move that abortion rights activists say runs afoul of his obligations as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Kaine, a Catholic who personally opposes abortion, said he considers such license plate messages a matter of free speech and added that the move was "in keeping with the commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages."

"If Planned Parenthood . . . or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination," he said.

Well then. Planned Parenthood? NARAL? Where's your plate design?

But the decision -- and the reaction that followed -- illustrated the challenge Kaine faces in trying to balance elected office with his new national political job.

"It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women's health," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, said "the Choose Life plate will provide private-sector funding, not tax dollars, to organizations that support families caught in crisis situations. Everyone should agree that is a good thing for the commonwealth."

After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 of the $25 annual fee would go to Heartbeat International, a Christian pregnancy resource organization, which would distribute the money to about 40 centers in the state that meet the group's standards.

Palin powers abortion groups' fundraising

Backlash indeed. Gotta and I were talking yesterday and decided that these groups are exactly who needs to take on the "rape kit" controversy. I also like the idea to call them "rape tax", which I read somewhere else, but can't remember where.

Advocacy groups on both sides of the abortion issue are reporting a surge in fundraising in reaction to newly selected Republican vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin.

Last week NARAL Pro-Choice America had the highest grossing week since it began fundraising for the 2008 election, according to staffers, raising more than $120,000 from two e-mail alerts. Planned Parenthood also reported high fundraising numbers from e-mail appeals.

The same held true on the other side of the divide, where anti-abortion groups said Palin sparked an outpouring of money into their coffers. The Susan B. Anthony List, a group that helps promote female candidates who oppose abortion, said its weekly fundraising tripled last week.

(snip)

While abortion has failed to galvanize voters over the past few election cycles, as issues like the war in Iraq, the economy, and immigration have dominated the debate, Palin’s nomination appears to have returned it to the front burner.

Already, Palin is proving to be a lightning rod on the issue.

On the website of Feminists for Life, of which Palin is a member, President Serrin M. Foster reports of “phones ringing off the hook” and “being inundated with requests for information and help.”

On Wednesday, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler created a storm of controversy and was forced to issue an apology after telling Politico that McCain had picked a running mate “whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion."

On the left, abortion rights groups report a flood of e-mails and calls from existing and new members who are alarmed by the prospect of a GOP ticket where both candidates would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned, with a vice presidential nominee who supports abstinence-based sex education and opposes abortion in all cases unless the life of the mother is at stake.

“That’s a pretty good indication of how fired up people are,” said Beth Shipp, political director of NARAL. “It has energized our base.”

NARAL Pro-Choice backs Obama

By Paddy


The only endorsement that would have surprised me more is if William J Clinton himself endorsed Obama. Granted, NARAL has been kind of schizophrenic in the past, but to pick the male candidate over the female one when their policies are very similar just floors me.

NEW YORK (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama has won the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America. The leading abortion rights advocacy organization has supported rival Hillary Rodham Clinton throughout her political career.

The organization was set to announce the endorsement of its political action committee Wednesday.

NARAL president Nancy Keenan said in a statement: "Today, we are proud to put our organization's grassroots and political support behind the pro-choice candidate whom we believe will secure the Democratic nomination and advance to the general election. That candidate is Senator Obama."

Oh, now I get it. It's not policy, it's that Hill has no chance. That makes sense.