Obama Ad: McCain Camp Sleazy, Extreme On Abortion

WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama is airing a new ad in New Mexico and Ohio that defends his abortion rights record and says Republican rival John McCain backs a party platform that would deny abortions to victims of rape and incest.

Obama's ad answers an independent ad campaign, financed by an anti-abortion philanthropist, that singles out Obama's efforts in the Illinois Senate to defeat the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

"Now votes taken out of context, accusing Obama of letting infants die? It's a despicable lie," Obama's ad states.

As an Illinois state senator, Obama opposed three legislative efforts in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to give legal protections to any aborted fetus that showed signs of life. The 2003 measure was virtually identical to a bill President Bush signed into law in 2002 that unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.

Obama and other opponents of the Illinois bill have noted the state already had a law to protect aborted fetuses born alive and considered able to survive. Moreover, they said the proposed legislation would have undermined the landmark Supreme Court case on abortion, Roe v. Wade, in ways the federal law would not. Among those opposed to the state effort was the Illinois State Medical Society, which argued that the bill would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship and expand civil liability for doctors.

The independent ad is being aired by BornAliveTruth.org, specifically targeting Albuquerque, N.M., and Cleveland markets. The Obama ad is appearing in the same markets.

The BornAliveTruth ad, financed by prominent Massachusetts anti-abortion figure Raymond Ruddy, features Gianna Jessen, a 31-year-old motivational speaker from Nashville, Tenn., who adopted as a child after a failed abortion. "Sen. Obama, please support born alive infant protections. I'm living proof these babies have a right to live."

Obama's ad links McCain to the independent ad, though the McCain campaign did not pay for or air it.

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"McCain, he's running on a platform to ban abortion, even in cases of rape and incest," Obama's ad says. "Sleazy ads, anti-choice, that's John McCain."

The Republican platform approved at the party's national convention earlier this month asserts the GOP's opposition to abortion, including in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.

McCain has supported such exemptions in the past, but did not try to alter the party's stance at the convention.

Jill Stanek, a nurse and anti-abortion activist who organized BornAliveTruth, said Obama still needs to explain his votes. "These babies have the same rights as the rest of us," she said in response to Obama's ad.

___

On the Net:

BornAliveTruth: http://www.bornalivetruth.org

Obama: http://www.barackobama.com

Comments

[oscartucker]

For as long as I can remember, Republicans have brought out 3 issues in ads to get people to vote for them, then they have really not done anything about their 3 issues: Abortion, Gays, and Prayer in Schools. Republicans get peope all riled up over these issues, especially in the South.

[DietmarorWally]

Yes McCain's ads have pretty much all been sleazy, full of lies and without content as to how he would solve our many serious economic, social and international problems. I am surprised that the media and even Obama himself have not called him out on this. I just hope that enough Americans can see through this and vote for a real leader like Obama.

[alecsbook]

McCain has no clue. He is another NIMBY...

http://myrealitytelevision.com/2008/09/obama-versus-mccain-environment-natural-resources-fossil-fuels-1/

[yellowdogminnesotan]

I've never cared a lick about this issue. Because I guess I was too worried about what happened to those poor kids after they were born, you know things like HeadStart, WIC, Food Stamps. But know that the Neo-Cons have adopted this extremist platform and actually have a chance to change the law I'm worried. If my wife in the delivery of our third child is in extreme risk and her and the baby could die and she can't get a abortion right in the middle of delivery because of Sara Palin and John McCain my children and I loose a mom and a wife. That's sick.

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[bascombe]

THANKS FOR FIXING THE HEADLINE

[alecsbook]

McCain is out of touch with reality...

http://myrealitytelevision.com/2008/09/mccains-healthcare-policy-out-of-touch-with-reality/

[TN]

They already had a law protecting the fetus's born alive. This bill this anti-abortion ACTIVIST is reffering to was a power play by the For the Family people as a beginning to unravel, legally, rove vs. wade.

Does anyone think Obama wouldn't help a living thing? Please! He is the epitime of common sense, not an ACTIVIST. Get real, this is propaganda by the wacko religious right wing republicans.

[Gary47]

If men got pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. Everyone else can get off their high horse.

[AlwaysFairDem]

As a man, I could not have agreed more with your statement. The funny thing is still we live in the era of when women have to fight to vote.

[Jezreel]

I admit that I am not a "proponent" of abortion in the traditional sense. I would prefer concerted legislative and social policy efforts to reduce the need for abortion.
I do not believe, however, that banning abortion, i.e., making it a crime to either perform or have an abortion is the answer. It makes no sense to force women to resort to back rooms, dirty, sleazy, unsafe practices and clothes hangers or even death to avoid what is for them, the spectre of parenthood.
In most cases, I believe, the issue of abortion is directly linked to a woman's ability to provide for her child financially. Therefore, I believe that equal pay for equal work legislation must be inacted to level the playing field. I also believe that laws must be passed to make adoptions easier and that insurance companies should be obliged to cover birth control methods including the pill.
Partial birth abortions are wrong and immoral, in my view. I don't support Senator Obama's position on this matter. Nevertheless, I am not a single issue voter and I think there are other very important issues that are equally in play in this election cycle.
Ultimately, I believe that abortion is a complex issue that must remain a private decision between a woman within the context of her faith. I hope that one day in the not too distant future there will no longer be a need for abortions except in the most desperate of circumstances.

[theone718]

Where is the ad?

[AdV2k1]

Let me put this very simple and clear.

Republicans even if they got Super Majorities will NEVER EVER ban abortion.
Why Because its in their best interests to keep the issue going because it lures in votes. You can never ever give the carrot to the mule, because it won't walk any more so you keep the carrot on a string and they keep walking wanting to eat that carrot. Republicans had President, House and Senate in 2005 and they didn't try to ban abortion. Sure it would of been filibustered but the point is they don't try, because they rather keep it an issue and keep people voting on it.

Democrats actually tried to make Universal Healthcare happen in 90's they failed but still tried. Democrats actually increased Min. Wage in 2007 after trying every so often. Sometimes democrats fail to get things done, but they attempt to do things they promise.

Are you going to allow the Republican party to lure you into voting for them, are you going to allow them to USE you. I am not a fan of abortion but i won't allow Republicans to use my vote.

[mia8485]

You make some very good points.

Just a small comment, though -- No one is a fan of abortion.

Those of us who are pro-choice just want it to be safer for women who decide it is the best choice for them.

[enemyofignorance]

That's something I noticed too that doesn't seem to be an issue with republican voters. The Republicans had a majority in the house and senate and had Bush for a president. If they were serious about abortion they had the opportunity to do somethign about it but they didn't. Somehow it is the fault of democrats, even though they didn't have the majority to stop it, it was still their fault for existing. The neo-conservatives are making real conservatives look bad, really bad. What bothers the neo-conservatives is that not everybody is as gullible as they'd like them to be, and hence, have to use attacks on character. Facts are portrayed as lies and lies become the new facts to get neo-cons elected.

[pjgills]

I would have much more respect for the so-called pro-lifers if there were no foster kids in our system who were waiting to be adopted. If they actually stepped up and took these unwanted children into their homes, I might be able to bring myself to think that they actually were "for life". Instead, they want to dictate how a woman or girl should react to being raped by a stranger or family member. Or the poor woman who receives no child support and just can't afford another child who chooses to have an abortion. Are they helping her? No. They are judging. And judging is not up to us, it's up to God, if you believe in the Christian principles that most of these people are spouting.

[differenteye]

IPart One:
I agree. I believe that most believe that abortion is an unsavory method of birth control. It therefore, stands to reason that dealing with the issue of sexuality and personal responsibility is very important in the lives of young people. This does not however, as history amply demonstrates, prevent all unwanted pregnancies. Having studied the issues in depth has me know that what makes an unwanted pregnancy and birth all too often end in economic disadvantage and lack of opportunity for this new family, is for the most part directly related to the way we deal with single mothers' and their illegitimate offspring (the term says it all) in our society. We should be ashamed of ourselves. When people become marginalized, without adequate and meaningful economic, educational and emotional supports, we as a society have created the perfect conditions for crime and the things we fear to take hold. We then blame the victim ~ i.e. the poor kid that got pregnant and his/her children and then get even more stingy about what we are willing to have our tax dollars pay for. Everyone suffers in the end.

[differenteye]

Part Two:
In Rio, a primarily Catholic country, business people hire off-duty police officers to comb the streets at night and shoot and kill the thousand upon thousands of hungry, homeless, abandoned street children. If that is where abstinence only programs lead us as Christians, we had better look again. Deep inside. And do a whole lot better!!!

The most judgmental (and I believe harmful) people I have ever met, in my getting to be long life,have been people whose first identity is Christian. This does not apply to all who identify as Christian. I have long been convinced that God and religion all to often have little to do with one another. Occasionally, they come together.

[differenteye]

Part Three:
I believe in a higher power. I do not believe in religion just because. The guy at the pulpit does not necessarily know one thing more about God than I do or anyone who reads this post just as there are likely as many potential interpretations of any religious texts as there are people who read them. I was given a good brain, a strong and compassion heart and if I deal with each person that I meet, wishing for them all that I would wish for me and mine, and act accordingly, I find I don't stray too far off the mark. Never, and I mean never would I think that I have the right to legislate for an entire nation/world in a way that means that they must live the way my spiritual beliefs have me live. When I meet someone who does, i.e. the right to choose, I see them as pompous and self-serving. I see a dangerous sense of superiority and entitlement. I see fear and hubris which hides it. When they do it in the name of God, I see them as dangerous. When they want legislation that makes them good and others bad I see them as part of the problem. I do not see them as being close to God.

[differenteye]

Part Four:
I am pro-choice but believe that we can do much to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Let us remember that the ones that get pregnant, are not the bad ones, i.e. the only one's having sex, but they are the ones that just happened to get caught, for whatever reason, ignorance being high up on the list. Each of us, will have to settle with a higher power, if in fact there is one and no politician has the right to use God, in my opinion, to manipulate people. That is Hubris to the max. How dare anyone say that they or their kind are God's chosen. That neighbour you gossip about, that kid with the rotten teeth in your kid's class that doesn't get invited to your kids sleepover.­.. they are no less God's child than your own little princess.

[differenteye]

Part 5
I read US/World politics/policies and so much more about 16 hours a day, for years. I have studied humanity in depth. It is my opinion that our planetary woes are the collective failure of humanity (each of us) to explore and exercise the gifts we have been given, i.e. compassion, intelligence etc., for the benefit of all. We are a greedy self-serving lot and we had better smarten up or we will get what we have coming. If your region has lots of crime, don't kill the criminal, fix the systems that created him/her. We can't do that until each of us looks inside and fixes ourselves. In the meantime there will always be someone, some group, some color, some class that we will blame for our lack of personal courage and integrity and compassion. Perhaps when and if we meet our maker, the questions he/she/... has for us with be along these lines.If we vote for those who will take care of us and our perceived kind/famil­y/region/s­tate/count­ry at the expense of another, we can only expect policies and results that will do the same. It will never work for any of us over time. We will create our destiny.

My heart is sad. I do however, still hope.

[vietjawn]

if abortion is an issue that is very vital for who you're going to vote for -- let me suggest this much..

humanity
religion
country

put those in order and vote your conscience.

[white mende man]

The question I ask of friends and relatives that lean towards the Republican side solely on the issue of abortion is this: do you think that all women that have an abortion are democrats?

[SouthpawSass]

Honestly, if they're voting on the one issue, in this case abortion, it's not the party that matters. If they're truly pro life, they will vote for the pro life ticket - regardless of party affiliation.

For some, it's their religion over their party. And not to throw fuel on the fire, but I don't know of any religion that advocates abortion.

[WasteNJ]

It's as simple as that.

[white mende man]

Actually if the leaders in the Republican Party practice religion honestly this will be a better world. Their idea of religion is to use it as a wedge between Americans. There is no way the teachings of Christ whom they love to quote resembles an iota of their actions.

[fiorastar]

This may be true, but there are many ways to work for fewer abortions. The most effective--good, cheap access to birth control for both genders, quality sex education that begins at the age kids are beginning to have sex and "teach" each other, and strong public social support for women raising children on their own, including welfare/food stamps that actually allow a woman to be with her baby rather than forcing a woman into low paying work a few days after giving birth.

The supposed "pro-life" party--which really means "forced birth"--embodied by Sarah Palin, is adamantly against:
1) Birth control in pretty much any form
2) Sex education in schools
3) Welfare and other financial support to allow a parent to be home with a newborn baby

Other nations do this, most notably Scandinavian countries, with PAID parental leave for at least 6 months after a birth and sometimes up to 2 years for one parent, and plenty of good sex ed and birth control information for teens. Their abortion rates are much lower than ours.

Pro "forced birthers" also seem to enjoy the concept of the death penalty, sending young kids off to war with no good reason to kill the mothers and babies of another country, and factory farming/eating dead animals at every meal. No support for the welfare of those in need in our country, no shelters for the homeless, no public schools. Nothing "pro-life" about them.

[CitizenoftheRepublic]

Do you not know your bible?

2 Kings 15:16 He [Menahem, king of Israel ] sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women. He apparently was angry that the people of Tiphsah refused to open the gates of the city. Considering the state of medical sophistication at the time, all of the pregnant women and their fetuses probably died. Yet there was no condemnation of his action. The king obviously gave no value to the life of a fetus and yet he was a child of the chosen Israelites who are the fore fathers of Christ and Christianity that claim there is no precedence of abortion in religion. However the anti-choice (pro-life) movement can find its roots here... these women and fetus' had no choice!

Hosea 13:15-16 I will have no compassion­...the people of Samaria ...will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women ripped open. The people of Samaria had changed their religious belief. God obviously exhibited profound hatred against people who worship another deity, and assigned no value to the fetuses of the pregnant women. Yet those fetuses were innocent of the "crime" of religious conversion who were obviously not involved in the selection of a new religion or because the fetus is part of the woman and not its own entity it would be found guilty and destroyed as a part or whole of the woman.

[justobserve]

That's right, no religion advocates abortion, yet to avoid abortion, people have to avoid pregnancy in the first place which is rare these days despite available means. It's the case of egg or chicken first. If no unwanted pregnancies can be prevented then abortion will always be an issues whether by legal means or not. The same as no religion advocate child abuse, yet when it happened inside the church, those religious people know what to do. Politicians can't decide for people, that is why they have to have pro-choice policy: you can be anti-abortion or you can be pro-abortion. Pro-life policy is only used for political reason, a wedge issues because it doesn't solve the cause. It is not a practical one, because the way our society is going, no one can be sure there will be no unwanted pregnancies by rapes or incests or just plain stupid not to use available prevention.
OBAMA’S LEADERSHIP: INTEGRITY, BY PEOPLE & FOR PEOPLE. McCAIN’S: LIES, SECRECY, CRONYISM. Vote DEMOCRAT for AMERICAN JOBS, EDUCATION & HEALTH CARE REFORM, RENEWABLE ENERGY, EQUAL PAY, VETS BENEFITS.

[sandals]

McPalin is a campaign of no ideas, so they have to find a controversy to take you off the real issues,
such as the economy which is in a nose dive, and we the American people get to pick up the pieces after the Rethugs policies after 25yrs have brought us to this point.
So McPalin if you want talk about real issue bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!