Obama's "NARAL Catholics"

"NARAL Catholic" strikes me -- and, I imagine, our readers -- as a terrible oxymoron. Yet that is the term Wall Street Journal columnist William McGgurn uses to describe the members of Barack Obama's "National Catholic Advisory Council." Read McGurn's column to understand why he uses the term:

You are the Democratic candidate for president. You want to reach out to Catholics. So what do you do when the majority of the elected officials on your National Catholic Advisory Council have the seal of approval from NARAL Pro-Choice America?

That's the position Barack Obama now finds himself in. A few months ago, his Catholic advisory council was announced with great enthusiasm, and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) was listed as a national co-chair. His appearance at the top of the council sent a clear message: This campaign is determined to recover some of the lost Democratic sheep who have gravitated to the GOP over abortion.

This council does indeed include some Catholics whose pro-life credentials are impeccable, including Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar. But let us also stipulate the obvious: Of the 21 senators, congressmen and governors listed on the council's National Leadership Committee, 17 have a 90%-100% NARAL approval rating. Even Mr. Casey now enjoys a 65% NARAL approval rating.

 

It's not as if these NARAL scores are outliers: Sen. Obama himself boasts a 100% NARAL rating, and for good reason. In a speech before Planned Parenthood, he declared that the right to an abortion is at stake in this election, and vowed that he would not yield on appointing judges that would uphold Roe v. Wade.

Mr. Obama is for using tax dollars to fund abortions, and against restrictions on partial-birth abortion. In the Illinois Senate, he voted against legislation protecting a child who was born alive despite an abortion. In sum, if you want to know what Mr. Obama's policies mean, it's this: taxpayer-funded abortion on demand.

 

You can read the rest of McGurn's excellent column here.

Given how extreme Obama's position on abortion is, I simply cannot fathom how presumably thinking Catholics like Douglas Kmiec can support the man for President.

Comments

[vickie c]

Roman Catholic BlogPreviewing your Comment
Here is an article that I hope I can place in here. To me this is down right disgusting:

Obama's fundraising letter leeching off the partial birth abortion ban wouldn't get buried.)

In February 2004, Michelle Obama wrote a fundraising letter during her husband's 2004 US Senate campaign claiming the partial birth abortion ban "is clearly unconstitutional" and "a flawed law."

I'd like to ask Michelle to explain her legal opinion about this law the Supremes went on to declare constitutional. I'd like to ask Michelle how in the world she could in good conscience raise money from fear-mongering about this barbaric abortion procedure.

But Barack, bristling at a TN GOP ad taking Michelle to task for her "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country" line, has issued a warning to "lay off my wife." As a commenter on another blog wrote, "'Free speech for me but not for thee'" - A typical leftwing position. Don't get in the ring if you don't intend to fight."

So it's fine to kill late-term babies, but we can't risk hurting Michelle's feelings about it. Click to enlarge:

http://www.jillstanek.com/Slide%201%20michelle%20obama%20pba%20letter.jpg

please go here, I beg of you to past this around. Before all the babies are killed. No One has the right to kill babiies EVER EVER EVER

[ESLaPorte]

The whole idea that Catholics and Christians should vote only on "pro-life" in all elections is becoming a counterproductive and there are other pro-life issues besides abortion!

What is also "pro-life" and the millions without access to basic health care, children growing up in poverty, lack of living wage jobs - and a lack of empathy for poor Americans. This Church simply cannot afford yet another election fixated on the single issue of abortion. The fixation on abortion appears to be by people that are financially well off, have no worries and have not experienced poverty first-hand, and have the luxury to be fixated on narrowly defined "pro-life issues."

We need to both face judicial reality of over ruling a Supreme Court case and instead focus on abortions alternatives, such as free prenatal health care, schooling for the mother, housing, and schooling for women trapped in a so-called "unwanted pregnancy." Steering women away from abortion is also another viable alternative.

We Catholics and other people of faith should be "allowed" to talk about other issues other than abortion. The fixation on overturning Roe v. Wade is becoming counter productive and we are neglecting other pressing issues, such a poverty. As for me - I will proudly vote and campaign for senator Obama because he is offering hope and talks about hope for people like me!

[Nissa]

regarding 'vickie's' comment:

I myself am without health care, in poor health, and in poverty.
I don't particularly want more government social programs enacted, such as socialized medicine. And I am even more opposed to socialized medicine while our nation becomes more and more pro-death on issues of abortion and euthanasia/'dying with dignity'.

I can just imagine what will happen if the pro-death left cobbles up a socialized medicine system in their own image: when I go in to the doctor during one of my periods of profound depression, instead of an anti-depressant I'll be given a suicide pill. That would, after all, be the most economical solution.

As a person in poverty, I would like to demand that the political lefties stop claiming to speak for me: I am perfectly capable of speaking for myself.

And I'd rather live in an America that respects the lives of everyone from just-conceived babies through disabled people to the elderly, than in one that may give me health-care handouts for a while, but is perfectly capable of deciding that my life is not worth living because my imperfections in health and mental/neurological status.

And as for saying 'the Catholic church cannot afford another election fixated on the single issue of abortion' --- when was there an election like that? I've never seen one, and I've been following politics since I was a three year old running around telling people I was for JFK.

What the Catholic church and other Christians really can't afford is to vote in more well-to-do pro-death far-left elitists who think they speak for the impoverished masses that they want to reduce substantially in numbers by more abortions. I converted to Catholicism in large part because the Church respects life, including mine. I would never have converted to NARAL 'catholicism' or any other 'ism' that claims to speak for me but respects neither my life or my opinion.

[Bernie]

Dear Vickie C, You sound like the other person who thinks that obama is the next savior. "WE CATHOLICS" I believe Roman Catholics believe in pro-life and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and not some racist senator who went to a so-called church that did nothing but, hate on America and spread black liberation. What type of religion is that? The Roman Catholic faith is not a pick and choose religion. Just keep moving to the left and see the sign EXIT OTHER FAITHS. Please see the truth and joy of the ONE TRUE FAITH. DO NOT VOTE FOR THE OBAMANATION candidate. Homosexual marriage pervents life and is a sin - so called pro choice kills babies by letting them begin life and then kill the innocence this is the TRUE OBAMA

[Jane O'Connor]

What have the Bishops don't for the Catholic
Population. Nothing. I've believe in Pro-Life, but not to determent of our Children.
How would you like outsiders to picking your
house and frightening your children.
As Catholics, we are supposed to be compassionate, caring healing people.
Finding creative ways to stop abortions.
For instance, United with other religious
orders to solve our major problems.
For those specialize Medical and Nursing Order, you promise a new hospital.
Keep that promise! Find them a home to reside in that's not a Fire Trap.
Furthermore, I so discussed with the Bishops
who order politicians that can't receive
Communion because they have different views on abortion. How dare they judge them?
Are Abusing our Children? Isn't that
Abortion?

Jane