President-Elect Obama and Pro-Life
Americans United for Life Reaction
November 5, 2008 | By Jack Yoest
Charmaine is quoted in the aftermath of the election; after her surgery...
Steven Ertelt at LifeNews reports Pro-Life Advocates Urged to Renew Efforts Against Abortion After Election Loss,
Several pro-life leaders are hoping the majority of Americans who take a pro-life position on abortion will re-charge and re-energize following Tuesday night's election defeats. They say the pro-life movement must prepare themselves to take on a pro-abortion president and renew educational efforts."We have long known that the work of advancing a culture of life is not a short-term project," Americans United for Life president Charmaine Yoest told LifeNews.com.
"Recall that William Wilberforce fought against the slave trade for 45 years before he ultimately prevailed in his defense of life," she said.
"In 2008, it is clear that, despite the challenges still remaining, the pro-life message is steadily gaining ground," Yoest contends. "Momentum in the states has enabled us to make significant gains in protecting women and unborn children. Young people today self-report as pro life at a higher rate than their parents' generation."
Bob McCarty Writes, Post-Election Statements Offer Glimpse of Future,
"Over the course of this historic campaign, President-elect Obama and his surrogates argued for a 'common ground' on abortion rights. At the same time, he promised Planned Parenthood that his first act as President will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)." -- Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO, Americans United for Life. (The culture of life faces a perilous near-term future.)
Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter writes, Christians Respond to Obama as President
Former FRC staff Dr. Charmaine Yoest, who is now president and CEO of Americans United for Life, congratulated Sen. Obama on his win, but pointed out his contradictory actions on abortion rights.While Obama has called for "common ground" on abortion rights during his campaign, Yoest said, he promised Planned Parenthood that his first act as president will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would eliminate every state and federal law regulating abortion.
"We will continue working in the days ahead to educate Americans about the threat to common sense that FOCA poses," the AUL president vowed. "And we will make common cause with defenders of life in both the Democrat and Republican parties, fully committed to the ultimate goal of seeing both parties dedicated to the defense of life."
Disappointing Night for Pro-Life Americans By Susan Jones, Senior Editor at CNSNews.com,
Advancing a culture of life never was a short-term project, and it will continue despite Barack Obama's "extreme" position on abortion, a pro-life group said on Wednesday.
Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life, congratulated Obama on his election victory. She also reminded him that during the course of his campaign, he and his surrogates "argued for 'common ground' on abortion rights."
Yoest noted that Obama promised Planned Parenthood that his first act as president would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), a proposed law that would nullify virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion, including partial-birth abortion.
"In contrast to his moderate rhetoric, his support for FOCA -- which would eradicate every state and federal law regulating abortion -- is extreme," Yoest said. "His support for FOCA stands in contradiction to the common-ground, common-sense abortion regulations that the majority of Americans support and that this radical legislation would
eliminate."
Yoest said it's clear that the pro-life message is "steadily gaining ground," even though challenges remain.
"We will continue working in the days ahead to educate Americans about the threat to common sense that FOCA poses. And we will make common cause with defenders of life in both the Democrat and Republican parties, fully committed to the ultimate goal of seeing both parties dedicated to the defense of life," Yoest said.
"We continue to hold as self-evident the truth that all were endowed with the unalienable right to life, and that governments are instituted to secure this first right. We look forward to fully realizing this truth in our day."
See Suricou Raven from the United Kingdom Moronality
A Constitutional analysis of FOCA is available at www.aul.org/foca.
Americans United for Life issued the following statement on the recent election at the jump.
In response to the election of Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life President & CEO offered congratulations to the President-elect and issued the following statement:"Over the course of this historic campaign, President-elect Obama and his surrogates argued for a 'common ground' on abortion rights. At the same time, he promised Planned Parenthood that his first act as President will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). In contrast to his moderate rhetoric, his support for FOCA -- which would eradicate every state and federal law regulating abortion -- is extreme. His support for FOCA stands in contradiction to the common ground, common sense abortion regulations that the majority of Americans support and that this radical legislation would eliminate.
"We have long known that the work of advancing a culture of life is not a short-term project. Recall that William Wilberforce fought against the slave trade for 45 years before he ultimately prevailed in his defense of life.
"In 2008, it is clear that despite the challenges still remaining, the pro-life message is steadily gaining ground. Momentum in the states has enabled us to make significant gains in protecting women and unborn children. Young people today self-report as pro life at a higher rate than their parents' generation.
"We will continue working in the days ahead to educate Americans about the threat to common sense that FOCA poses. And we will make common cause with defenders of life in both the Democrat and Republican parties, fully committed to the ultimate goal of seeing both parties dedicated to the defense of life.
"We continue to hold as self-evident the truth that all were endowed with the unalienable right to life, and that governments are instituted to secure this first right. We look forward to fully realizing this truth in our day."
