As Barack said in today's statement marking the 35th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, we are again at a critical time in the defense of women's reproductive rights. The choice movement has too many battles ahead to be able to afford the kind of politics that pits supporters against one another.
Because of divisive and dishonest tactics, some women now question Sen. Obama's commitment to choice. Below are examples of how women have reacted to these distortions. Please make sure your own friends and networks are armed with facts.
Former New Hampshire State Senator and Clinton supporter Katie Wheeler asks Clinton Campaign to stop divisive attacks The Washington Post reported, “One of the three Clinton supporters went even further, saying in an interview Thursday that signing the letter attacking Obama was a ‘mistake.’ Katie Wheeler, a former state senator, said the Clinton campaign had not given her background information about Obama's record on abortion rights when it asked her to sign the letter calling him weak on the issue, and said that, as a result, she did not understand the context of the votes that the letter was attacking him over. ‘It should never have gotten to the point where anyone thought Obama was not pro-choice,’ said Wheeler, a founder of the New Hampshire chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice America. ‘I don't think the Clinton campaign should have done that. It was divisive and unnecessary...I think it was a mistake and I've spoken to the national [Clinton campaign] and told them it caused problems in New Hampshire, and am hoping they won't do it again.’” (Washington Post, 1/19/08) Gloria Steinem called the Clinton Campaign to ask them to stop distorting Obama’s record on choice Gloria Steinem said, “I think we just have to be able to call each other up. You know, I mean, my friends who are working in the Obama campaign called me up and said someone, not Hillary Clinton, but someone for Hillary Clinton, an organization, was saying that Obama – was distorting Obama’s record on safe and legal abortion. And so, if we can, backstage. And so I called up and tried to do my best to eliminate that distortion, to make sure it wasn’t happening.” (Jack And Jill Politics, YouTube, 4th Segment, 5:00, 1/15/08)Former Chicago NOW President, former Clinton Supporter Lorna Brett bemoans the toll dishonest attacks take on the choice movement“There's never been a problem with Sen. Obama. It's really a shame,’ said Lorna Brett, a Clinton supporter and former president of Chicago NOW. Brett and other women's rights and abortion rights advocates say they often asked lawmakers to vote present as part of a larger legislative strategy. ‘In this case, I think both candidates are committed to choice and I hate to see the pro-choice community cannibalize itself on this issue,’ said Brett. ‘If either candidate wins, the pro-choice community is in good hands.’” (Chicago Tribune, 12/4/07)
Former New Hampshire State Senator and Clinton supporter Katie Wheeler asks Clinton Campaign to stop divisive attacks
The Washington Post reported, “One of the three Clinton supporters went even further, saying in an interview Thursday that signing the letter attacking Obama was a ‘mistake.’ Katie Wheeler, a former state senator, said the Clinton campaign had not given her background information about Obama's record on abortion rights when it asked her to sign the letter calling him weak on the issue, and said that, as a result, she did not understand the context of the votes that the letter was attacking him over.
‘It should never have gotten to the point where anyone thought Obama was not pro-choice,’ said Wheeler, a founder of the New Hampshire chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice America. ‘I don't think the Clinton campaign should have done that. It was divisive and unnecessary...I think it was a mistake and I've spoken to the national [Clinton campaign] and told them it caused problems in New Hampshire, and am hoping they won't do it again.’” (Washington Post, 1/19/08)
Gloria Steinem called the Clinton Campaign to ask them to stop distorting Obama’s record on choice
Gloria Steinem said, “I think we just have to be able to call each other up. You know, I mean, my friends who are working in the Obama campaign called me up and said someone, not Hillary Clinton, but someone for Hillary Clinton, an organization, was saying that Obama – was distorting Obama’s record on safe and legal abortion. And so, if we can, backstage. And so I called up and tried to do my best to eliminate that distortion, to make sure it wasn’t happening.” (Jack And Jill Politics, YouTube, 4th Segment, 5:00, 1/15/08)
Former Chicago NOW President, former Clinton Supporter Lorna Brett bemoans the toll dishonest attacks take on the choice movement
“There's never been a problem with Sen. Obama. It's really a shame,’ said Lorna Brett, a Clinton supporter and former president of Chicago NOW. Brett and other women's rights and abortion rights advocates say they often asked lawmakers to vote present as part of a larger legislative strategy. ‘In this case, I think both candidates are committed to choice and I hate to see the pro-choice community cannibalize itself on this issue,’ said Brett. ‘If either candidate wins, the pro-choice community is in good hands.’” (Chicago Tribune, 12/4/07)
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