THIS WEEK IN CHANGE IV - OBAMA'S PRO-ABORTION STANCE

Obama Now Backtracks On Abortion Despite A Long And Unequivocal Pro-Choice Record
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In A Recent Interview With Relevant Magazine, Obama Said That He Did Not Believe "Mental Distress" Should Qualify Under The Health Of The Mother Exception In Late-Term Abortion Bans:

Obama: "I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely
appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long
as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now,
I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother. I
think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where
there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term."
(Sen. Barack Obama Interview, Relevant Magazine, 7/1/08)

Obama Appears To Have Backed Away "From His Long-Stated Positions On Abortion." "In a recent interview, Obama appears to back away from his long-stated positions on abortion (and a proposed federal abortion rights law he had co-sponsored), repudiate 35 years of accepted Supreme Court rulings on the issue and embrace a view on abortion restrictions that has been expressed on the Court only by Justices Thomas and Scalia." (Jan Crawford Greenburg, "Obama: Sounding Like Thomas And Scalia?"

http://blogs.abcnews.com, 7/4/08)

"There's No Mistaking That Obama Says He No Longer Will Support What's Long Been A Cornerstone Of The Abortion Rights Debate." "[T]here's no mistaking that Obama says he no longer will support what's long been a cornerstone of the abortion rights debate: The Court's insistence that laws banning abortions after the fetus is viable (now about 22 weeks) contain an exception to allow doctors to perform them if necessary to protect a pregnant woman's mental health." (Jan Crawford Greenburg, "Obama: Sounding Like Thomas And Scalia?"

http://blogs.abcnews.com, 7/4/08)

Obama Has Strongly Supported Exceptions For The Health Of The Mother Which Pro-Choice Groups Believe To Include Mental Health:

Obama Said He "Strongly" Disagreed With Last Year's Supreme Court Ruling On Partial-Birth Abortion, Citing Concerns Over The Health Of The Mother. Obama: "I strongly disagree with today's Supreme Court ruling, which dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women." (Sen. Obama, "Obama Response To Supreme Court Decision," Press Release, 4/18/07)

Obama: "We Know That Five Men Don't Know Better Than Women And Their Doctors What's Best For Women's Health." "We know that five men don't know better than women and their doctors what's best for women's health,'' Mr. Obama said, alluding to the 5-to-4 majority in the abortion case, Gonzales v. Carhart, which upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003." (Mark Sherman, "Justices Uphold Abortion Procedure Ban," The Associated Press, 4/19/07)
"The Freedom Of Choice Act Specifically Allows Abortions After Viability Where Necessary To Protect A Woman's Health, And The Legislation Refers Repeatedly To The Guarantees Of Roe And Doe, Which Protect The Right To An Abortion Where Necessary For A Woman's Physical And Mental Health. One Of Its Co-Sponsors? Barack Obama." (Jan Crawford Greenburg, "Obama: Sounding Like Thomas And Scalia?" http://blogs.abcnews.com, 7/4/08)

"But Abortion Rights Groups Just As Strongly Argue The Mental Health Exception Is Critical To Preserving A Woman's Right To An Abortion--And That The Woman And Her Doctor Must Be Allowed To Make Those Decisions About Her Health Without Government Interference." (Jan Crawford Greenburg, "Obama: Sounding Like Thomas And Scalia?" http://blogs.abcnews.com, 7/4/08)

OBAMA HAS AN EXTREME RECORD ON SENSITIVE ABORTION ISSUES

Obama Voted At Least Three Times Against Legislation That Would Provide Medical Care To A Child Surviving An Abortion:

In The Illinois State Senate, Obama Voted Against Legislation Three Times That Would Protect The Life Of A Child Born-Alive During An Abortion Procedure. (S.B. 1093: Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee, Passed, 7-4, 3/27/01, Obama Voted Nay; S.B. 1094: Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee, Passed, 7-4, 3/27/01, Obama Voted Nay; S.B. 1095: Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee, Passed, 7-4, 3/27/01, Obama Voted Nay)

And Obama Voted "Present" Three Times On Providing Medical Care To A Child Surviving An Abortion:

In The Illinois State Senate, Obama Voted "Present" Three Times On Legislation That Would Protect The Life Of A Child Born-Alive During An Abortion Procedure. (S.B. 1093: Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed, 34-6-12, 3/30/01, Obama Voted Present; S.B. 1094: Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed, 33-6-13, 3/30/01, Obama Voted Present; S.B. 1095: Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed, 34-5-13, 3/30/01, Obama Voted Present)

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