Posted on 07/14/2004 12:00:44 PM PDT by FlyLow
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- A recent fund-raising letter from the National Organization for Women is requesting money for what it calls an "emergency campaign to preserve abortion rights." The solicitation also asks for a signature on a petition that will be sent to Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD).
The petition urges Daschle to continue his obstruction of pro-life federal judges nominated by President George W. Bush. NOW asks the Democratic leader to "use the filibuster whenever it is needed."
The Senate minority leader is currently blocking nearly a dozen judges, some for over two years. Republicans have promised more nominations and Democrats more filibusters as the November election draws closer.
NOW accuses Bush of attempting to stack the federal courts with "right-wing judges" that it says will dominate the judiciary for "the entire reproductive lives of ourselves and our daughters."
The group cited the president's "global gag rule" that denies American taxpayer funds to international agencies that promote abortion. NOW considers the rule evidence of Bush's "callous disregard for the lives and health of poor women around the world."
NOW's appeal serves to ratchet up the pressure on Daschle, now in a close race with Republican John Thune. The seat he has held for twelve years is considered a toss-up by many election observers and issues like abortion hurt his chances of reelection. As leader of the Democrats in the Senate, he is responsible for promoting the pro-abortion agenda, but his constituency in a relatively conservative Midwestern state is solidly pro-life.
The group's letter says, "We must take on anti-abortion zealots state-by-state," noting that even Daschle's home state of South Dakota nearly outlawed abortion earlier this year.
Daschle has been walking a tightrope on the abortion issue. When he was unable to prevent the ban on partial-birth abortion from a floor vote, he ultimately voted for the measure, much to the displeasure of groups like NOW and the National Abortion Rights Action League. NOW's latest campaign appears to have forgiven him for that vote and is encouraging Daschle to again champion the pro-abortion agenda.
Hopefully the Thune campaign will take advantage of these free ads being laid at the doorstep...
What makes me the angriest about NOW is that it doesn't represent me and a huge number of other women. Why don't our voices count if we disagree with NOW. IF the Dems win the election, it will be like half the country doesn't exist.
I speak frequently to my nieces and daughters of my cousins. They think NOW is an ugly dinosaur; a man-hating group of ugly, obnoxious women who are an embarrassment to younger women. None of them would consider joining, although they do credit NOW with some early successes in women's equality "before it turned into a group of snarly lesbians who couldn't get a man" (end quote). NOW is in steep decline, which is being hidden by a complicit, fawning press. Their demands are heard by no one except Democrat politicians.
Daschle's in BIG trouble back home..It's ead even..and "Deeply Saddened" has already spent millions in ads..Thune hasn't spent a dime yet..If you watch the Senate any, you'll notice that Daschle is ducking the spotlight..he's leaving most of the ideological heavy lifting to Reid...Tommy's caught between a rock and a hard place..the BIG rationale for election JOhnson in 2002 was to keep TD as majority leader...not any more..also, the good people of SD, who strongly support Bush, will soon realize that if all three of their Congresscritters are Dems, if SD needs something in DC..will the WH take the call?.
I wouldnt mind Daschle using the filibuster, if the Republicans had the nerve to force a real filibuster. I mean lock the doors nobody leaves bring in the Thunder mugs for when they have bowel movements, nobody is leaving here till we vote.
Statement of Speaker of the House J. Dennis HastertRegarding Senator Daschle's Comments on the War
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/867873/posts
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.