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Infiltrating the infiltrators, I turned the table and sat in on a pro-abortion NOW meeting in NYC
LifeSite ^ | October 2, 2007 | Samantha Singson

Posted on 10/02/2007 7:54:36 PM PDT by Coleus

I didn't relish the prospect of spending my evening sitting in on a National Organization of Women event, but I couldn't help but be curious. A colleague of mine had chanced upon an announcement for the monthly meeting where feminist reporter Eleanor Bader would be speaking about her experience after "infiltrating" the National Right to Life Committee Convention this past June. How could I pass up the opportunity to hear some of "the other side's" observations about pro-lifers?

Walking into the meeting that evening, I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. My goal was to sit in on the meeting and "blend in." I walked into a small, crowded office with virulently purple walls covered in signs with the familiar battle cry of "Keep Abortion Legal" and random bowls of condoms scattered on desks.

After signing in with the two smiling, college-aged greeters at the door, I settled myself into a far corner of the room to observe the proceedings.

Primarily attended by women, most of whom were at least 40 years old or older, many were there twittering with excitement about Bader's impending presentation. They all wanted to hear what right-wing, anti-choice secrets the reporter had managed to glean during her time "behind enemy lines."

Bader, author of Targets of Hatred: Anti-Abortion Terrorism and reporter from Women's eNews and Lilith, didn't disappoint. A petite, animated, engaging, articulate woman in her late 40s, Bader's opening salvo to the crowd was, "People! This is not a marginal group of crazies!"

Describing her "infiltration" of the NRLC meetings, Bader sounded like a mischievous school girl relishing her latest uncaught misdeed. Bader spoke of how she had registered for the convention under a false name to observe the proceedings, almost as if the NRLC convention was a National Geographic episode and the pro-life participants in attendance were some new and exotic species whose habits and interactions had to be studied and picked apart.

Three things really struck me about Bader's presentation:

- They underestimate pro-lifers. Believing in the stereotype of a movement dominated by old white men and subscribed to by marginalized, zealous, religiously motivated, uneducated "church ladies," Bader couldn't quite keep the surprise out of her voice when she reported that those at the NRLC Convention were "smart, educated, beautiful and articulate."

In Bader's own words, "This just isn't what you always heard the 'anti-choicers' were like."

Bader also expressed amazement at the level of organization and professionalism exhibited by the NRLC convention hosts, its speakers and its participants. Passing around the 100-page convention program for the audience to look at, Bader pointed out the number of sponsors, as well as the quality and the variety of topics that were being addressed.

Comparing her 1992 NRLC convention experience to 2007, Bader was shocked by how savvy the pro-life side had become. She sternly warned her audience that the pro-life movement's leaders were "covering all their bases" by not just filling people's head with the rhetoric, but equipping them by providing information on lobbying, organization-building, political campaigning and youth outreach.

- They're intimidated and feeling marginalized. Detailing the NRLC presidential forum, which was attended in person by three Republican presidential candidates, NOW New York staffers shook their heads and asked, "Why aren't we getting presidential candidates to address our annual conference?"

- Discussing some of the movement's current efforts, Bader was appalled by the "chipping away of Roe" through legislative action and media campaigns on mandatory sonograms, the partial-birth abortion ban, informed consent and fetal pain.

- They are struggling to articulate their argument. Bader stated that "even NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) doesn't use the 'A-word' anymore. Part of what we need to do is talk up the social good that abortion is. Abortion is a moral good and a social good."

Seeming to be heartened by the positive response from the crowd, Bader pumped and loudly proclaimed "It's abortion and it's good!"

I couldn't help but register the irony of having "infiltrated" a feminist meeting wherein the guest speaker was talking about her own undercover experience with pro-lifers. Still aflutter with all that she had heard, the blue-haired woman in her 60s seated in front of me turned to me and said, "Could you imagine being a mole at such an event? Wasn't that simply fascinating?"

Without batting an eyelash I replied, "Fascinating!"


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: New York
KEYWORDS: abortion; euthanasia; finalsolution; humanlife; klanparenthood; life; naral; now; nrlc; nyc; plannedparenthood; proabortion; prolife; unborn

1 posted on 10/02/2007 7:54:46 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Coleus

Great article...

You might be interested in HenryMakow.com

He’s done a lot research into the feminist and abortion movement.


2 posted on 10/02/2007 7:59:59 PM PDT by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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To: Coleus

Amen - way to go !

...abortion is a social good...

Sounds like a meeting at Animal Farm.


3 posted on 10/02/2007 8:04:14 PM PDT by biscuit jane
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To: Coleus

Planned Parenthood’s 25-Year Plan
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/55/pp.html


4 posted on 10/02/2007 8:06:19 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: biscuit jane
Abortion is moral.

Sounds like a meeting on "Death Row."

5 posted on 10/02/2007 8:10:15 PM PDT by c-b 1 (Reporting from behind enemy lines, in occupied AZTLAN.)
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To: Coleus

Bader couldn’t quite keep the surprise out of her voice when she reported that those at the NRLC Convention were “smart, educated, beautiful and articulate.”.....................fast-forward..............Still aflutter with all that she had heard, the blue-haired woman in her 60s seated in front of me turned to me and said, “Could you imagine being a mole at such an event? Wasn’t that simply fascinating?”.........Without batting an eyelash I replied, “Fascinating!”

Perfect!


6 posted on 10/02/2007 8:12:17 PM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Coleus

A Democrat Hill staffer I had to put up with as a house mate when I lived in Arlington, VA, proclaimed that the “best babes” (meaning the best looking) were always at the pro-life rallies. His words, not mine. A word to the single guys here ....


7 posted on 10/02/2007 8:18:33 PM PDT by bajabaja
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To: bajabaja

You mean the last good looking women are always at pro abortion rallies- at least that’s been my experience.


8 posted on 10/02/2007 8:24:28 PM PDT by sdw2is (WyomingCowboy)
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To: Coleus

Seems we’re out doing these godless humans...


9 posted on 10/02/2007 8:30:44 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: sdw2is

“the last good looking women” — you mean we are running out? That is what being Pro-Life is meant to correct!


10 posted on 10/02/2007 8:31:23 PM PDT by bajabaja
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To: Coleus

I applaud your curiosity, and your willingness to satisfy it and your willingness to share it with us.


11 posted on 10/02/2007 8:40:44 PM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: bajabaja

It’s not that the babes are better looking, it is just that there’s no inner ugliness showing through as it does with the pro-abort crowd. Well, come to think of it, that does mean the best looking babes are conservative.


12 posted on 10/02/2007 8:52:34 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: Coleus

The much touted “right to have an abortion” is not now, and has never been, a feminist goal.

The new “duty to have an abortion” is the modern extension of the old liberal,patriacrchal societies, and is unrelated to female emancipation.


13 posted on 10/02/2007 9:36:57 PM PDT by sarasmom (Hunter-Thompson 2008 . It satisfies the senses on multidimensional levels .)
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To: Coleus

Abortion is a moral good and a social good.”

Sick.


14 posted on 10/02/2007 9:55:10 PM PDT by Paisan
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To: Coleus
Abortion is a moral good and a social good.

Does anyone know what she's talking about?

15 posted on 10/02/2007 9:55:24 PM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp (Deport 'em all.)
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To: Coleus

Abortion is a moral good and a social good.”

Sick.


16 posted on 10/02/2007 9:55:24 PM PDT by Paisan
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To: Coleus
Excellent!! No doubt the irony was God's hand--lips and elbow, giving her a bit of a smirk and a love you nudge saying you're on the right path. Thank you for your courage! :-) Or atleast if that was me, I would feel there were no mistakes and God was definately emphasizing His support with what she called irony. This is inspiring! I can't wait to do more to put an end to this evil. :-)

Thank you for posting.

17 posted on 10/02/2007 10:50:39 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Coleus
we need to do is talk up the social good that abortion is. Abortion is a moral good and a social good."

"Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil..."

19 posted on 10/03/2007 3:09:59 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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