Woman details abortion, relationship with "pro-life" congressional candidate

seattle times ^ | today | By Janie Har and Steve Mayes

[Ron Jeremy]

A woman who dated congressional candidate Mike Erickson seven years ago said she asked him directly whether he wanted to have a baby. He shook his head no, she said, and paid for her abortion.

In interviews with The Oregonian newspaper, the Oregon City woman said she met Erickson in September 2000 and that she had the abortion in January 2001. They saw each other afterward, she said, even going on a trip to Mexico in March, before the relationship ended. She spoke on the condition that only her first name, Tawnya, be used.

Erickson agrees that he gave Tawnya $300 for medical help, and a ride to a doctor's office, but said he didn't know she was pregnant or planned to get an abortion.

...

[Ron Jeremy]

I am pro-life, and overall a social conservative, but I'll tell you, the hypcocrisy charge is killing us. A party that is going to campaign on morality needs to do a better job of picking its representatives (like this guy, Larry Craig, etc).

[RockinRight]

I am pro-life, and overall a social conservative,

See! Even porn stars can be conservatives.

[bigbob]

and hedgehogs...

[stuartcr]

Some people will say anything to get elected.

[Russ]

That was seven years ago. I know I’m cutting him alot of slack but he could have had an epiphany and became pro-life. There are plenty of Democrats who once were pro-life and are now pro-abortion. He ought to have just admitted it and used it as the reason he is now pro-life. I’m more interested in whether he is anti-illegal immigration and pro-drilling...

[AnotherUnixGeek]

He ought to have just admitted it and used it as the reason he is now pro-life.

He took the path of convenience for himself, ended his unborn child's life, and now presumes to lecture others not to do so - including teenage girls with nowhere near his resources or ability to raise a child. Sorry, I'd never vote for this guy. The worst kind of hypocrite.

[Danae]

This is a statement of the state of the GOP in Oregon. Its even worse when you know what goes on behind the scenes. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more about pretty much every stinking GOP public officer. The Honorable ones won't even get anywhere near them or the elections process its so slimy. I can't say I blame them either! Elected office does not pay enough for one to put up with the truly slimy bastards that run this pathetic state. No where near enough to be painted with the same brush, let alone have to shake hands with with in an effort to get things done.

[Always Right]

Erickson agrees that he gave Tawnya $300 for medical help, and a ride to a doctor's office, but said he didn't know she was pregnant or planned to get an abortion.

A bit strange though. She did not tell him she was pregnant? She just asked him if he wanted a baby? Seems like he either turned a blind eye, or he was possibly mislead by this lady.

[reagan_fanatic]

The more hypocrites like this that get outed, the better. It’s bad enough we have practically the entire media against us on this - we don’t need ‘help’ from people like Erickson.

[driftdiver]

“Seems like he either turned a blind eye, or he was possibly mislead by this lady.”

Or she could be lying now. I know ex-girl/boy friends never do anything to get back at their ex, but it is a possibility.

[darkangel82]

There is more about pretty much every stinking GOP public officer.

The worst one being uber-RINO senator Gordon Smith.

[Danae]

They are all bedfellows as far as I am concerned. hell Saxton and Mannix are worse than Smith, but then Smith has a high office, he doesn’t have to use the tacticts that those losers do.

[Danae]

They are all bedfellows as far as I am concerned. hell Saxton and Mannix are worse than Smith, but then Smith has a high office, he doesn’t have to use the tacticts that those losers do.

[latina4dubya]

He took the path of convenience for himself, ended his unborn child's life, and now presumes to lecture others not to do so

i have not always been pro-life... heck, i voted for Mondale and Dukakis... four years after Dukakis i voted for Bush... somewhere in that four years (1988-1992) i became pro-life... to the point that i am a counselor at our local Pregnancy Resource Center... had i found myself with an unplanned pregnancy in 1988, i probably would not have had my baby... had i found myself with an unplanned pregnancy in 1992, i would have had my baby... i'm not saying that this happened to him, but it is another perspective...

[AmericaUnited]

She spoke on the condition that only her first name, Tawnya, be used

Well in that case... my "unamed source" said that Tawnya used to be called "Tony" and was a man... :)

[onedoug]

...(like this guy, Larry Craig, etc)....

And kicking them out of the party.

[subterfuge]

So did Erickson ever become a Congresscritter?

It just says he was a candidate.

[DLfromthedesert]

I know many women who had abortions as teenagers and are now pro-life; mainly because they saw their unborn child on sono in subsequent pregnancy.

They are very remorseful; we are all hypocrites to some degree; if someone expresses remorse, why should we not take him at his word?

I know I’ve changed since I was a 20 year old who thought I knew it all.

[EDINVA]

Leaving aside for a moment the morality/hypocrisy issues, it seems kind of strange to have an abortion only 4 months into a relationship, especially for a more ‘mature’ woman. Not impossible, but what are the odds? Did the woman say HE was the father of the child? This has too many unanswered hard questions/ Anyone can make any claim they want, especially regarding a public figure.

[Ron Jeremy]

Leaving aside for a moment the morality/hypocrisy issues, it seems kind of strange to have an abortion only 4 months into a relationship, especially for a more ‘mature’ woman. Not impossible, but what are the odds? Did the woman say HE was the father of the child? This has too many unanswered hard questions/ Anyone can make any claim they want, especially regarding a public figure.

right, but, his defense here is highly suspect. I would expect that if he knew nothing about this, he would say "WTF? I don't know anything about this". Instead he gave her 300 bucks and drove her to doctros office. Who does that for regular normal medical care?