Posted on 12/06/2002 7:09:36 PM PST by Milltownmalbay
The nation's major pro-life organization is charging that Senator Mary Landrieu is being deceptive in her responses given to a questionnaire published in two Louisiana newspapers.
Douglas Johnson, the legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee stated, "Senator Landrieu has consistently voted for federal funding of abortion on demand for both teenagers and adults, but she now tells Catholic voters that she will support the Hyde Amendment, the main law that prohibits funding of abortions." To sum it all up Johnson says, "This is breathtakingly brazen deception."
The questionnaire covers multiple subjects; however, the first three questions are concerned with abortion. Two of Landrieu's first three responses plainly contradict her past public statements, as well as her voting record.
Question 1 is, "Regarding federal Medicaid funding for abortions, will you support or oppose maintaining the current restriction, as specified in the Hyde Amendment, to limit such abortions only to those performed as a result of rape or incest or to protect a mother's life?" Landrieu responded, "Support," which totally contradicts Landrieu's past statements.
Question 3 is, "Will you support or oppose federal legislation that respects human life from the moment of conception to the point of natural death." Landrieu responded, "Support."
NRLC's Johnson stated, "It is deceptive for Senator Landrieu to vote to endorse the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand, as she did, and then tell Catholic voters that she favors legislation to protect human life 'from the moment of conception'."
Suzanne Terrell, challenger, opposes legalized abortion and federal funding of abortion. Terrell's position was accurately represented in her pro-life responses to the questionnaire.
It is obvious that Senator Landrieu is engaged in a very delicate balancing act. Her state has a large Catholic population with a record of voting for pro-life candidates, while her party supports abortion on demand. The Democrats will have no scapegoat in this runoff.
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