I’m wondering how I came to be on NARAL’s e-mail list. I’m relatively certain I’ve never said anything that would lead anyone to believe I’m a proponent of abortion, much less that I would contribute to NARAL. Nevertheless, have a look at what showed up in my inbox this morning.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is considering legislation that would funnel thousands of dollars to so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” in his state through “Choose Life” license plates. He could sign or veto the bill any day now.
“Crisis pregnancy centers” are deceptive fake clinics that mislead women, and promote extreme, anti-choice views to stop women from exercising their right to choose.
Contribute now to help keep state funds out of anti-choice hands and to protect choice at every level.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is mobilizing its nationwide support network and building on NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia’s work to put a stop to these efforts.
Gov. Kaine, who also serves as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, should uphold the strong pro-choice platform the Democratic Party adopted last August by stopping this anti-choice bill from becoming law. And we urgently need the resources to focus our staff on this and all the threats to choice nationwide — that’s why we’ve asked you to help us raise $50,000 by March 31.
Please donate today to help us reach our goal because this isn’t about just reaching a fundraising target…it’s about women’s lives.
This gem was signed by Nancy Keenan, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America.
I’m not sure exactly how revenue is generated by cause plates, but my assumption has been that purchasers are assessed an additional fee, which then goes to support the cause, in this case, crisis pregnancy centers.
The crisis pregnancy center of which I have the most knowledge (gleaned from years of reading their newsletters) is staffed by compassionate, trained volunteers who sincerely care about their clients. Many have experienced unplanned pregnancies. Many pray for their clients. They provide confidential, non-judgmental support at a difficult time. It doesn’t masquerade as a medical clinic, nor do they disseminate false information or lie to or mislead women in any way that I’m aware of.
They do provide accurate, detailed information on fetal development and abortion procedures and discuss options such as “choosing” to put a baby up for adoption or “choosing” to keep and raise the baby. Likewise, women can “choose” to visit such a center or “choose” not to. Once inside, she can “choose” to stay or “choose” to leave at any time. After her visit, she’ll be well informed about all the options from which she can “choose.”
But leaving aside for a moment the relative merits of crisis pregnancy centers, it occurs to me that Virginia residents will be able to “choose” to purchase the “Choose Life” plates or “choose” not to purchase them. Women can “choose” to heed the message or “choose” to ignore it.
That seems like a lot of choices to me. You would think that an organization named “Pro-Choice” America could really get behind that.
The reality is quite different. Even though there’s nothing about a “Choose Life” license plate that’s going to stop even one woman who truly desires it from obtaining an abortion, NARAL has chosen to oppose this innocuous piece of legislation as being anti-choice. Even though no funding will be diverted; no new anti-abortion agencies created; no additional regulations or requirements enacted.
Why?
A few reasons come to mind, the first being that they hope for the knee-jerk response that the words “anti-choice” elicit in so many women. Next, they fear the plates have the potential to sway public opinion. And the last, “Pro-Choice” America isn’t really about all the choices, rather just about their choice.
If this is an issue that’s important to you, please contact Governor Tim Kaine’s office and let him know your views. Virginia residents, it is especially important that you do so today.
Update: On Monday, March 30, Governor Tim Kaine signed the “Choose Life” legislation. Please contact Governor Kaine at the link above to thank him.
It appears that liberals, if they were to be so foolish as not to abort a Down Syndrome child, would keep said child at home, locked in a closet, apparently, to preclude any possibility of offending their liberal friends with the distasteful sight. What other reason could there be for their persistent characterization of Sarah Palin’s insistence on including her son, Trig, in her daily activities as “waving that retard of hers around like a flag.”
it's only words 