From NARAL:

Dear friends,

As all of you know, Senator Clinton and her campaign have spent the last several weeks attacking Senator Obama’s pro-choice record and making false claims that call into question his commitment to women’s reproductive health and the right to choose. Pro-choice leaders from across the country have asked the Clinton campaign time and time again to stop these attacks and false claims. They have refused. This has prompted the strongest response yet from the pro-choice community in a statement released by the President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Nancy Keenan.

Share this far and wide with everyone you know who cares about choice and bringing an end to these false and senseless attacks that threaten to further divide the pro-choice community.

FROM NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA
http://www.bushvchoice.com/archives/2008/01/a_message_to_pr.html

January 24, 2008

A Message to Pro-Choice Voters Regarding the Democratic Presidential Primary

Nancy Keenan is president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

This week Americans mark the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a milestone that coincides with the 2008 presidential election.

As we celebrate this occasion, and this critical time for women’s reproductive freedom, NARAL Pro-Choice America is proud that we have such strong pro-choice candidates like Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and former Sen. John Edwards, running for president.

As the political leader of the pro-choice movement, NARAL Pro-Choice America has researched the voting records, public comments, and actions of each of the candidates and shared the information we've documented with the more than one-million activists, supporters, and members our organization represents.

Beginning in Iowa, continuing into New Hampshire, and now in South Carolina and the states voting in the February 5 contests, there has been an undercurrent of speculation and innuendo that calls into question Sen. Obama’s record on choice. This has the potential to divide the pro-choice community and create tension where none should exist. Today, for the sake of our issue and our movement, I am asking that these tactics stop.

As someone who spent nearly two decades as an elected official before coming to NARAL Pro-Choice America, I know that, in the heat of the campaign, charges and counter-charges are made in the honest belief that one candidate is somehow better than another. I get that.

Let me be clear: Here are the facts pro-choice voters need as they head to the polls, whether this weekend in South Carolina, on “Tsunami Tuesday” to vote for the Democratic Party's nominee, or on November 4 when we all vote for the next president of the United States: Sens. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama are fully pro-choice. NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed all three candidates in their previous campaigns. All of the candidates have voted pro-choice; have publicly affirmed that they are pro-choice; and have taken actions that back up their pro-choice voting records and statements. All three candidates endorse the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe and protect the right to choose for future generations. Sens. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama have steadfastly supported and defended a woman's right to make the most personal, private decisions regarding her reproductive health without interference from government or politicians.

NARAL Pro-Choice America has not yet endorsed a candidate for president because there are such equally strong pro-choice contenders in the Democratic primary. We understand that other organizations have made different decisions; we respect that. But our collective long-term goal as a pro-choice movement must be to advance the cause.

This focus on nonexistent differences between the pro-choice candidates distracts from the real goal. We must focus our fight on defeating the anti-choice Republican candidates who have called for the overturn of Roe.

NARAL Pro-Choice America will continue to support pro-choice candidates and defend them all against attacks. We can only hope that in the future, we, as a unified pro-choice community, will be defending against anti-choice politicians, not one another.

Becky Carroll

National Director, Women for Obama

Office: 312 819 2525

Cell: 312 550 6762

bcarroll@barackobama.com