Monday, March 30, 2009

Comments by Obama Nominee Dawn Johnsen Reveal Extreme Support for Abortion on Demand

Comments by Obama Nominee Dawn Johnsen Comparing Mothers to 'Slaves,' 'Losers in the Contraceptive Lottery' and 'Fetal Containers' Reveal Extreme Support for Abortion on Demand

WASHINGTON, March 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the president of the Susan B. Anthony List commented on radical pro- abortion activist Dawn Johnsen, whose nomination was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and currently awaits a floor vote.

"Dawn Johnsen does not represent mainstream America or the type of common ground abortion policy President Obama promised this nation," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. "Her bizarre characterizations of pregnancy as 'slavery' and mothers as 'losers in the contraceptive lottery' expose an unacceptable disdain for commonsense abortion restrictions and motherhood in general. Furthermore, Johnsen's opposition to existing federal restrictions like the ban on partial-birth abortion casts doubt on her ability to perform her duties faithfully as the head of the Office of Legal Counsel."

Across the country, Susan B. Anthony List members expressed outrage at Johnsen's nomination, sending over 26,000 letters of opposition to their U.S. Senators. Johnsen was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19th by a vote of 11-7.

While Johnsen served as the legal counsel for National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League (now NARAL Pro-Choice America), she authored numerous legal opinions rejecting any and all restrictions on abortion. Some notable quotes from Johnsen's amicus curiae brief in the case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services include:

"Abortion restrictions 'reduce pregnant women to no more than fetal containers.'"

"The argument that women who become pregnant have in some sense consented to the pregnancy belies reality...and others who are the inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery no more 'consent' to pregnancy than pedestrians 'consent' to being struck by drunk drivers."

"The experience [of abortion] is no longer traumatic; the response of most women to the experience is relief."

Johnsen awaits a floor vote by the full U.S. Senate to gain confirmation to head the Office of Legal Counsel.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 154,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.