They continue to campaign against healthcare reform
[Editor: the following is part of a story that ran in the Los Angeles Times on September 11.]
President Obama, a supporter of reproductive rights, forcefully reiterated in his speech to Congress this week that his healthcare plan would not lead to government funding of abortion.
The trouble is, abortion foes don't believe him. They are working hard to persuade Americans that Obama is wrong -- and have even created ads that evoke Harry and Louise, the fictional couple that helped tank the Clinton-era attempt at healthcare reform:
"They won't pay for my surgery," says an elderly man sitting at a kitchen table. "What are we going to do?"
"But honey, you can't live this way," says his wife, patting his arm.
"And to think that Planned Parenthood is included in the government-run health plan, and spending tax dollars on abortions," he replies. "They won't pay for my surgery, but we're forced to pay for abortions."
The ad, created by the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group, ran for two weeks in August in five states (California not among them). The ad has been criticized by people on both sides of the healthcare debate as a simplistic and inflammatory depiction of the reform measures Congress is considering.
But the criticism may be beside the point.
What the ad does is neatly summarize what foes of abortion contend: No matter what the president has said, if he gets the bill he wants, taxpayer dollars will end up paying for abortions.
For the rest of the story, click here.
