by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 15, 2010
Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is facing a new radio advertising campaign from a pro-life group after recently vetoing a bill that would have allowed women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn baby prior to an abortion.
The bill would have also exempted the state from some of the abortion funding in the government-run health care bill President Barack Obama signed into law.
Crist vetoed the measure with the false claim that it would have forced women to see the ultrasound of their baby, even though the measure contained language allowing them to sign a form saying they were offered the chance to do so but opting out.
Today, the Family Research Council Action PAC launched a statewide radio ad campaign in response to the veto. The ad will air across the state over the next week on 74 Florida radio stations.
The governor issued the veto only days after removing a pro-life section from his campaign website.
"Governor Charlie Crist used to claim to be pro-life. Now he's just pro-Crist. Since leaving his party he's decided he'd rather be pro-abortion, removing the pro-life section from his website and vetoing a bill that would allow women to see an ultrasound of their child before having an abortion," the FRC ad says.
The ad also endorses pro-life Republican candidate Marco Rubio for the open U.S. Senate seat.
"This November vote a principled leader into the U.S. Senate. Vote Marco Rubio, pro-family, pro-life," the ad says. "To stop Charlie Crist visit stopcharlie.com."
After the veto, FRC president Tony Perkins condemned Crist's decision.
"Governor Crist has once again broken trust with the voters of Florida by vetoing a commonsense bill that would ensure that women receive factual information before an abortion. Sadly, he vetoed legislation that would strengthen a woman's right to know. Charlie Crist is willing to go to any extreme to please far Left special interest groups," he said.
Crist said the legislation "presents an inappropriate burden on women seeking to terminate a pregnancy."
Crist said that while people hold strong opinions on abortion, "personal views should not result in laws that unwisely expand the role of government and coerce people to obtain medical tests or procedures that are not medically necessary."
Yet, a 2008 legislative survey found that, of Florida's 62 licensed abortion businesses, 51 already require ultrasounds before first-trimester abortions.
And Section 390.0111 of the bill, line 512 states: "The woman has a right to decline to view the ultrasound images after she is informed of her right and offered an opportunity to view them."
Ultrasounds are already required for all second and third-trimester abortions and are standard medical practice to determine gestational age and location of the unborn child.
Related web sites:
FRC Radio Ad - http://www.stopcharlie.com
Family Research Council Action PAC - http://www.frcactionpac.org
