The section on "abortion" gives a very selective and incomplete picture. If Obama wanted to prevent abortions, why would be advocate -- as he does -- allowing the Hyde Amendment to expire? This is the law that prohibits federal funding of abortion. Both sides admit that it has had a great impact in achieving "abortion reduction" -- indeed, by the most conservative estimate, over one million Americans are alive today because of the Hyde Amendment.

Obama is also a cosponsor of the "Freedom of Choice Act" (S. 1173), a bill that would nullify virtually every state and federal law that would in any way "interfere with" access to abortion. This includes all parental notification requirements. On July 17, 2007, Obama told the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act."

This bill would also make partial-birth abortion legal again. Obama strongly criticized the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the congressional ban on partial-birth abortions.

The Obama campaign, in an official written response to a major pro-abortion advocacy group, even called for cutting off all federal aid to crisis pregnancy centers.

Douglas Johnson
Legislative Director
National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)