The Erie Echo “voice for life” Vol. XXXVI No. 3 www.peopleforlife.org October 2008 Gov. Palin Speaks Out The following is the text of vice- law was called the Born Alive Infants presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s remarks Protection Act. Illinois had a version of the on Saturday, October 11 at a rally in same law. Obama voted against it. Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Gov. Palin spoke Asked about this vote, Senator Obama about Barack Obama, abortion, and her own assured a reporter that he’d have voted “yes” six-month-old special-needs child. on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born In this same spirit, as defenders of the Alive Act. There’s just one little problem culture of life, John McCain and I believe in with that story: the language of both the state the goodness and potential of every innocent and federal bills was identical. life. I believe the truest measure of any In short, Senator Obama is a politician society is how it treats those who are least who has long since left behind even the able to defend and speak for themselves. middle ground on the issue of life. He has And who is more vulnerable, or more sided with those who won’t even protect a innocent, than a child? child born alive. And this exposes the When I learned that my son Trig would emptiness of his promises to move beyond have special needs, I had to prepare my heart the “old politics.” for the challenges to come. At first I was In both parties, Americans have many scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength concerns to be weighed in the votes they cast and understanding. But I can tell you a few on November fourth. In times like these, things I’ve learned already. with wars and a financial crisis, it’s easy to Yes, every innocent life matters. forget even as deep and abiding a concern as Everyone belongs in the circle of protection. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin the right to life. And it seems our opponent Every child has something to contribute to and baby Trig hopes that you will forget. Like so much else the world, if we give them that chance. There about his record. Whatever party you belong in his agenda, he hopes you won’t notice how are the world’s standards of perfection … and radical his ideas and record are until it’s too then there are God’s, and these are the final to, there are facts you need to know. Senator Obama has voted against bills to late. measure. Every child is beautiful before But let there be no misunderstanding God, and dear to Him for their own sake. end partial-birth abortion. In the Illinois Senate, a bipartisan majority passed about the stakes. As for our beautiful baby boy, for Todd A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for and me, he is only more precious because he legislation against that practice. Senator Obama opposed that bill. He voted against it activist courts that will continue to smother is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand the open and democratic debate we need on to learn more from him than he does from us. in committee, and voted “present” on the Senate floor. In that legislature, “present” is this issue, at both the state and federal level. When we hold Trig and care for him, we A vote for Barack Obama would give the don’t feel scared anymore. We feel blessed. how you vote when you’re against something, but don’t want to be held to ultimate power over the issue of life to a It’s hard to think of many issues that politician who has never once done anything could possibly be more important than who is account. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a to protect the unborn. As Senator Obama protected in law and who isn’t – who is told Pastor Rick Warren, it’s above his pay granted life and who is denied it. So when Democrat, described partial-birth abortion as “too close to infanticide.” Barack Obama grade. our opponent, Senator Obama, speaks about For a candidate who talks so often about questions of life, I listen very carefully. thinks it’s a constitutional right, but he is “hope,” he offers no hope at all in meeting I listened when he defended his wrong. this great challenge to the conscience of unconditional support for unlimited Most troubling, as a state senator, Barack America. abortions. He said that a woman shouldn’t Obama wouldn’t even stand up for the rights of infants born alive during an abortion. There is a growing consensus in our have to be – quote – “punished with a baby.” country that we can overcome narrow He said that right here in Johnstown – These infants – often babies with special needs – are simply left to die. partisanship on this issue, and bring all the “punished with a baby” – and it’s about time resources of a generous country to the aid of we called him on it. The more I hear from In 2002, Congress unanimously passed a both women in need and the child waiting to Senator Obama, the more I understand why federal law to require medical care for those be born. We need more of the compassion he is so vague and evasive on the subject. babies who survive an abortion. They’re and idealism that our opponent’s own party, Americans need to see his record for what it living, breathing babies, but Senator Obama is. It’s not negative or mean-spirited to talk describes them as “pre-viable.” This merciful continued on page 4 Page 2 The Erie Echo October 2008 Party platforms take opposite sides on killing the unborn The 2008 Democratic Party endorse legislation to make clear that the girls from exploitation and statutory rape Platform Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply through a parental notification requirement. “The Democratic Party strongly and to unborn children. We oppose using public We all have a moral obligation to assist, not unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a revenues to promote or perform abortion and to penalize, women struggling with the woman’s right to choose a safe and legal will not fund organizations which advocate challenges of an unplanned pregnancy. At abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we it. We support the appointment of judges its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on oppose any and all efforts to weaken or who respect traditional family values and the the sanctity of innocent human life. Women undermine that right.” From section titled sanctity and dignity of innocent human life. deserve better than abortion. Every effort “Choice” “We have made progress. The Supreme should be made to work with women Court has upheld prohibitions against the considering abortion to enable and empower The 2008 Republican Party barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. them to choose life. We salute those who Platform States are now permitted to extend health- provide them alternatives, including “Faithful to the first guarantee of the care coverage to children before birth. And pregnancy care centers, and we take pride in Declaration of Independence, we assert the the Born Alive Infants Protection Act has the tremendous increase in adoptions that has inherent dignity and sanctity of all human become law; this law ensures that infants followed Republican legislative initiatives.” life and affirm that the unborn child has a who are born alive during an abortion From section titled “Maintaining the fundamental individual right to life which receive all treatment and care that is Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life” cannot be infringed. We support a human provided to all newborn infants and are not life amendment to the Constitution, and we neglected and left to die. We must protect PA Pro-Life Federation PAC publishes candidate information The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation republican Phil English and democrat Kathy District 5 John Alward (D) Pro-Abortion | Political Action Committee has published a Dahlkemper are both identified as pro-life. John Evans (R) Incumbent, Pro-Life, Endorsed voter guide that includes the presidential Incumbent Congressman Phil English is District 6 Brad Roae (R) Incumbent, Pro-Life, candidates, PA congressional candidates, endorsed and his “100% record on key pro- Endorsed (Unopposed) District 7 Mark Longietti (D) Incumbent, Pro- candidates running for PA state-wide offices life issues” is noted. Life, Endorsed (Unopposed) and candidates for the PA General PA SENATE District 8 Dick Stevenson (R) Incumbent, Pro- Assembly. For the 49th Senatorial District, Life, Endorsed (Unopposed) STATEWIDE OFFICES incumbent republican Jane Earl and District 17 Donald Duke Whiting (D) Unknown* In the race for State Attorney General, democrat Cindy Purvis are both identified as | Michele Brooks (R) Incumbent, Pro-Life, republican Tom Corbett and democrat John pro-abortion. Endorsed Morganelli are both identified as pro-life. District 64 Scott E. Hutchinson (R) Incumbent, PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Pro-Life, Endorsed (No democratic opposition) Tom Corbett, the incumbent, is endorsed. The candidates for the State House of District 65 Kathy L. Rapp (R) Incumbent, Pro- In the race for State Auditor General, Representatives have been evaluated by the Life, Endorsed (Unopposed) republican Chet Beiler and democrat Jack PPLF PAC as follows: * Although Donald Duke Whiting did not Wagner are both identified as pro-life. Jack District 1 Patrick J. Harkins (D) Incumbent, Wagner, the incumbent, is endorsed. Pro-Life, Endorsed (Unopposed) answer the PAC questionnaire, he did tell a In the race for State Treasurer, District 2 Florindo J.