Cross-posted at Iowa Independent
If former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson lobbied for an abortion rights group while still claiming to be personally opposed to abortion, it would be an obstacle to gaining support among the pro-life community according to Kim Lehman, President of the Iowa Right to Life Committee.
The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that Thompson was hired by the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association in 1991:
His task was to urge the administration of President George H. W. Bush to withdraw or relax a rule that barred abortion counseling at clinics that received federal money, according to the records and to people who worked on the matter.
Thompson’s campaign has denied that Thompson ever lobbied for the abortion rights group.
Lehman said she was not familiar with the potential controversy and so declined to comment on the specific situation but said if true, it could pose a problem for Thompson. “I think it’s always a problem if they say they are pro-life if they work against life. That’s hypocritical,” she said. “If he was working against life, if that is the case, it would naturally cause us concern. Our goal is to save lives not to pretend to save lives. If what you’re saying is accurate, then of course that would be a problem.”
Lehman said pro-life Iowans, including members of her organization, will play a large role in next year’s Iowa Caucuses. “Our mission in the caucuses is to help people put a pro-life plank onto the platform and to mobilize pro-life people to the caucuses,” she said.
Lehman said the Iowa Right to Life Committee will not endorse a candidate in the race for the Republican nomination because there are multiple pro-life candidates. The organization, does however, oppose former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy because of his support for abortion rights.
Candidates that drop previous pro-choice views, like former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, are able to receive support, she said. “It only becomes a problem if [Romney] ends up not following through on his commitment. We support people that turn to the right side. We don’t discourage that at all. … People do become pro-life and that’s our ultimate goal.”
Lehman had previously endorsed Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback for president, and though she had made personal endorsements in the past, the committee recently told her not to support him publicly, she said.
5 Responses to “Fred Thompson’s Potential Pro-Choice Past Could Be a Problem for Iowa Social Conservatives”
Bwahahahahahaha! Ahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha! *gasp* Ahahahahaha!
“I’m pro-life, except when there’s money involved.”
–Fred Thompson
Now Jeffries of Human Events is saying he fought to keep the pro-life plank in the GOP platform and Thompson wanted it out in 1996 so who is lying now?
[...] exchange. Fred Thompson is talking to Sean Hannity. Hannity mentions the reports that Thompson had lobbied for a pro-choice group several years ago. Thompson’s response is telling :”You need to separate a lawyer who [...]
Something to say?
That last paragraph is tragic. Sam Brownback is 100% pro-life. He deserves their support.
Left by Psycheout
July 9, 2007 at 5:30pm