{"id":22097,"date":"2012-10-16T16:06:18","date_gmt":"2012-10-16T20:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"\/news\/?p=22097"},"modified":"2012-10-22T11:04:02","modified_gmt":"2012-10-22T15:04:02","slug":"democrats-for-life-of-america-endorses-candidate-who-will-oppose-efforts-to-weaken-roe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/democrats-for-life-of-america-endorses-candidate-who-will-oppose-efforts-to-weaken-roe\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats for Life of America Endorses Candidate Who “Will Oppose Efforts to Weaken Roe<\/em>“"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Editor’s Note: Live Action cannot take a position on federal candidates. This article is a discussion of DFLA’s endorsement, and not a position statement by Live Action.<\/em><\/p>\n

UPDATE: Democrats for Life has informed us that they have changed their position and\u00a0do not endorse<\/em> Tim Kaine any longer. Kristen Day states:<\/p>\n

Former DNC Chairman and Governor Tim Kaine has been a friend to DFLA and has previously defined himself as a pro-life Democrat. While Governor, Kaine signed the Choose Life license plate bill into law. We were proud to work with the Governor to ensure the bill was passed and critical funds could be used to support crisis pregnancy centers. He also signed into law the Pregnant Women Support Act to help women in crisis pregnancy and opposes federal funding of abortion. While Chair of the DNC, he supported pro-life Democrats and his policies helped elect pro-life elected officials. His spokesman and website are is now identifying him as a pro-choice Democrat. DFLA, therefore, cannot endorse Governor Kaine. However, should he be elected to the Senate, we look forward to the opportunity to work with him to pass pro-life legislation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every election cycle, pro-life groups are faced with the question of which candidates they will publicly endorse, which ones they will personally vote for, and which ones they will oppose. Candidates who boldly speak out in support of life are often supported by these groups. But what’s a pro-life group to do when faced with an “iffy” candidate – one who is neither fully pro-life nor fully pro-choice by the group’s definitions?<\/p>\n

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Tim Kaine Photo credit: kaineforva.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Massachusetts Citizens for Life faced its own quandary<\/a> in the race between GOP Senator Scott Brown and Democrat candidate Elizabeth Warren. Now, Democrats for Life of America is facing the results of its own choice to back Democrat Tim Kaine in his Virginia Senate race against the GOP’s George Allen.<\/p>\n

Tim Kaine’s website<\/a> makes it clear that he will not support restrictions of\u00a0Roe v. Wade<\/em> – an important indicator of a candidate’s true pro-life views:<\/p>\n

I strongly support the right of women to make their own health and reproductive decisions and, for that reason, will oppose efforts to weaken or subvert the basic holding of\u00a0Roe v. Wade<\/em>.\u00a0 We all share the goal of reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions.\u00a0 The right way to do this is through education and access to health care and contraception rather than criminalizing women\u2019s reproductive decisions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On the contrary, George Allen makes it clear<\/a> that he will vote for multiple limits on abortion on in the law. He also clearly outlines his view on protecting human life in five paragraphs dedicated to the topic. A portion reads:<\/p>\n

My commitment to protecting innocent human life is firm. I believe that life begins at conception and support legislation\u00a0\u00a0declaring the personhood of every individual life. I oppose abortion except in the rare cases where the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, and when necessary to save the life of the mother.<\/p>\n

… George Allen will continue this record after his election to the Senate in 2012. Specifically, he pledges to:<\/p>\n