Pro-Life Advocates Blast Obama Admin Document Saying Pro-Lifers May Engage in Extremism

From http://lifenews.com/nat4986.html

Pro-Life Advocates Blast Obama Admin Document Saying Pro-Lifers May Engage in Extremism

by Steven Ertelt

LifeNews.com Editor

April 15, 2009

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Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- News that the Obama administration sent a security document to police and sheriffs' offices nationwide including pro-life people in a list of groups and people who may be likely to engage in terrorism is upsetting the pro-life community.
One respected pro-life attorney says the document is outrageous and raises serious questions about the leadership and direction of an agency that's goal is to protect Americans against a very real terrorist threat.
“This is an outrageous characterization that raises serious questions about the leadership and direction of the agency charged with protecting Americans in the ongoing battle against terrorism,” Jay Seulow, the president and chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, told LifeNews.com on Wednesday.
Sekulow said the document sparks questions about whether the Obama administration is turning the work of some key government agencies into political witch hunts.
“Why would the Department of Homeland Security single out groups like pro-life supporters when they should be focusing on identifying and apprehending the real terrorists – like al-Qaeda – groups that have vowed to destroy America?" he asked.
"This characterization is not only offensive to millions of Americans who hold constitutionally-protected views opposing abortion – but also raises serious concerns about the political agenda of an agency with a mandate to protect America," he added.
House Republican Leader John Boehner, a pro-life congressman from Ohio, also complained about the new document.
He said the Obama administration was wrong to label pro-life advocates as terrorists, calling it "offensive and unacceptable."
"Everyone agrees that the Department should be focused on protecting America, but using such broad-based generalizations about the American people is simply outrageous," he said.
In the new document, the Department of Homeland Security warned law officials about a supposed rise in "rightwing extremist activity," saying the poor economy and presence of a black president could spark problems.
Issued on April 7th, the Department of Homeland Security warning is entitled: “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.”

According to the Washington Times, a footnote attached to the nine-page report from the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis say the activities of pro-life advocates is included in "rightwing extremism in the United States.”
"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," it says.
The Times indicates the report says the Obama administration could be monitoring the activities of pro-life advocates.
It says the federal government "will be working with its state and local partners over the next several months" to gather information on "rightwing extremist activity in the United States” even though the Obama administration does not have "specific information that domestic rightwing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence."
Concerns that the federal government might target pro-life advocates aren’t pie-in-the-sky myths as two pro-life people have already felt the persecution.

In February, an Oklahoma man with a homemade pro-life sign on his vehicle was pulled over and harassed by police for allegedly making a threat against the president.
Chip Harrison said he was driving to work when a police officer followed him for several miles and eventually signaled him to pull over.
The officer mistook the sign, which read "Abort Obama, not the unborn," as threatening.And in October, a pro-life woman who received an unsolicited phone call from the Barack Obama campaign complained about his pro-abortion position. The call earned her a visit from the Secret Service, who were apparently given erroneous information from the campaign volunteer that she made a death threat.

Buzz up!