Pro-Life Advocates Rally Outside Barack Obama Speech, Abortion Not Health Care

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Pro-Life Advocates Rally Outside Barack Obama Speech, Abortion Not Health Care

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 15, 2009

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Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- As President Barack Obama outlines his plans for health care overhaul in a major speech today, pro-life advocates are present outside with a clear message that abortion is not health care. They want Obama to know that his health reform plan must not cover abortions or pay for them with tax dollars.
Leading pro-life advocates are concerned the Obama plan would force health insurance companies to pay for abortions or pay for them outright with taxpayer funds.
Today, members of the Pro-Life Action League will rally outside the Hyatt Regency in Chicago where Obama will address American Medical Association delegates.

"President Obama has declared his intention to reduce abortion. Now he is seeking support from the American Medical Association for his health care plan, and we're calling on him to remember that commitment," Eric Scheidler, communications director for the group, told LifeNews.com.
"Our message is simple: Abortion is not health care," Scheidler added.
In his commencement address at Notre Dame, Obama called for "common ground" on the abortion issue and stated his desire to reduce abortion, which he called a "heart-wrenching decision."
Scheidler is calling on President Obama to follow through on this commitment.
He says Obama can honor his own rhetoric by making sure reform of the nation's health care system will provide support for the more than 3,000 pregnancy centers across the country struggling to meet the needs of pregnant women.
He also challenged Obama to withdraw federal funding from the nation's largest abortion business, Planned Parenthood, which receives $349,600,000 of taxpayers' money every year.
Scheidler also wants Obama to not repeal the Provider Conscience Clause, which provides support and enforcement for the three national laws that provide conscience protections for medical centers and professionals who do not want to participate in abortions.The Obama administration has already taken the initial steps in overturning the protections for pro-life physicians President Bush put into place.

"It is time for President Obama to join the pro-life movement in providing compassion and support to the thousands of women in the United States faced with unintended pregnancies who think abortion is their only option," said Scheidler.
"We invite President Obama to reconsider his position on abortion. But whatever his stand, we can still work together to offer women and families the help and hope they need to choose life," he told LifeNews.com.
Obama didn't start off on the right foot on health care as far as pro-life advocates are concerned. He invited Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups to a health care summit and left any pro-life organizations off the invitation list.

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