Another Pro-Choicer Against NARAL

Pro-choice advocate Wendy McElroy, editor of ifeminists.com and a research fellow for The Independent Institute, has an article in Fox News where she takes NARAL to task for their false ad and even predicts "the defeat and decline of the pro-choice movement."

Some excerpts:

On the surface, this incident is remarkable enough but its underlying message is even more significant. I think it signals the defeat and decline of the pro-choice movement in the foreseeable future.

Senators will continue to debate; legislative battles will be waged on the state level; protesters will still scream at each other in the streets. But the very fact that NARAL -- America's leading advocate for abortion rights -- thought blatant dishonesty was the strongest card to play reveals a shocking depth of intellectual bankruptcy that is too common in the overall movement.....

NARAL's response to 'friendly' critics also reveals moral bankruptcy. The President Nancy Keenan responded to Specter by regretting that "many people have misconstrued our recent advertisement."

Without backing down one whit, Keenan informed Specter that the ads would be pulled because "the debate over the advertisement has become a distraction from the serious discussion we hoped to have with the American public." Lies do tend to distract from the truth....

As a pro-choice advocate, I am ashamed of NARAL, an organization with which I never associated. I am ashamed of the anti-Roberts ad that typifies much of pro-choice rhetoric: a scorched-earth policy in which goodwill and truth are the first two items incinerated. (emphasis mine)

This is probably one of the most devastating pieces I've seen on NARAL's ad because the author is an avowed pro-choicer who isn't afraid to admit how ashamed she is by the current pro-choice movement and leaders. She's open about how misleading and morally bankrupt NARAL is and how this makes her feel. Ms. McElroy also has a website/blog.

I do have to disagree with McElroy when she states, "So far, however, there has been a paucity of apology from the pro-life movement and not much commentary condemning Rudolph."

For one, should prolife organizations have to apologize for the violent and bizarre actions of someone who isn't part of their organization and movement? Should those who are against the war in Iraq have to apologize for everything that some crazy individual against the war does? I agree that prolife people should condemn violence against abortion clinics but I don't think we have to apologize for the actions of someone who isn't associated with the prolife movement.

Second, there in fact there were numerous commentaries by prolife organizations condemning Rudolph for his actions. They haven't been in the news of late because Rudolph committed his violent acts in 1998. Here are just a few examples of prolife organizations and people who've spoken out against violence, many focusing specifically on the Rudolph bombing. Right to Life of Michigan has even created and paid to air television ads that specifically address the problem of violence against abortion providers.

HT: Between Two Worlds