DVT notes the following statement written by Tom Daschle in this month's edition of Christianity Today:
"My record reflects the principles embodied by Catholic teachings and the church's legislative positions far more often than not. I am opposed to abortion. We can make meaningful progress in the effort to prevent abortion. That is my goal."
The "I am opposed to abortion" language is eerily reminiscent of the following quote in a letter written by Tom Daschle to voters in the last days of his 1978 campaign for Congress, (which was enclosed with a letter from eight nuns vouching for Daschle's pro-life credentials):
"I am opposed to abortion. I do not support it. I have never supported it. It is an abhorrent practice"
Then, in the last days of his successful 1986 run for the Senate, Daschle sent out a letter stating the following (which was enclosed with a letter from a pastor in Freeman, SD vouching for Daschle's pro-life credentials):
"The truth is that I am unalterably opposed to abortion on demand."
You can read all of these letters in their entirety by clicking HERE.
In the last days before the 2002 election, Daschle sent out a mass fundraising e-mail on behalf of NARAL, the largest abortion lobby in the country. Excerpt from Daschle's NARAL e-mail:
"As the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, I've stood up for a woman's right to choose, and the pro-choice leadership of the Senate has made a difference by safeguarding women's rights from the anti-choice agenda of the Bush administration."
Senator Daschle has also led the effort to filibuster pro-life appellate judicial nominees. They are listed as follows:
Janice Rogers Brown DC Cir. (nominated 7/25/03)
Richard Griffin 6th Cir. (nominated 6/26/02) (judicial emergency)
Carolyn Kuhl 9th Cir. (nominated 6/22/01) (judicial emergency)
David McKeague 6th Cir. (nominated 11/8/01) (judicial emergency)
William Myers 9th Cir. (nominated 5/15/03) (judicial emergency)
Priscilla Owen 5th Cir. (nominated 5/9/01) (judicial emergency)
Charles Pickering 5th Cir. (nominated 5/25/01)
William Pryor 11th Cir. (nominated 4/9/03)
Henry Saad 6th Cir. (nominated 11/8/01) (judicial emergency)
According to the Republican Policy Committee, in a policy paper entitled "The Assault on Judicial Nominations in the 108th Congress," only 69% of President Bush’s nominees to the appeals courts have received up-or-down votes. If the filibustered nominees are never confirmed, this is the lowest confirmation rate for appeals courts judges for the first four years of any modern Presidency.
On the issue of abortion, there can be no clearer example of Tom Daschle saying one thing in South Dakota, and doing its 180 degree opposite in Washington. When he's up for election or reelection, he sends out statements in the waning days before the election declaring his unalterable opposition to abortion (we're seeing it happen right now, as observed by his statement to Christianity Today). When he's not up for election or reelection, he writes fundraising letters for NARAL boasting about "standing up for a woman's right to choose" and using his leadership position to advance pro-choice interests.
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