Obama’s Pro-Choice Catholic Advisors

In an effort to woo back Catholic voters who have been disaffected by the Democratic Party’s pro-choice position on abortion and general disrespect for persons with traditional values and faith, Senator Obama’s presidential campaign has highlighted its appointment of a National Catholic Advisory Board. In various ways, the very existence of the National Catholic Advisory Board is regularly offered up by the Obama campaign as a shield to ward against criticism of Obama’s aggressively pro-choice record (calling for appointment of pro-Roe v. Wade justices, public funding of abortion, etc.).

Indeed, in an editorial in Commonweal, linked recently to Mirror of Justice, in response to a former Democratic Party official who characterized Obama as “the presidential candidate of a party committed to the preservation and extension of abortion rights,” Gerald Beyer argued that it “is interesting to ponder why so many distinguished Catholic public servants, activists, and theologians have endorsed Barack Obama, a Democrat, for the presidency.”

Accordingly, it seems only fair to accept Commonweal’s offer to “ponder” the matter further by exploring the membership of Obama’s National Catholic Advisory Board and asking whether it does portend a change of attitude by Senator Obama and the Democratic Party about the continuing war against the unborn in this country.

In today’s Wall Street Journal, William McGurn does just that and finds that the elected officials on this advisory board hardly reflect “change that we can believe in” on the question of human rights for unborn children. Herewith the opening paragraphs (you can read the entire editorial here):

You are the Democratic candidate for president. You want to reach out to Catholics. So what do you do when the majority of the elected officials on your National Catholic Advisory Council have the seal of approval from NARAL Pro-Choice America?

That's the position Barack Obama now finds himself in. A few months ago, his Catholic advisory council was announced with great enthusiasm, and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) was listed as a national co-chair. His appearance at the top of the council sent a clear message: This campaign is determined to recover some of the lost Democratic sheep who have gravitated to the GOP over abortion.

This council does indeed include some Catholics whose pro-life credentials are impeccable, including Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar. But let us also stipulate the obvious: Of the 21 senators, congressmen and governors listed on the council's National Leadership Committee, 17 have a 90%-100% NARAL approval rating. Even Mr. Casey now enjoys a 65% NARAL approval rating.

A few weeks ago, noting the suggestion of prominent Obama supporter Ariana Huffington that the campaign should play the pro-choice card to appeal to Hillary Clinton voters, I ended that post by inquiring: “Will Catholics for Obama publicly repudiate any effort to win over Hillary Clinton supporters by campaigning as the abortion rights candidate?” Given that Obama’s National Catholic Advisory Board is weighted heavily with NARAL friendly politicians, I think we now know the answer to that question.

Greg Sisk