Sen. Obama continues to hide opposition to Born Alive Infants Protection Act

Washington D.C., Aug 16, 2008 / 16:05 pm

In response to the new evidence which reveals that Senator Barack Obama has misrepresented his position regarding his opposition to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, the Obama Campaign has continued to deny that the Illinois state bill included a neutrality clause.

On Thursday, the ChicagoTribune.com posted a “fact check” on its website regarding Sen. Obama and his opposition to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act (BAIPA) when it was proposed in the Illinois Senate.  The site quotes a Susan B. Anthony List press release from August 12 as stating:

“Official legislative documents released this week show that Obama in fact presided over a committee hearing where “neutrality clause” language – identical to the federal language – was added to the Illinois version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. After voting in support of the “neutrality clause,” Obama then joined fellow Democrats to oppose the bill, killing it by a vote of 6-4, even after the addition of the ‘neutrality clause.’  The bill Obama killed is nearly identical to the federal version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act signed by President Bush in 2002 – legislation Obama has said he supports.”

ChicagoTribune.com quoted the Obama Campaign’s response as:

“There are major differences in state and federal bills, including the fact that the federal bill included a ‘neutrality clause’.”

President of the Susan B. Anthony List, Marjorie Dannenfelser responded to the article saying, “The Obama campaign thinks if they continue to repeat their flimsy story about Barack Obama's opposition to the common sense Born Alive Infant Protection Act that their thin explanation will become true. The reality is that actual legislative records directly contradict their story.”

She continued, “Here's the truth: Barack Obama killed the commonsense Born Alive Infant Protection Act in the Illinois Senate, and his campaign continues its game of hide and seek. That's because his position is heartless. There is no baby at any stage - even born accidentally - that he finds worth protecting. Where is his heart for the downtrodden when it comes to the most vulnerable human beings? It is no wonder he cannot admit to the truth of his 'leadership' as a State Senator."

The fact that the campaign is clinging to the story “says that they are really concerned about Americans finding out the truth about Obama’s record,” Susan B. Anthony List Political Joy Yearout, told CNA.

Earlier this week, a National Right to Life Committee statement revealed evidence showing that a neutrality clause had been added to the Illinois bill by the same Obama-chaired state Senate committee which quickly voted down the amended bill.