February 11, 2009 2:57 PM

Abortion Rights Group Endorses Obama

(AP)  Democrat Barack Obama has won the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a leading abortion rights advocacy organization that has supported rival Hillary Rodham Clinton throughout her political career.

The organization announced the endorsement of its political action committee on Wednesday.

"Pro-choice Americans have been fortunate to have two strong pro-choice candidates in Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, both of whom have inspired millions of new voters to participate in this historic presidential race," NARAL president Nancy Keenan said in a statement. "Today, we are proud to put our organization's grass-roots and political support behind the pro-choice candidate whom we believe will secure the Democratic nomination and advance to the general election. That candidate is Senator Obama."

Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said he was surprised by the group's decision to back Obama.

"Senator Clinton's leadership and advocacy on choice issues is second to none," Wolfson said.

Officials said NARAL's political committee board was about evenly divided among Clinton and Obama supporters and that the decision to endorse was hard fought. Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to support the Illinois senator.

NARAL officials said the decision wasn't intended to be a snub of Clinton, who is running to be the first female president.

They said the board decided to back Obama over Clinton because he is overwhelmingly favored to win the nomination and to heal what the organization viewed as a growing rift between black voters and white female activists that the protracted Clinton-Obama contest may have caused.

The organization endorsed Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in 2004 when he was well on the way to securing the party's presidential nomination.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 70 Comments
by ianlou May 15, 2008 3:09 PM EDT
"I''M TRULY SHOCKED! REALLY!" Blaa, Blaa, "PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION", Blaa, Blaa, Blaa.
Posted by mudrose

Bush could not deliver a single victory for the Pro-Life Anti-Gay Creationists who helped elected him. What he did accomplish pisssed off so many voters that the above group has no one on the ballot this time who comes even close to supporting their causes.

I for one could not be happier.

And Mudrose, you might as well keep your CAPS KEY locked for the foreseeable future although I doubt it will help change anyone''s mind.

Reply to this comment
by ccdsswrkr08 May 15, 2008 2:36 PM EDT
maxify55

So, quick question. Which life is more important when it comes down to it? The mothers? Or the unborn child? Is it ok to force a mother to go through with a pregnancy that is going to kill her? Is it ok to force a woman who was raped to give birth to a child that will most likely destroy her emotionally, and have a very good chance of being abused by that mother?
Reply to this comment
by ccdsswrkr08 May 15, 2008 2:27 PM EDT
bobmarisol

when did I say I was a liberal dem? I''m an independant thank you very much, just pro choice.
Reply to this comment
by klingon69 May 15, 2008 1:00 PM EDT
The day you can birth a child - is the day you deserve to have an opinion. It''''s like telling you - what to do with your own *** - let''''s cut it off and prevent one less abortion! MORON!

Posted by simonsez40 at 08:43 AM : May 15, 2008
Does the childs father have a say? NO,
What if the father wants a child, but the mother has it aborted?

Reply to this comment
by klingon69 May 15, 2008 12:58 PM EDT
Sure sounds like the Dems like baby-killing ''''mothers'''' better than our troops.
Posted by bobmarisol at 07:51 AM : May 15, 2008
Just remember it was the libsd that spit on our troops and called them "BABY KILLERS" during and after Vietnam.
Reply to this comment
by bobmarisol May 15, 2008 12:36 PM EDT
CCDSS - you cheer on your liberal baby-hating friend Simonsays, yet you still cant answer my question about why the liberal Dems like baby-killing women better than the military. For your sake, I''ll repeat the question...

Why is it that liberal Dems are so protective of a woman''s ''right to choose'' but they refuse to give the military credit for choosing to fight against terrorists?

The Dems make it sound like a woman who has an abortion is a hero, but when men and women make the voluntary choice to join the military and to fight against the terrorists, the Dems say they are ''stupid'' (John Kerry) or ''cold blooded murderers'' (John Murtha) or ''losers'' (Harry Reid). John Kerry even called our troops ''terrorists.''

Sure sounds like the Dems like baby-killing ''mothers'' better than our troops.
Reply to this comment
by ccdsswrkr08 May 15, 2008 12:20 PM EDT
simonsez40

Cheers to you! Well said!
Reply to this comment
by ccdsswrkr08 May 15, 2008 12:18 PM EDT
bobmarisol

Yup. I''ll pay the burial costs.
Reply to this comment
by jack3213 May 15, 2008 11:55 AM EDT
Typical scams from a woman named Clinton and newbie called Obama who know how to lie like the experts they are- Denial and gullibility are traits Americans are perfecting. You think Bush is a liar- just vote for either of the two Democrats- that have you so convinced "change" is coming for ''the good''- your head will spin worse than the media does. lol.

Reply to this comment
by hungry1968 May 15, 2008 11:49 AM EDT
CCDSS - and when a teenage girl who has unprotected *** just because it feels good and then has her baby''''s neck snapped as it is prematurely pulled from her womb, can we send the baby''''s lifeless body to you?

Posted by bobmarisol at 08:32 AM : May 15, 2008





Maybe the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, should have got together with the Cabinet level Family Planning Office and decided to teach about s`e`x education and federally funded birth control programs, instead of the delusion of preaching abstinence.

Like hot and ***** 16 and 17 years old kids are sitting there preaching abstinence to each other.

Sheesh!!
Reply to this comment
See all 70 Comments
.
Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook