NARAL Using Military Women to Promote Abortion Agenda

By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
May 18, 2004

Pro-abortion group NARAL is using women serving in the military overseas to spread their abortion agenda. In a message to supporters last week, NARAL asked its members to "support our troops" by helping to "protect servicewomen's rights abroad."

Appealing to people who believe having an abortion is their constitutional right, NARAL expressed concern that female members of the military are not being allowed to have abortions while they are serving on behalf of their country overseas.

"The thousands of women serving abroad in our military are being denied their freedoms, even as they are fighting to defend ours," NARAL contended in the e-mail.

Although most women who are serving in the military in another country are not pregnant, NARAL is using this issue to encourage abortion supporters in the United States to rally behind this leftist agenda.

"Servicewomen and female military dependents are banned from accessing abortion services -- even when using their own private funds -- at military hospitals overseas," NARAL contended. "They don't even have the same right Medicaid recipients do to public support in cases of rape or incest."

NARAL continued, "Our overseas military personnel deserve the same rights as women here in America."

Urging pro-abortion supporters to "defend the rights of those who defend us," NARAL asks them to contact their Congressmen and Senators regarding the Defense Authorization Act.

Current laws completely ban all abortions for military personnel while serving in the military.

Yet, NARAL wants amendments added to the omnibus Defense Authorization Act to allow abortions for women serving in the military overseas.

One such amendment, S. 2166, was submitted by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) into the U.S. Senate earlier this year. This bill would allow for abortions to take place in cases of rape and incest while serving in the military overseas.

There are seven cosponsors of this bill, including Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Susan Collins (D-ME), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

The bill has been referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee for consideration.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) are also planning to submit simultaneous bills into both houses of Congress that would completely repeal the ban on women using their own money to pay for an abortion at a military facility.

Incidentally, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has introduced a bill that would provide for parental involvement in abortions of dependent children of members of the military.

A 48-hour waiting period for any abortion procedure is mandatory under this bill to give time for the doctor to notify the parent or legal guardian.

Physicians who violate this procedure would be subjected to a $10,000 fine.

The bill currently does not have any cosponsors in the Senate, but it has been placed on the Senate legislative calendar under general orders.

In a sample letter provided by NARAL, the subject line reads "Please Defend Servicewomen's Right to Choose."

The letter to federal lawmakers begins, "As you consider the FY'05 Defense Authorization Act, I urge you to support amendments offered by pro-choice Sens. Patty Murray and Barbara Boxer that repeal current-law bans and oppose any attempts to make it more difficult for women to access safe abortion care."

"Under current law, women in the military and female military dependents stationed overseas are prohibited from using their own funds to obtain abortion services at military facilities," the letter to lawmakers continues.

"As our troops are called upon to protect our nation's freedoms and liberties, we must protect their freedoms and liberties abroad - including the constitutional right to choose. Thank you for your consideration," the letter concludes.