December 8, 2003
NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT:
Dean's Planned Parenthood Ties Raise Questions About Abortion (Marc Morano, December 08, 2003, CNSNews.com)
As the current frontrunner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor and the only physician in the field of candidates, has been clear about his support for abortion rights, but adamant that he never performed an abortion himself."I did not perform abortions. I'm a medical doctor. Nor did my wife," Dean told a Boston television station in July. Dean's wife Judith also is a physician.
Yet, Dean's extensive ties to the Northern New England chapter of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., including his internship and work as a contract obstetrician/gynecologist at one of the group's Vermont clinics in the late 1970s and early 1980s, are producing more questions about the nature of that involvement at a time when Planned Parenthood was cementing its role as America's largest abortion provider.
While Dean may not find his Planned Parenthood connections too politically damaging in Iowa and New Hampshire, site of the nation's first two major political contests, he could face some fallout in the crucial Feb. 3 Democratic primary in South Carolina, where voters are more culturally conservative.
Dean has been one of the Democratic field's most vocal supporters of legalized abortion, including the procedure known as partial birth abortion, which Congress and President Bush moved to ban this year until three federal judges blocked the ban from taking effect.
On Nov. 6, the day the president signed the ban, Dean called it a "dark day for American women, who are seeing their reproductive freedoms restricted by a President acting in concert with a right wing congress.
"As this controversy moves to the judicial system," Dean's statement continued, "we are reminded anew of the importance of electing a pro-choice president next year."
No wonder he wants his personal records hidden. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 8, 2003 4:45 PM
And someday, Bill Clinton's medical records will be released. Just what is it that he has been afraid of for all these years?
Posted by: jim hamlen at December 8, 2003 5:37 PM"I did not perform abortions. I'm a medical doctor. Nor did my wife,"
What does this statement mean? Is this how Dean views an abortionist? As someone who isn't a medical doctor? Very interesting.
Posted by: pchuck at December 8, 2003 5:38 PMAs I understand it,pchuck,that would be accurate as abortionists rate very low on the medical social order.Not popular at hospital xmas parties,etc.
Posted by: M. at December 8, 2003 6:58 PMGiven Dean's statements in support of virtually unrestricted abortion, one would think he would have been proud to have performed at least one. Why not?
Posted by: jim hamlen at December 8, 2003 9:09 PMJim:
Well, perhaps there is some remainder of a conscience, and it whispers, quietly but insistently, "you are a murderer."
Posted by: Paul Cella at December 9, 2003 6:12 PM