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Torkelson misrepresents Colorado Right to Life

Monday, June 25 at 12:01 AM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Jamie Schofield, Westminster

Jean Torkelson's recent article about the National and Colorado Right to Life organizations left me both saddened and aggravated. Apparently, she feels there is no need to actually investigate the issues involved in this news story, from the partial-birth abortion ban legislation, the Supreme Court ruling, CRTL's open letter to Dr. Dobson, or any other aspect of the situation. Although she got a quote or two from CRTL, she also apparently decided to just take NRTL at every word they said, assuming they were right without checking the facts. The result is that she makes CRTL look like some ignorant extremists, and NRTL the victim.Ironically, the truth is that at the same time NRTL was "booting" CRTL, Dr. Dobson himself was finally admitting, in an official capacity through Focus on the Family, that CRTL's open letter is right! That the recent partial-birth abortion ruling cannot, in fact, save one single unborn child, no, not one.The truth is that numerous pro-life organizations, including Focus and NRTL, have been blatantly misrepresenting this legislation for the last decade and a half, raising a quarter of a billion dollars to fund this useless "ban," while never informing their constituents of what they've always known - not one single abortion will be cancelled or prevented by this so-called "ban," which isn't even a ban at all, since it still allows even traditional, text-book PBA procedure, but simply instructs doctors to use a four-inch variation by bringing the baby out only as far as the navel, instead of the neck, and then tearing the "fetus" limb from limb until it's dead. (Yes, the ruling actually says that.)These organizations have asked people for money, claiming it would save lives, and now that we have this "ban," even Dr. Dobson and Focus finally admit it won't save one life. This could potentially amount to charges of fraudulent fundraising, and is a very serious issue. Shouldn't we have been told this, from the start? Didn't pro-lifers across America deserve to know this? How many of us would have sent our money to a different cause, if we'd known the truth?CRTL is dedicated to exposing the truth about this increasingly widespread pattern of hypocrisy and compromise among many of the pro-life leadership in America.

Why not mention that CRTL is hardly alone in this open letter, that a number of major pro-life organizations are co-signers? Not only is the oldest pro-life organization (CRTL) on there, but so is the world's largest pro-life organization, Human Life International, as well as the American Life League, and others.

Worst of all, Torkelson made serious factual errors. She claimed that CRTL "believes abortion must be stopped all at once." Where on earth did she get this idea? From National Right to Life, according to the article. Did she ask CRTL to confirm this? Of course not. CRTL is very much in favor of incrementalism, even if it means saving one life at a time. What they oppose is creating laws that effectively end with the phrase "and then you can kill the baby." If we save one baby, we rejoice, even though there are still another million in America dying. If we shut down one clinic, we celebrate, even though there are still hundreds of others. If we abolish abortion in America, we will dance and sing, even though another 49 million are murdered in the rest of the world every year.

That is not moral compromise. That's just simple, incremental progress. NRTL, however, believes (just like Bush) that abortion should remain legal, and have said so. This is why they both opposed the abortion ban in South Dakota last year. How they can call themselves "pro-life" is beyond me.Additionally, Torkelson calls the open letter an "attack" on Dobson. On the contrary, if she would read it, she'd know it shows respect, love and appreciation toward him, and literally asks him to "lead us." How is that an attack? It begs him to return to his early-90's pledge to not compromise on supporting politicians that kill the unborn. Two years ago, he said in writing he thinks God is calling him to "compromise" on that pledge. Yes, he used the word "compromise" to describe himself. CRTL doesn't believe abortion must be ended all at once. And this letter is a respectful encouragement, not an attack. Torkelson should get her facts straight before taking the word of some politically-motivated, morally-compromised pro-choice organization that pawns itself off as "pro-life" for the sake of millions of dollars from unsuspecting donors.

READER COMMENTS

I just can`t get worked up over the fate of unborn zygotes, babies embryos, etc. I always wonder why these theoretical babies mean so much to some people.

Every year a few women have miscarriages, and are sad to lose a child, until they learn they had a placenta, but no embryo.

Someone elses unborn baby is just theory to us. why do people care so much? I care about babies after they are born, or after they are viable.

I just don`t have the time or energy to care about the not yet born.

Posted by Sharon B. on June 27, 2007 04:34 AM

Ms. Torky, is pro-evangelical goons. She won't print the views of blacks, regarding the Middle East Plantation, and how Judeo-Christians are exterminating Muslims and they are preparing to steal their oil. She is also in bed with Mormons.

I wrote her a factual e-mail outlining how America hates Black Muslims. Elijah Muhammad and his son, Wallace D., were both sentenced to 3 years in federal prison, when they requested relgious military draft-deferments. Regardless of color, never in AMerica's history, have a father and son both been imprisoned for military draft-dodging. Elijah was Muhammad Ali's religious advisor.

My question to Ms. Torky, was simply, does Mitt Romney owe us 3 years in federal prison too? When the Vietnam War broke-out, Mitt broke for Mormon mission. His sweetheart NAM sanctuary deal was cut by his daddy (cabinet member in Nixon's administration). In 1977, President Jimmy "Irrelevant" Carter, pardoned (amnesty) draft-dodgers. Carter simultaneously commissioned me as a naval officer. He didn't pardon Mitt or AWOLees/deserters Boy-George/Alito (UCMJ felons-Illegal separation and discharge).

Posted by [jjtenant] "Behind the Cotton Curtain" on June 26, 2007 08:17 PM