California Catholic Daily

[Return to Article] This printable article is taken from www.calcatholic.com

Published: April 2, 2009

“Fetal containers”

Obama nominee’s views on abortion come under fire from pro-life leader

The president of the Susan B. Anthony List has characterized as “bizarre” the views of pro-abortion activist Dawn Johnsen as a vote nears in the U.S. Senate on her nomination as assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel.

"Dawn Johnsen does not represent mainstream America or the type of common ground abortion policy President Obama promised this nation," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. "Her bizarre characterizations of pregnancy as 'slavery' and mothers as 'losers in the contraceptive lottery' expose an unacceptable disdain for commonsense abortion restrictions and motherhood in general. Furthermore, Johnsen's opposition to existing federal restrictions like the ban on partial-birth abortion casts doubt on her ability to perform her duties faithfully as the head of the Office of Legal Counsel."

Across the country, Susan B. Anthony List members expressed outrage at Johnsen's nomination, sending over 26,000 letters of opposition to their U.S. senators. On March 19, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination by a vote of 11-7.

While Johnsen served as legal counsel for the National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League (now NARAL Pro-Choice America), she authored numerous legal opinions rejecting any and all restrictions on abortion.

Some notable quotes from Johnsen's amicus curiae brief in the case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services include:

Abortion restrictions 'reduce pregnant women to no more than fetal containers.

The argument that women who become pregnant have in some sense consented to the pregnancy belies reality... and others who are the inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery no more 'consent' to pregnancy than pedestrians 'consent' to being struck by drunk drivers.

The experience [of abortion] is no longer traumatic; the response of most women to the experience is relief.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 154,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

(Source: Christian Newswire.)

Article URL: http://calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=1ec331d7-c96d-46df-aa53-08141775972c