Randall Terry says, "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is a Public Relations Goldmine, Political Scam"

U.S. Newswire ^ | Randall Terry

[newgeezer]

Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue says, "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is a Public Relations Goldmine, but a Political Scam"

10/22/03 6:37:00 PM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Gary McCullough, 202-546-0054 or 904-819-9450, for the Society for Truth and Justice

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue:

The Public Relations Goldmine:

"The major benefit of this bill is the debate that surrounds it: 1) Abortion and abortion procedures are discussed in the news media, hence the public is educated; 2) The public sees how completely barbaric and violent partial-birth abortion is; 3) Voters see who supports this crime against children and mothers. The ethics behind partial-birth abortion are the same as those that justified Nazi concentration camps and American slavery. History will show that abortion in America was a gross betrayal of human rights and a crime against humanity," states Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue, and President of the Society for Truth and Justice.

The Political Scam:

"This bill, if it becomes law, may not save one child's life. The Federal Courts are likely to strike it down. Furthermore this bill would only insure that unborn children would be murdered in some other hideous fashion. The bill also provides political cover in an election season to cowardly 'pro-life' political leaders who have done little for the pro-life cause. Worse yet, this bill would provide political cover for supporters of Roe-v-Wade within both parties, especially the Republican Party whose constituents are pro-life. This enables certain pro-choice Congressmen to support this bill and play both sides of the political fence. If the President and Congress want to accomplish a small, but real step, they should outlaw all abortions after 20 weeks -- the age when a baby can live outside the womb," states Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue, and President of the Society for Truth and Justice.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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/© 2003 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

© 2003 U.S. Newswire

A Division of

[newgeezer]

A practical analysis by Randall Terry. It is indeed a PR goldmine and a political scam.

The big players on both sides know it. At best, the bill is a Supreme Court test.

[newgeezer]

FYI ping.

[Torie]

I thought Randall Terry was in jail. As per usual, what Randall Terry wants is not what Randall Terry gets. What a loser.

[sinkspur]

Terry's feeling cocky after playing a role in the Schiavo case.

He's also trying to rehabilitate himself, after dumping his wife and kids and taking up with a 23 year old.

His proposal is a political non-starter, and he knows it.

Who's scammin' who?

[xzins]

Terry has definitely spoken the truth.

They'll simply kill the babies while still inside the womb.

But that has been progress, both practically and in public relations, and that shouldn't be bad-mouthed. There should be a few month's celebration of progress and then a trip back to the well to ask the politicos, "What have you done for me lately?"

[newgeezer]

If he's such a loser and a scammer, it shouldn't be too hard to debunk the points in his press release. Right?

[My2Cents]

I think Randall Terry is upset that he can't take credit for the bill's passage. He is a perfect example of why the pro-life movement hasn't accomplished anything of substance in 30 years.

[biblewonk]

RT is right on this one. They can actually side step the real issue and come out smelling like a rose.

[EternalVigilance]

Hard to find much to disagree with in this assessment.

[EternalVigilance]

There should be a few month's celebration of progress and then a trip back to the well to ask the politicos, "What have you done for me lately?"

Nah. Start tomorrow.

[borkrules]

Some people won't take anything less than 100% of what they want, and right now, dammit!

They usually get 0% of what they want along with well deserved ridicule and contempt from those who see the wisdom, in a deeply divided nation, of taking those victories as we can, when we can, and living to fight again another day for the next victory.

The looney-tunes of the far-far-far-right again reveal themselves. Geez, this is a WIN for crying out loud!

[sinkspur]

If he's such a loser and a scammer, it shouldn't be too hard to debunk the points in his press release. Right?

What's there to rebut? It's just Randall Terry ranting, something he's very good at.

He's just mad he played NO ROLE in getting the PBA ban enacted.

Why, anti-abortion legislation can be passed WITHOUT Randall Terry?

He's always been a gratuitous showboater. Nothing's changed. Just ask Flip Benham.

[My2Cents]

He's complaining that the PBA bill wasn't a "whole loaf" abortion ban? Geez, it's a start, and it places a huge stopper on the "slippery slope," since the procedure is less abortion, and more infanticide. He should give thanks for this bill, rather than try to use it to grandstand.

[MississippiMan]

I've been pointing out this exact problem with the bill language for three days, pointing out that it's nothing but a paper tiger that does NOT ban partial-birth abortion. And the politicians crowing about its passage are fully aware of this fact. Disgusting. And telling.

MM

[My2Cents]

I totally agree with you.

[MississippiMan]

Good grief, have you READ the language of the bill? It does NOT ban partial-birth abortion! Try to discuss the merit behind the claim instead of attacking the messenger and saying absolutely nothing about the underlying facts. The bill only bans abortion when the ENTIRE FETAL HEAD is outside the mother's body, which is NOT required for partial-birth abortion!!!

It's so disheartening that so many conservatives so blindly tow the party line with zero consideration of the facts. This bill was watered down to worthless fluff just so some politicians could crow that they'd done something. How shameful to make political hay on the blood of the innocent.

MM

[Ronin]

It's a start. Sometimes it seems like stopping the liberal agenda is like shoveling back the tide with a fork, but this bill/law is definite progress.

But if it wasn't having any effect, the abortion industry wouldn't be so paranoid about it.

It isn't the law I would like to see, and it may not make it through the Supreme Court, but it IS progress.

Until we can get some more conservative judges on the bench (which, obviously requires getting some more Republican Senators in office and growing backbones in the Senators that are there) we should stop complaining about the fights we do win.

[1stFreedom]

>>Furthermore this bill would only insure that unborn children would be murdered in some other hideous fashion

This may be true, however, there is something especially wrong when a child is murdered during it's "intiation" as a citizen. Remember, we become citizens at birth. Think about it, if it's ok to murder a citizen, then how safe are you?

Yea, it's a fine line, I mean, it's not ok to murder a Human (14th amendment), but to murder a CITIZEN is an absolute constitutional travesty.

And what Mr. Terry doesn't recognize is that this ban has helped to change the opinions of Americans.

To me, the most influential events in the Pro-life history has been:

The airing of the Silent Scream
The pope challenging us to defend life with Klinton in the background
Moma T taking Clinton to task at the annual prayer brakfast

Randall did a good job of waking the evangelical community and bringing together different denominations.

Ultimately, he was the success and the downfall of the "rescue" movement. Long back before OR faithful Catholics were sitting in at mills participating in "non-violent direct action" -- closing mills down.

Terry helped to bring this type of protest into the Evangelical churches and it started a wildfire. Over 80,000 people were arrested during the clinic blockades.

Yet, the concietedness and bible thumping of Mr. Terry often alienated others. I distinctly remember him giving a keynote address at an HLI conference where he said something to the effect of "i'm sorry but Jesus didn't change the death penalty" in reference to the Pope's tightening the teachings on the it.

Now Mr. Terry has to deal with the fact that Jesus didn't do away with the eternal bond of marriage. Mr. Terry has remarried and allegedly his former wife and family needs more support. Mr. Terry, who supposedly is broke, was/is in the process of purchasing a rather expensive home. Funds have been solicited for a trust fund that many mistakenly think are going to his old family when [allegedly] they are going to his new family.

I sincerely believe that Mr. Terry, while bringing abortion to the forefront for many Christians, ultimately gave into his ego instead of the will of God. What I mean is that often we confuse the Will of God with OUR will. I believe he ended up following his will, starting with his fight against the homosexual issue in the northeast (VT/NH?? I forget). From what I understand this is where the breakup of his marriage started/intensified.

Now most mainstream pro-lifers distance themselves from Mr. Terry. He has too much baggage. The pro-life movement had done very well without him in the limelight the past few years.

For him to criticize the bill only props him up while helping to contribute to the internal split within the pro-life movement. And it does nothing to influence the voting public. The PBA ban has done more to influence voters than Mr. Terry has.

So, people should recognize when their time has passed.

[Catspaw]

I thought Randall Terry was in jail. As per usual, what Randall Terry wants is not what Randall Terry gets. What a loser.

No, he's just made an honest woman out of the youngster he left his wife for. And he wants help buying his house in Florida.

[WilliamWallace1999]

"If he's such a loser and a scammer, it shouldn't be too hard to debunk the points in his press release. Right?"

Yep, it is easy. There is no documented case of newborns under 23 weeks gestation that have survived. The terminal bronchials in the lungs have not finished development and no amount of mechanical ventilation can correct for the lack of alveoli. Extra-corporeal mechanical oxygenation can keep the baby alive, but without the life-giving uterine enviroment the development will not occur.


BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT. It is still a baby and a person with rights. The 20 week issue that Terry raises is just as arbitrary as any other "line in the sand". It is life at conception and deserves a chance to live.