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Letter stirs abortion dispute in South Dakota Senate race
Aberdeen News ^ | 10/3/04 | AP

Posted on 10/03/2004 4:40:53 PM PDT by madprof98

PIERRE, S.D. - John Thune, the Republican who is challenging Sen. Tom Daschle in the Nov. 2 general election, says a fund-raising letter Daschle wrote in 2002 illustrates a clear difference between the two candidates on abortion.

The letter, written by Daschle to help Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Missouri, has been reprinted in a paid newspaper advertisement by the South Dakota Pro-Life Committee.

It was addressed to "NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) supporters" and said, in part, "The U.S. Senate's pro-choice leadership cannot afford to lose an ally like Sen. Carnahan," and "the pro-choice leadership of the Senate has made a difference by safeguarding women's rights from the anti-choice agenda of the Bush administration."

Thune said the letter gives voters a clear understanding of their choice in the Senate race.

"This year, the differences couldn't be more stark, more in contrast than those between myself and Sen. Daschle," Thune told The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls. "It is surprising to me how many people believe Daschle is pro-life. He wrote a letter endorsing NARAL and has become NARAL's biggest cheerleader."

Daschle said he wrote the note for a colleague and not a cause. The letter does not change his personal belief that "every abortion is a tragedy" and that alternatives should be pursued, said Daschle.

"I sent an e-mail urging support for Sen. Carnahan, whose husband had died in a plane crash," he said. "This was a fund-raising letter that was meant to help her campaign."

Daschle said he opposes abortion, but said he and Thune differ on what to do about it.

"John Thune and some of his colleagues believe that you ought to throw a young woman in jail," Daschle said. "I believe there ought to be alternatives. I think we need to encourage as many ... alternatives to abortion as is possible, including adoption."

Thune said his position on abortion has been consistent throughout his career.

"On the issue of life, my position is clear," he said.

"I think it's the government's job to protect life, including that of the unborn."

State Sen. Jay Duenwald, R-Hoven, placed the ad containing the letter.

"The positions are incompatible," Duenwald said of the letter and Daschle's stated belief on abortion. "People can read what he actually said, in his own words."

State Rep. Mel Olson, D-Mitchell, said he didn't see any inconsistency in recognizing that banning all abortions is an unrealistic goal, given federal court decisions.

"I really don't think it's inconsistent because most people can see a circumstance in which it might be necessary," Olson said. "Most people aren't pro-life; they're really limited pro-choice. They say, 'I'm against abortion, but if it's a deal of rape or incest, or the life of the mother ... then it should be up to the mother.'"


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: South Dakota
KEYWORDS: electionussenate; prolife; thune
I imagine there are people who think John Kerry is pro-life too.
1 posted on 10/03/2004 4:40:53 PM PDT by madprof98
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To: madprof98

About time this is getting out in the open.


2 posted on 10/03/2004 4:42:54 PM PDT by jwalburg (Anti-Daschle gear: http://www.cafepress.com/southdakotapdq)
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To: madprof98

Oh what a liar Daschle is. I didn't realize it was this bad. What a fake, phoney, fraud. Next week, God willing, I will send $ to Mr. Thune. Daschle, pro-life my *ss! How can he continue to fool the people of the great state of South Dakota for this long?


3 posted on 10/03/2004 4:46:18 PM PDT by jocon307 (Exuding grim purpose and resolve since 1958)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: madprof98
I sent an e-mail urging support for Sen. Carnahan, whose husband had died in a plane crash..

Always exploiting a tragedy. Someone whould ask Daschle if he believes that life begins at conception like John Kerry does.

5 posted on 10/03/2004 4:57:03 PM PDT by Troublemaker
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: madprof98

7 posted on 10/03/2004 4:58:41 PM PDT by Mark (Treason doth never prosper, for if it prosper, NONE DARE CALL IT TREASON.)
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To: madprof98

I have a niece attending Wharton that thinks Ter-A-za is against abortion. Can't tell her much though, because she's getting a first rate education...


8 posted on 10/03/2004 5:00:30 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (`Three certainties in life: death, taxes and dead people voting for more taxes.)
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To: madprof98

I hope that Dasshole gets aborted from the Senate!


9 posted on 10/03/2004 5:06:15 PM PDT by leprechaun9
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To: madprof98
Daschle, like many Dems, needs help in keeping his stories straight. They don't know the difference between reality and their self-manufactured fiction.

June 8, 2001:
Tom Daschle, Senate Majority Leader, says
of the Missile Defense program "This isn't rocket science here"

Bwah-hah-hah!!


10 posted on 10/03/2004 5:07:19 PM PDT by syriacus (Showing Bush's facial expressions is great, as long as the Dems include Kerry's spoken words.)
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To: madprof98

I am prolife. My conscience would not allow me to write a letter in support of someone BECAUSE they were a friend of NARAL...even if they had experienced a tragedy. It makes no sense. This is what I call playing honest and fair hardball and the Republicans ought to do more of it.


11 posted on 10/03/2004 5:08:53 PM PDT by rushmom
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To: madprof98

John Kerry says, "I was a fetus, before I voted against a fetus' existence."


12 posted on 10/03/2004 5:11:25 PM PDT by syriacus (Showing Bush's facial expressions is great, as long as the Dems include Kerry's spoken words.)
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To: madprof98
"John Thune and some of his colleagues believe that you ought to throw a young woman in jail," Daschle said.

I am not a colleague of Thune's and I do not advocate throwing a woman in jail because she chose to have an abortion. I know what is in store for her and that is agony and despair.

I advocate throwing abortionists in jail.

I advocate throwing pro-abort politicians in jail. Pro-abort judges, too.

13 posted on 10/03/2004 5:43:20 PM PDT by grellis (Quick, someone post a Python graphic!)
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To: madprof98

"...Sen. Carnahan, whose husband had died in a plane crash," he said. "This was a fund-raising letter that was meant to help her campaign"

That sick Daschle, doesn't miss an opportunity to pollute any bit of true compassion people might have for others. He uses these appeals to the emotions ad nauseum. It makes me want to throw up.


14 posted on 10/03/2004 6:05:50 PM PDT by SolomoninSouthDakota
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To: madprof98
The letter does not change his personal belief that "every abortion is a tragedy" and that alternatives should be pursued, said Daschle.

Thune can't let Dasshole get away with BS like that. If Dasshole thought every abortion were a tragedy, he wouldn't vote to use tax dollars to pay for it.

15 posted on 10/03/2004 6:07:28 PM PDT by Holden Magroin
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To: Holden Magroin

I PERSONALLY HOPE DASCHLE IS ABORTED FROM THE SENATE BY THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA!!!


16 posted on 10/03/2004 7:03:48 PM PDT by lotex
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