by Steven Ertelt Baton Rouge, LA (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion advocacy groups typically aren't willing to budge when it comes to opposing even the most modest limitations on abortion. Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, found that out the hard way when she voted for a ban on partial-birth abortions. When Landrieu first ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 in a heavily contested race, she enjoyed the support of all the leading pro-abortion groups. During that initial campaign, the pro-abortion EMILY's List, the largest political action committee in the nation and one that only supports pro-abortion women for Congressional races, was her biggest donor. EMILY's List funneled $102,000 to Landrieu through its donors and gave her $10,000 directly. But the extreme pro-abortion group cut her off from any further donations in her 2002 bid after she voted for the national ban on partial-birth abortions -- a later version of which the Supreme Court upheld in April as constitutional. Other pro-abortion organizations have also softened their support. Landrieu campaign donors such as NARAL and NOW reduced their donations amounts when she ran for re-election in 2002 but NOW president Kim Gandy told the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper that the drop reflects a change in focus and not a change of heart about the Louisiana lawmaker. "We tend to put our resources into getting new women elected to Congress," Gandy said. "After that, all of the usual sources of contributions that kick in for incumbents take care of them." Despite the loss of support from pro-abortion groups, Landrieu looks financially strong as she heads towards next-year's second re-election effort. She raised $2.3 million during the first six months of this year, which is more than her entire 1996 election campaign received. Part of the increase in fundraising has been because Landrieu has moderated her image since getting elected, not just on other political issues but abortion as well. While Landrieu still backs abortion, she has supported some limits on it. From 2005-2006 she received a 50% pro-life voting record from the National Right to Life Committee. The lawmaker upset pro-life advocates by voting to force taxpayers to fund groups that do or promote abortions overseas and to make them pay for embryonic stem cell research. At the same time, she voted twice for a bill that would uphold parental involvement laws and prohibit someone taking a teenager to another state for a secret abortion without their parents knowing. Landrieu received a 55 percent rating from the pro-life group for 2003-2004 but was only at 11 percent in years shortly after her first election. She also helped moderate her image when she was the leading co-sponsor of a complete ban on human cloning with Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback.
Louisiana Senator Loses Pro-Abortion Donations After Backing PBA Ban
This article is found on Freerepublic under:
LifeNews.com Editor
July 30, 2007
Louisiana Senator Loses Pro-Abortion Donations After Backing PBA Ban -- FreeRepublic Article
NEW ORLEANS, LA, May 9, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Increasing tension in the United States between local bishops and Catholic educational institutions have now affected the Archdiocese of New Orleans after the President of Loyola University announced that the Landrieu family would receive an honorary degree in part for their exemplary public Catholicism. In a May 5th press release Archbishop Alfred Hughes announced he would not attend the commencement activities at Loyola University. In his statement Archbishop Hughes praised Judge and Mrs. Landrieu for both their remarkable family and for their service to the Church and the community. The Archbishop noted however "that in honoring the whole family, the Loyola Law School did not clarify its conviction on respect for human life. Not all members of the family have been faithful to the Church's teaching regarding public policy." Two of Moon and Verna Landrieu's children, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, support abortion rights in their public lives. Mary Landrieu has consistently supported abortion, but has voted to prohibit a controversial late-term abortion procedure. Mitch Landrieu, as a state legislator in 1990 and 1991, opposed several bills seeking to criminalize abortion. The bills passed the Legislature but were vetoed by Gov. Buddy Roemer, with Landrieu voting to uphold the veto. In light of Loyola's decision, Archbishop Hughes further stated "I have expressed my disappointment to the President of Loyola University that the Law School has decided to extend this honor in this way. In addition, I have reluctantly decided not to participate in any commencement exercises of Loyola University, lest my presence confuse the faithful and give the impression that it is appropriate to include in an honor anyone who dissents publicly from Church teaching." Archbishop Hughes' decision is based on the July, 2004, statement "Catholics in Political Life" in which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops indicated that Catholic institutions should not give awards, honors or platforms to those who act contrary to Church teaching on fundamental moral principles. This is the third time in three years in which Archbishop Hughes has had to publicly distance the Archdiocese from Loyola. In 2002, Loyola honored Kim Gandy with an award. Gandy is an alumna who, as the president of the National Organization for Women, was one of the nation's foremost abortion-rights advocates. Last year Loyola permitted the presentation of the "Vagina Monologues," a blunt, provocative play exploring themes of feminine sexuality and violence toward women. Though Loyola president Rev. Kevin Wildes told students in a campuswide e-mail that he did not endorse everything in the play, he urged their attention to its themes, "particularly about sexual violence toward women." Both instances resulted in objections being voiced by the Archdiocese. The battle for Catholic education in the United States is continuing to escalate. In spite of last year's US Bishop's statement Catholic educational institutions continue to honour questionable individuals. In a report by the Cardinal Newman Society, at least 13 American Catholic colleges and universities have defied the US Bishops by inviting commencement speakers who defy Church teachings on key moral issues. Four institutions have already had their "Catholic" identity removed by their local bishops. Honorory Degree for Pro-Abortion Politicians at Loyola Commencement Nix Archbishop's Attendance