Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of David Ogden for Deputy Attorney General. The panel voted for the pro-abortion nominee President Barack Obama put forward even though pro-life groups opposed him because of his pro-abortion views.
The 14-5 vote saw all of the Democrats on the panel approve of Ogden's nomination while five pro-life Republicans joined together in opposition to him.
Those opposing Ogden were Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, John Cornyn of Texas, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Orrin Hatch of Utah, and Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
"Mr. Ogden has consistently taken very liberal positions over a long period of time on issues that are very important to me," Hatch said about why he opposed the nominee. "The pattern here is so consistent and the record is so long that it does give me pause."
Sen. Arlen Specter voted for Ogden but admitted that the committee had received 11,000 phone calls, letters, and emails opposing his nomination.
The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the Ogden nomination, but that could come within a matter of days.
When it does vote, Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, told LifeNews.com he hopes senators vote him down.
"David Ogden represents an extreme liberal agenda," Perkins said. "Ogden's record makes him unfit to serve in the Justice Department."
"All senators still have an opportunity to [vote against Ogden] by voting no on this extreme choice by President Obama," he said. "I urge each senator, regardless of party, to take a closer look at Ogden's radical record."
"We also urge President Obama to withdraw this nomination and consider a replacement whom the American people can trust to administer justice," he said.
As LifeNews.com has reported, Ogden has come under fire for denying the physical and mental health problems that plague women who have abortions.
Ogden wrote and filed an amicus brief on behalf of the American Psychological Association for the Supreme Court's seminal decision in Casey v. Planned Parenthood.
In it, Ogden argued, "Abortion rarely causes or exacerbates psychological or emotional problems. When women do experience regret, depression, or guilt, such feelings are mild and diminish rapidly without adversely affecting general functioning."
Ogden has gone further by arguing against parental notification and saying, because "there is no qualitative ... difference between minors ... and adults," there is no reason for the parents of a young girl to know if she is having an abortion.
During the hearing on his nomination, pro-life Sen. John Kyl, an Arizona Republican, challenged Ogden on those pro-abortion views, calling them "very left leaning and unorthodox positions."
Ogden defended his views saying he is "quite proud of his record" but adding that he was serving the interests of private clients at the time.
Ogden claimed he would "put the interests of the United States and the rule of law above any other" consideration.
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