August 13, 2010

By Dave Andrusko

Peggy Hartshorn, president of Heartbeat International

A few months ago when I wrote about "12th & Delaware"--what was then a upcoming hit job on crisis pregnancy centers masquerading as a HBO documentary--it didn't taken a degree in astrophysics to grasp that it would play a key role in the all-out assault on women-helping centers. In that vein very much worth reading is "The Abortion Battleground: Crisis Pregnancy Centers," which (all things considered) does a half-way decent job of putting the film in the context of the "newest front line in America's abortion wars" (see http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2008846,00.html).

To be sure Elizabeth Dias is far too uncritical of the general thrust of pro-abortion attacks on CPCs, particularly the bill introduced in Congress that has CPCs squarely in its crosshairs. And she is too easy by half on NARAL's "rebuttals" of claims made by women-helping centers (buttressed by a slew of academic studies) that women who abort can and do suffer emotional and psychological and physical aftermath. And worst of all she accepts the 180 degree-incorrect statement made by the women who put "12th & Delaware" together that their production "refrains from taking a position on CPCs."

But, from our point of view, what is useful in Dias' story? Most important for what it tells you about how intimidating the Abortion Establishment can be.

• "Recent estimates indicate there are now more than five times as many CPCs in the U.S. as there are abortion clinics." As you read the story the unwary reader might mistakenly conclude that PPFA is outmanned. The nation's largest abortion provider is a billion-dollar enterprise, supported by governments, state and federal, foundations, etc. CPCs operate on a shoestring budget.

• In typical pro-abortion bullying manner NARAL's Virginia chapter worked with pro-abortion students on the campus of the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. "Today, only pro-choice information is provided [on the website for the school's women's clinic], although officials at Mary Washington say the change was not motivated by NARAL's claims. This fall, NARAL will take its campaign to three other Virginia schools: the University of Virginia, James Madison University and Hollins University."

• The last two paragraphs--while coming last--do give the pro-life response, from CareNet and Heartbeat International. "CareNet, one of America's largest CPC organizations, says its staff works with local centers to ensure that advertising meets honesty requirements and makes clear CareNet does not offer abortion services," Dias writes. Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn told TIME that "12th and Delaware is another example of-context video manipulation," adding, "We are eager to provide the truth to women."

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Part One
Part Two