At first I thought I would just let this pass. Too much like "inside baseball." But on reflection, NARAL's behavior in this instance is so emblematic, so indicative of the lengths to which it will go, that I thought better.

Earlier this week, NARAL, the shock troops of the Abortion Establishment, sent out an urgent e-mail solicitation pegged to what its President said was an October 31 decision by Congress on "whether to put an end to George W. Bush's devastating global gag rule." In case you are scratching your head, that's abortionspeak for the Mexico City Policy, long the bane of those who wish to multiple many times over the already outrageous number of abortions overseas.

Under the policy, first adopted by President Reagan, in order to be eligible for U.S. "population assistance," a private organization must sign a contract promising not to perform abortions (except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incest), lobby to change the abortion laws of host countries, or otherwise "actively promote abortion as a method of family planning. In other words, stop meddling to undermine the abortion laws of developing nations.

If you read further, the NARAL letter sounds like one of those TV commercials where if you "call today," you get lots of additional goodies. In this case, NARAL's fundraising letter says that if recipients send a contribution right away, "we'll send a moral compass to members of the committee -- Sen. [Norm] Coleman [R-Mn.], Sen. [John] Sununu [R-N.H.], Rep. [Tim] Walberg [R-Mi.], Rep. [Joe] Knollenberg [R-Mi.], and Rep. [John] Doolittle [R-Ca,.] -- symbolizing your hope they find their way back on this moral choice."

Problems? How about these?

The letter refers to a hearing at the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the Mexico City Policy but (a) there was no vote scheduled and (b) none of the five members are on the committee. It'd be especially difficult for Coleman and Sununu to participate in a House hearing since they are senators.

But they did share one thing in common. Democrats consider all five vulnerable in the 2008 elections.

In addition to changing what NARAL conceded was "human error," Washington Post columnist Jeffrey Birnbaum suggested, "Maybe the donation page should be changed as well. The Web site to which the e-mail directs would-be donors contains the following disclaimer: 'No funds will be earmarked or reserved for any political purpose.' None, you say?"

As for the bonus promised by NARAL, NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson told the publication, The Hill, that "he and his staff had checked with the offices of the lawmakers mentioned in the letter, and not one of them had reported receiving a compass of any sort."

Please take time to read Part Two. They are excerpts from Cong. Chris Smith's statement delivered yesterday. As always, they are terrific.

Part Two
Part Three