PRO-ABORTION NARAL ATTACKS PRO-LIFE GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH

In a September 30, 1999, press conference, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) President Kate Michelman announced that NARAL will begin running a new television ad attacking pro-life Texas Governor George W. Bush. The ad will run in New Hampshire and in the District of Columbia. According to NARAL, the ad "will be accompanied by extensive outreach to members of the media across the country and to key columnists and pundits" as they talk about Bush, his candidacy, and his record.

In the ad, NARAL says that "it's very important to know what George W. Bush would do if elected. Bush is anti-choice [sic], and with this power he could take away a woman's right to choose. On choice, the stakes could not be higher." This is the third time NARAL has run negative advertisements attacking Governor Bush on the abortion issue. Last March ads were run in Iowa, New Hampshire, and California; last August more negative ads were run in New Hampshire.

At the press conference, Michelman was critical of the field of GOP presidential candidates in general, but singled out Governor Bush by name for specific criticism. "We know George W. Bush," Michelman said. "We know his views and we know his record."

George W. Bush "is fervently anti-choice," said Michelman. "As governor of Texas, he signed nine anti-choice provisions in 1999 alone, more than any other governor in the country. In all, Governor Bush has signed 18 provisions aimed at restricting reproductive choice for the women of Texas."

Michelman laid out the importance of the 2000 elections: " Ultimately, it is the White House that determines whether or not anti-choice provisions...see the light of day."

Referring to the Clinton/Gore team, Michelman added, "For the last six years, the presidency has remained the only thing standing between anti-choice assaults and the reproductive freedom of American women. After the 2000 elections, it will be the only thing standing between American women and a U.S. Supreme Court bent on tearing down Roe."

"NARAL's continued assaults on pro-life Governor George W. Bush are most likely prompted by two factors," said David N. O'Steen, Ph.D., NRLC executive director.

"First, Governor Bush continues to hold a commanding lead in polls of likely Republican primary voters and is seen as the most likely pro-life Republican presidential nominee. In addition, polls show that, at this time, Bush would beat either pro-abortion Vice President Al Gore or pro-abortion Democrat former Senator Bill Bradley" (see story, page one).

"Second," O'Steen said, "NARAL must be worried that attempts by much of the media to divide Governor Bush from pro-life voters, by misrepresenting his pro-life position, will backfire and confuse pro-abortion voters as well."

NRL PAC Director Carol Tobias told NRL News, "NARAL wants to make sure that their own troops understand what a real threat Governor Bush is to abortion."