NARAL backs Obama, angers Emily's List

Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:24 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Clinton, Obama

From NBC's Mark Murray
In yet another sign that the Democratic Party and its interest groups are beginning to coalesce around Obama, NARAL Pro-Choice America today endorsed the Illinois senator.

"Pro-choice Americans have been fortunate to have two strong pro-choice candidates in Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton, both of whom have inspired millions of new voters to participate in this historic presidential race," said the group's president, Nancy Keenan. "Today, we are proud to put our organization's grassroots and political support behind the pro-choice candidate whom we believe will secure the Democratic nomination and advance to the general election. That candidate is Sen. Obama."

But NARAL's endorsement didn't please Emily's List, the pro-choice, Democratic group backing Clinton. “I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton -- who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade -- to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process," said Emily's List president Ellen Malcolm. "It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them.”

Ouch.

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Comments

To not see this thing is over is to be blind to the obvious.

Rod, SC (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:28 PM)

Bonne L, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:29 PM)

Excuse me, Emily's List but Obama is part of the choice community, despite Hillary's efforts to say otherwise.

Yvonne, Charlotte (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:29 PM)

NO ENTITLEMENT.

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:30 PM)

Can't believe my ears! Poor Emily!

Flint Girl (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:30 PM)

Emily's list endorsed. Why can't NARAL?

Fantasy Land is fun.

CitizenJ (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:31 PM)

Really, is this where all of the campaign rhetoric concludes. Women offended that there candidate did not win the nomination fairly and squarely are going to pout and complain about others realization that the race has come to an end. Does she deserve so much respect as to delay the timely GE pivot. McBush should be allowed to politik for how long before the party accepts reality?

...and I like women. (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:32 PM)

I'm a backer of Emily's List, but NARAL can do whatever it wants, when it wants, as far as I'm concerned. Ellen Malcolm should keep her mouth shut.

KP, California (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:32 PM)

They will get over it come the fall. Cause it will be Obama or McCain. It's MCCAIN!!!! They'll come around.

Houston, TX (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:32 PM)

Drip, Drip.....
Drop, Drop........
Drip, Drip, Drip..........

Katy in Michigan (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:32 PM)

So it was fine for Emily's List to endorse Hillary in January after only a couple of primaries had been done, yet it's not alright for NARAL to endorse Obama with just 3 weeks left? Hmm...

Andre L. Williams II (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:32 PM)

Smart endorsement, despite what Emily's List thinks. It is time to unite the party, and those voters for whom women's reproductive rights is the #1 issue need to know that Obama can represent them just as well as Hillary. Waiting to endorse Obama would not get much notice if he has already won the nomination.

Doug P, Renton, WA (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:32 PM)

so....let me get this right, Emily's List....they can endorse...but only, if it's Clinton?

your hypocracy is showing and making you like just like your candidate: childish

sean, atl, ga (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:33 PM)

yeah.... Ouch.

But perhaps NARAL thought they were wasting valuable time by waiting 3 or 4 or 5 or 6...... more weeks.

Cathi (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:34 PM)

Ease up Emily, it is NARAL's choice to terminate Hillary.

N.E. BodybutHillary (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:34 PM)

No because NARAL was already angry that Senator Clinton sent out false mailers about Barack Obama's stance on abortion in New Hampshire. They've been thinking about this for a long time and NARAL Chicago endorsed months ago.

Hillary was trying to smear him falsely. NARAL didn't like being affiliated with a liar.

Emily's List is creepy times ten. They've given money to some really shady people.

Sa, Petaluma, CA (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:35 PM)

Can't believe my ears! Poor Emily!

Flint Girl (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:35 PM)

The Obamabots stole another endorsement...you know they paid NARL off for this.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:35 PM)

Its things like this that divides the party. When all the people are trashing Hillary and not giving her the respect and credit for all the hard work she has done for women and childrens rights and for so many poor Americans that many of her core base will just vote against Obama in the general election to prove to everyone that Hillary deserves the credit and respect.

Bonne L, Pittsburgh, PA

-------

Yes. Let's prove to everyone that we would rather vote against Obama than vote for keeping Roe v. Wade! That'll teach us women!!!

Cathi (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:36 PM)

To: Ms. Ellen Malcolm, Emily's List

Did you expect everyone to engage in the Clinton charade? Get over it!

Die-hard Democrat,
Tanya.

Tanya (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:36 PM)

This is the kind of Politics that need to stop. Obama was raised by a WHITE mother during a time in which you did not have inter-racial relationships. Fighting against all odds, she was able to care for him regardless of the rascism that existed. Obama is a huge supporter of Roe v. Wade and has said many times that nominating McCain will see that rulling overturned.

So, for all of you women out there that will not vote for Obama just remember that it was McCain who voted against a bill that would have given women the chance to earn just as much as men in the work place for like-jobs. And it is McCain who wants a Conservative supreme court. As much as you hate him, at least he stands up for what women have been fighting for: Equality and the Right to Choose, just to name a few.

A vote for McCain will reverse 50 years of struggles by women in this country.

Paul, Riverside, CA (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:37 PM)

Ooh! Pro-choice on pro-choice crime. Delicious!

Steve S., Springfield, Ill. (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:37 PM)

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Cry me a river

mary lee w atlanta georgia (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:37 PM)

What I find disrespectful is HRC's insistence on staying in this race past the point of sanity. She is 20 million dollars in debt and behind in every single measure. McCain gets a free pass every single day that she hopelessly continues her campaign - which if Emily's List was truly concerned with reproductive rights and not just getting their buddy elected - they would realize that McCain is the biggest threat to choice & this fruitless, prolonged race only helps him.
This also sounds like Obama is not pro-choice. He has an almost perfect record with choice groups.
HRC is the disrespectful one here - not NARAL. Get over it.

Cathy, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:38 PM)

FYI Mark:

EMILY's List is not simply a pro-choice group; its main function is to get pro-choice WOMEN elected. The NARAL's main function is to get pro-choice CANDIDATES elected. You really ought to make that distinction, because the way this story comes off, it's a battle between two pro-abortion groups, which is simply not the case. EMILY's List is attacking the NARAL for not endorsing a woman, which is unequivocally sexist.

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:38 PM)

You should only endorse if you are going to back Hillary. Am I hearing this right?

Give me a friggin' break.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:38 PM)

You know, it's unfortunate that Hillary Clinton and her supporters are "disconcerted" about how things are turning out but sometimes when you run for things you lose.

I would like to maintain my current level of respect for the Clintons because of the strong Democratic stands they have taken in the past but I do not feel guilty or doubtful in the least about choosing Obama to take us forward. It's time for new blood, new ideas and new leadership.

AP from IL (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:38 PM)

Pleeze.....the choice is a Democrat or a Republican. Pro-choice or Pro-Life. Get over it. Obama will help keep Roe vs Wade. Enough said.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:38 PM)

This is just ridiculous!! WE ARE THROWING THIS ELECTION AWAY!!!!!! HILLARY CANNOT WIN!! BO IS THE NOMINEE! HOWARD DEAN PLEASE STOP THIS!!! :-(

Matthew, Newark NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:39 PM)

As a woman who has voted Emily's list for years, I think the writing is on the wall. Hillary fought the good fight but It is time for the Democratic party to rally around Obama and move in to general election mode. We need to win in Nov. to protect the rights of all women in this country.

I wonder if their positions were reversed would everyone be so eager for Obama to continue? Is Hillary being treated differently because she is a woman? I hope not because then that might mean we still haven't attained the true equality we have been fighting for.

Catherine, M. (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:39 PM)

This was well timed. If the endorsements of Obama stop, Clinton will hod it up as proof to the SDs. The steady stream must continue or she will storm the convention. She's already trying to change the magic number to 2250.

Right on Day 1 (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:40 PM)

The only regret I have of being male, is that I shall never experience the joy that is of having an abortion.

Rod, SC (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:40 PM)

Dear Emily's List,
The fact that you have issues with NARAL endorsing a candidate equally as committed to reproductive rights as Sen. Clinton is very telling. Sen. Obama will stand up and fight for the cause. NARAL realizes it is time to move to the general and three more weeks won't make a hill of beans difference to the nomination process. Sen. Obama is the nominee, get used to it.

Nick A. Deerfield IL (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:40 PM)

I love it when this so called women's group yell out. I dare them to vote for McCain in the fall. If they hate Obama so much, i challenge them to vote for McCain.

Let see who will be on the loosing end. If they cherish their right to choose, i dare them to vote for McCain. All they’re doing is protesting because their female goddess lost to prince charmy…lol. They had better get use to President Obama.

All they're doing is bluffing, period. They are such a sour looser. If Emily really cares about the women right to choose, vote for McCain and let see what he does with the Supreme Court. Bunch of losers...

Obama'08

Bee, NH (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:40 PM)

Abortions for all! Come one! Come all! Get your abortion here!

NoBama! (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:41 PM)

Remind me to send a check to NARAL for not letting themselves be bullied. I am a feminist AND an Obama supporter - those 2 things are NOT mutually exclusive. Feminists are able to think for themselves, thank you very much.

fortuna, Houston, TX (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:41 PM)

Bonne L... What an inappropriate article under which to make that threat... You do realize that if McCain is elected that he will appoint at least 2 conservative Supreme Court judges that will overturn your precious Roe V Wade.. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. absurd!

Eric (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:41 PM)

Just like a Hillary Clinton supporter... Tasteless.. Newsflash...... this isn't about HILLARY CLINTON!! Its about the democratic party..

Educated African American (Sent Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:41 PM)

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