Become an Educated Voter We are now facing another election. We are all thinking about the candidates, looking for someone who is Pro-Life. But how do we know for sure? Because we have been betrayed so many times before, it is difficult not to be skeptical about the promises we hear during the campaigns. I believe it is time to ask some questions. For a candidate who claims to be pro-life, we should ask, “What are you going to do to stop abortion in Illinois? Would you work to influence legislation that would require the parents of teenagers to be notified before their daughter has an abortion? Would you support and sign legislation that would end Medicaid funding of abortion in Illinois? Would you promote and fund “abstinence only” legislation? Would you appoint people to sensitive positions in your administration who would strive to protect the unborn and who would respect parental authority and responsibility in family life? Would you support and sign legislation that would protect the elderly and handicapped from euthanasia? People are inclined to go to the polls and vote in presidential elections and perhaps even for state and federal senators and representatives. But analyzing the positions of candidates who are running for other offices is crucial as well. In New York, Attorney General Elliot Spitzer has begun issuing subpoenas to crisis pregnancy centers, claiming his initial investigation revealed that the centers “may have violated one or more statues by misrepresenting the services they provide, diagnosing pregnancy and advising persons on medical options without being licensed to do so and/or providing deceptive and inaccurate medical information.” Also he stated that the centers do not give information about abortion or abortion referrals. This campaign against crisis pregnancy centers is straight out of a booklet produced by NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) entitled “Unmasking Fake Clinics: A Step-by-Step Guide,” and is designed to put the centers out of business. The subpoenas will require the centers to provide extensive documents about their services by February lst. While we can take heart that this organized assault is a result of the enormous success the centers have had in turning women away from abortion, it will be costly and use up the resources that could be used to help pregnant women. Do you know where the candidates for Attorney General in Illinois stand on the issue of abortion? Do you think that a pro-abortion Attorney General won’t be eager to follow the NARAL guidebook as well? Pro-lifers can make a difference in an election, particularly a close one. Past statistics show that single issue Pro-Life votes can account for 14%, while only 7% of pro-abortion voters will vote on that issue alone. In a close election, that is a winning percentage. It is important to vote only for Pro-Life candidates, but we also need to vote smart. We have to choose the “Pro-Life” candidate who will make a commitment to stop abortion in Illinois. Mary Anne Hackett
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