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Liberal Strategists Pushing Hard Pro-Abortion Line; "What are they Smoking?" Says Hughes

Martin Says "Never, never" will he allow legislation that might alter abortion status quo

OTTAWA, June 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Liberal strategists pushing for a hard pro-abortion line from the Liberal Party have been getting their way to the detriment of the Party and its support in the polls according to some observers. A glaring example is that Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, on his way to Georgia for the G-8 Summit, took time to condemn a pro-life Conservative MP for remarks she made at the Ottawa March for Life three weeks ago on May 13.

Martin, repeatedly referred to as a 'devout Catholic' by the media, denounced pro-life Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant for her comments. Gallant compared the beheading of American Nick Berg by terrorists, which she said in a hushed tone, "the entire civilized world was horrified" at, to the killing of living children in the womb, which often takes place by dismemberment. She concluded saying "What's happening over there (Iraq) is absolutely no different. 35 years, 2 million missing children; that's an entire generation."

Martin called Gallant's remarks "abhorrent" and slammed Conservative Leader Harper for refusing to denounce Gallant. "I've got to say that if anybody in my party made an extreme statement such as that, I would have spoken out immediately against that statement," said Martin.

Harper responded to Martin's accusation saying, "Cheryl Gallant is a very strong pro-life MP, and this is the rhetoric that the pro-life movement often uses. It's their business. I don't think it's particularly effective in changing public opinion. Abortion is going to go on one way or the other, and I think it's part of life, rightly or wrongly. I wouldn't say I like abortion, but I think abortion is a reality that is with us."

Ratcheting-up the pro-abortion rhetoric further, the Liberal Party issued a press release warning that "an Alliance Conservative government would limit a woman's right to choose".

The offensive on abortion directed by Liberal campaign strategists is confounding even Liberal Party members and supporters, especially considering there are several Liberal MPs who are outspokenly pro-life and many others who lean in that direction. However, when presented with these facts Monday, Martin seemed to suggest he would not tolerate any Liberal divergence from a pro-abortion extreme.

"Never, never will I allow the rights of women to be removed by going back to the past," Martin said in French. "I believe that the situation in Canada is a free choice for women. They have to decide for themselves." Martin indicated the Charter of Rights trumps Parliament and thus he would not allow a free vote on the issue. "Never, never will I allow the rights of women to be trampled on by legislation in that area."

With polling data having consistently shown that a majority of Canadians do not agree with unrestricted abortion on demand, the extreme pro-abortion strategy is sure to backfire says Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition. Commenting on the Liberal strategists behind the extremism, Hughes told LifeSiteNews.com, "What have these party strategists been smoking? Maybe they've been sampling too much of the weed they want to legalize."

See the Liberal release and the CTV coverage:
http://liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?site=news&news=629
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/mini/CTVNews/1086628353364_82037553?s_name...
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1086709841056_82119041?hub=C...

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