Open Letter to the AP Concerning Alarming Abortion Article

Liz -- I just had a couple points to make on your story about abortion that was just released. (Liz Sidoti, "Obama calls out McCain on abortion," Associated Press, 9/18/08)

1. You mention Sarah Palin four times in the article. Please point out to me where you discussed Joe Biden's position on the issue, especially given the fact that he has been criticized by over a dozen Catholic bishops for his support of abortion.

2. You make a point in contrasting where John McCain and Sarah Palin stand on the issue of abortion and stem-cells. Are you aware that Joe Biden supported the partial-birth abortion ban and Obama didn't? Obama and his wife even co-signed a fundraising letter in opposition to the ban. Why wasn't this mentioned?

3. The title of your story is completely slanted. How did Obama "call out" McCain? He doesn't directly do it in either of his ads. That's not Obama doing it himself. McCain, on the other hand, has specficially called out Obama for his support of what amounts to infanticide and partial-birth abortion. Neither instance was mentioned in your article, nor was either issue talked about. If you did a story on when McCain did this, please let me know.

4. Where is the fact-check on the ad that says McCain will "make abortion illegal?" McCain supports overturning Roe which will, in effect, turn the issue over to the states and back into the hands of the people. Obama's ad is deceiving and desperate.

(EDITOR NOTE: John McCain supports a constitutional amendment banning abortion, but presidents do not have anything to do with constitutional amendments, just Congress and the states. The ad, if it was fair, could have said that John McCain supports making abortion illegal).

5. You label Sarah Palin's position on the issue as "ultraconservative." I would love to see an article in which you've (or the AP) has ever labeled someone, especially a presidential or vice-presidential candidate, "ultraliberal." (Coincidentally, Obama has been ranked by non-partisan organizations as the most liberal member of Congress, based on his voting record).

6. The following statements clearly contradict each other: "He is spreading his message through low-profile radio ads and campaign mailings, though, hoping to avoid being tagged as too liberal on a woman's right to choose to end a pregnancy." Then, you say: "Cultural issues have largely taken a back seat this presidential campaign..." And then you say: "Unlike Democratic presidential nominees Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, Obama has not shied away from using abortion to reach out to independents and moderate Republicans. In fact, Obama has shied away. He won't talk about the issue directly. At the Saddleback forum, he wouldn't even say when the unborn get human rights. His ads don't feature his voice. He chooses to use scare tactics instead. In your article you say that Obama is quietly talking abortion, and then you say he hasn't shied away. Which one is it?

7. You almost admit that you're not an objective reporter in your article. All one has to do is look at this sentance: As with abortion, the candidates are likely to use radio and campaign mail on other social topics, such as gun control and gay rights. How about using the phrase "gun rights" instead of "gun control?" Guns are actually protected by the Constitution and was the opinion of the Supreme Court earlier this year. Both "gun control" and "gay rights" are favorite phrases of "ultraliberals." How about you at least balance it out by putting "gun rights?"

I would appreciate a reply to this e-mail.

Thank you,

Billy Valentine