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Published: January 10, 2008
Just a political stunt?
California-based youth pro-life group promises to continue challenging Barack Obama on his abortion position
 The Riverside-based Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust joined members of the Christian Defense Coalition in protesting a rally for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at the Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire on Monday. Survivors is a pro-life group of young men and women who, says the group’s web site, “speak out on behalf of the 1/3 of our generation that was lost to abortion since 1973.”
Members of both pro-life groups interspersed themselves among about 850 Obama supporters at the rally. When the candidate began to speak, the protesters began waving signs and chanting, “abortion is an Obama-nation.” Other protesters, holding signs, stood outside the opera house and were visible through a large window.
In a clip of the protest on YouTube.com , while the protesters chanted, some cried, “shut up,” “get the hell out of here,” and “we love abortion.” The crowd cheered as police entered to lead out the protesters. As the 12 or so protesters were peacefully led out, the crowd booed.
Obama himself told his supporters, “No need to boo. We appreciate [their] point," according to the Jan. 9 Philadelphia Bulletin.
After the protesters were gone, Obama said, “Let me just say that, some people got organized to do that,” at which the crowd laughed and applauded. "And that's part of the American tradition that we're proud of. That's hard to do -- standing in the midst of people who don't agree with you." When Obama had finished, a female voice (presumably that of the one filming the event) shouted, “live, liberty for all!” and was apparently hustled out.
During the protest, Obama cried out to the protesters and those booing them, “this is an example of no one hearing each other.” The candidate offered to discuss his abortion position with the protesters.
The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition told the Bulletin, "We are thankful for the kind words Sen. Obama said about us last evening and his willingness to meet with us to discuss abortion. Our hope and prayer is that Mr. Obama's comments reflect a true desire to have an open and honest dialogue on abortion and were not merely said as a political stunt."
Danielle Versluys, director of special events for the Survivors, said they "accept Senator Obama's offer, and we sincerely hope that he will take the time to meet and discuss the urgent issue of abortion in America. Sen. Obama's current pro-abortion position is unacceptable to those of us who have lost one-third of our generation to abortion."
But, said Versluys, according to LifeNews.com, "Until Senator Obama adopts a pro-life position, the Survivors will continue to challenge him to stop the war on our generation."
Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:04 AM By BJ
Pro Life awareness is coming to America slowly but surely.
The horror of state sponsored, legalised infanticide cannot last much longer. Whoever is in a position of power/influence and is willing to discuss the issue, may also be at the vanguard of change. Whoever offers discussion should be gratefully and respectfully approached and spiritually challenged to defend the policy of 'the termination of human life' as a matter of 'choice'.
If the spirit of the Lord is genuinely with that highly placed person there is only one possible outcome ... a move away from the blase acceptance of infanticide in American society as 'a right to choose...... to commit murder'.
And if that policy causes the politician to lose his/her 'earthly' position of power than he/she has lost nothing ... but gained a throne in paradise. Go speak to Obama i say.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:25 AM By Jim Hanink
Well done, Survivors! Keep up the good work.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:43 AM By Sheila
Ithink the pro life zealots were the ones who were guilty of the publicity stunt. These zealots do nothing to further the aims of the rest of us pro life people and are an embarrassment. I think Obama handled himself well and was the clear winner here. Confrontation by the Survivors or any of these extermist fringe groups isn't going to accomplish much.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:01 AM By Margie
Sure wish I could have been there to give Obama the prolife message along with the good folks who belong to Survivors!
Let the dialog begin! Good for Obama. It has been a long time since the Culture of Death has agreed to discuss life with members of the Culture of Life. Lord, let their be fruit in abundance.
Here is a politician who actually says he will dialogue and discuss the life issue. We shall pray that he is serious.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:58 PM By John L. Sillasen
Sheila, you sound more like a lemming than a lamb.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:20 PM By Sheila
No John, you and your other cohorts who support such zealots are the lemmings-----mindlessly being swept up and moving in the same direction with these pro-life fanatics. Really I am more of a lamb. These fanatics will never change the abortionist Democrat party. They should expend their energy so that the people of the US have a pro life presidential candiadte for the November elections. Trying to change Obama and Clinton is a waste of time, so I think the only reason why the Survivors are doing this is just for publicity and 15 minutes of fame. BTW I am pro life and been to Washington several rimes in the past to protest abortion. but I stay away from these nut cases.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:38 PM By Danielle
The pro-life message promoted by Survivors should be the ultimate reality tv program where the life of all unborn baby children is protected from conception to a natuarl death. If that 15 minutes of fame saves even just one unborn baby child from the clutches of abortion, Survivors or any other pro-life group can never be called zealots who are fanatics for wanting to save the lives of unborn baby children.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:26 PM By John L. Sillasen
Sheila, now you sound right out of the Marxist-Leninist Manifesto. It's really shrill stuff ... you're blowing your cover. Your Washington experience is interesting ... now it's your move.
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Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:20 PM By BeauZeau
Sheila, you're the one who is out of step. We should applaud the Survivors for their courage and daring; they have a right to protest at a public meeting, just as the creeps in San Francisco have a right to stand on the sidewalk and jeer the walkers for life. Obama is to be commended for recognizing that right, and expressing a willingness to listen. It may not be your cup of tea, Sheila, so just do your thing and don't speak ill of other pro-lifers. Go Survivors!
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Posted Friday, January 11, 2008 9:38 AM By Margie
The difference between Sheila and myself is that I personally know some of the Survivors, have been at their events, respect them tremendously for their maturity, spirituality and commitment to action.
How easy it is to be on the sidelines taking potshots at the soldiers on the front lines! What the Survivors do is critical to the prolife cause. They have the energy and the youth and the enthusiasm to carry on as we get older and grayer. I applaud them for their excellent training, command of the facts, and willingness to take persecution.
Let us remember that the Pharisees of the day did not like Christ and his apostles. They did not like his tactics, they did not approve of the gospel he preached. Sorry you don't like the Survivors but God's will be done.
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Posted Friday, January 11, 2008 11:09 AM By Sheila
John-------------can't find you Marxist-Leninist Manifesto on the internet, so I can't figure how I am a Marxist-Leninist even if I am pro-life. You need to explain what you mean or is it a juat a term you smear those who disagree with you. .....Margie--------Jesus did not go around disrupting political assemblies by planting his apostles in the crowd. I really think Obama is beyond the pale of conversion to a pro-life stance. What we need to do is find a person who is totally pro-life as a presidential candidate. Confronting Democrats is a waste of time.
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Posted Friday, January 11, 2008 7:39 PM By John L. Sillasen
Sheila, even the former Soviet Union cycled between pro-life and abortion. They'd push it when they wanted to trim back the babies, and scorn it when they wanted more babies. The term Marxist-Leninist is not a smear, but a description of your rhetoric, which vascillates between idealistic pragmatism and rose colored glasses; and then you jump on those pro-lifers who keep the fire lit. Your position, whatever it is, does not make any sense. It's sort of everything except activism and solidarity with unborn babies. Marx and Lenin would have loved to have you in their propaganda or internal security ministries.
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Posted Saturday, January 12, 2008 7:58 PM By Margie
Sheila:
If you don't think Jesus had a mission which included afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted, then you missed the point. Jesus had a message that disturbed the comfortable elite politicians of his day. He did not seek an earthly kingdom but he did seek to open the eyes of the sprituallly blind and corrupt people of his time.
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Posted Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:22 PM By John L. Sillasen
Margie, you've said it perfectly.
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Posted Monday, January 14, 2008 2:29 PM By Tracy
For those of you interested in finding out about what pro-life democrats are up to, please visit the Democrats For Life of America website at www.democratsforlife.com. This organization has some practical proposals contained in their Pregnant Women's Support Act sponsored by Lincoln Davis and Bob Casey,Jr.. Check them out!
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Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2008 6:25 PM By John L. Sillasen
Tracy, I went to the site you posted, and it has almost unlimited whatever kinds of links. Why would you recommend such a headache?
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Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:40 PM By Mary Margaret
Barack Obama is not the only major Democratic contender Survivors should be holding protest rallies against. Hopefully Survivors also protests Hillary Clinton or any Republican major frontrunners that supports abortion. Survivors should be an equal opportunity protest group when it comes to ending abortions and protecting the right to life of all unborn baby children in America.
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