Planned Parenthood Endorses Obama, Conservative Group Labels Him "The Abortion President"

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - After being pummeled by critics for allegedly changing his stance on Iraq, the surveillance bill and handguns, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is under fire again for saying a mother's "mental distress" is not enough reason for late-term abortions.

The Christian Defense Coalition launched a campaign on Monday labeling the freshman senator as "the Abortion President." CBN quoted Rev. Patrick Mahoney, the group's director, as saying, "Senator Obama talks about bringing hope, faith and change to American politics. We now see this is all just political 'doublespeak.'"

"Senator Obama's views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them," Mahoney added. "He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act."

The campaign was launched just as Planned Parenthood, a coalition of groups advocating women's rights, issued its endorsement of Obama.

"He is a passionate advocate for women's rights, and has a long and consistent record of standing up for women's health care. As president, he will improve access to quality health care for women," Planned Parenthood told the Baltimore Sun.

But in an ironic twist, pundits are accusing Obama of muddling his stance on third-trimester and partial-birth abortions with remarks contradicting provisions of the Freedom of Choice Act as well as Roe vs. Wade. ABC Correspondent Jan Crawford went so far as to suggest that the presumptive Democratic nominee is beginning to sound like Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, the only two justices that do not support using "mental health" as a basis for late-term abortions.

Obama told Relevant Magazine last week, "I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don't think that "mental distress" qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy."

Obama sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act, which allows late-term abortions based on a mother's "mental health," and has said he will make "preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President."

The Illinois senator has issued two statements so far to clarify his stance on abortion. Spokesman Hari Sevugan responded to the Christian Defense Coalition on Monday by decrying the "false and negative attacks" on the issue and saying, "Barack Obama understands that the best way to reduce the need for abortions is to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies."

Obama also told ABC last week, "I have consistently been saying that you have to have a health exception on many significant restrictions or bans on abortions, including late-term abortions... It can be defined through physical health. It can be defined by serious clinical mental health diseases. It is not just a matter of feeling blue. I don't think that's how pro-choice folks have interpreted it. I don't think that's how the courts have interpreted it and I think that's important to emphasize and understand.