NARAL risks clout by choosing between pro-choice Obama and Clinton

WASHINGTON–NARAL’s decision to choose between two strong abortion rights advocates–Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary–risks their political clout and divides an activist base at a time the party is talking about unifying against anti-choice Sen. John McCain.

EMILYs List backed Clinton from the beginning and president Ellen R. Malcolm–a charter member of the abortion rights community-strongly objected to NARALs Obama endorsement.

I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton – who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade – to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process,” Malcolm said.

” It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them.