New Antiabortion Group In Missouri Exposes Split Among Antiabortion Advocates In State

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 15 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The establishment of the new antiabortion group Missourians United for Life "underlies a divide" in Missouri's self-described "pro-life" community, the AP/Joplin Globe reports. According to the AP/Globe, some abortion-rights opponents in the Missouri Legislature have become increasingly frustrated with how Missouri Right to Life -- which has long been a leader in the state government's "powerful and effective antiabortion majority" -- rates policymakers and makes endorsements. MRL's influence at the state Capitol has "waned," and MUL has been formed essentially as a "rival" group, the AP/Globe reports.

Members of MUL on Wednesday met to outline its vision and plan to make endorsements and financial contributions in the 2008 elections. Ed Martin, a former chief of staff for Gov. Matt Blunt (R) who organized MUL, said, "We're going to fight for real pro-life candidates." Patty Skain, executive director of MRL, said the new group could provide a disservice to antiabortion voters by making its own endorsements. "It's going to be very complicated and very confusing to the public; it already has been," Skain said.

The AP/Globe reports that the division within the state's antiabortion community is rooted in human embryonic stem cell research issues. MRL and most other antiabortion groups opposed a state constitutional amendment narrowly approved by voters in 2006 that created a right to conduct embryonic stem cell research. Some Republicans, including Blunt, supported the ballot measure. Consequently, some lawmakers who oppose abortion rights have received "less-than-desirable ratings" from MRL, according to the AP/Globe. State Rep. Bob Onder (R), who received a "mixed" review from MRL and lost the congressional primary election to a candidate who received a "pro-life" endorsement from the group, said, "Another group to tabulate and ascertain who is pro-life is good, especially at this point in our political history."

MRL President Pam Fichter in a statement defended the group's endorsement process and noted the divisions within the Republican Party over stem cell research. "Unfortunately, many in the Legislature voted to open the doors to taxpayer funding of human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. The voting records of these legislators did not allow MRL to consider them for endorsement. It's not surprising that they're seeking another avenue to be endorsed," Fichter said (Lieb, AP/Joplin Globe, 9/10).

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