NYC Mayor Bloomberg Criticizes Abortion-Rights Supporters Who Support Abortion-Rights Opponents In Elections

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 02 May 2006 - 7:00 PST

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a NARAL Pro-Choice New York event on Thursday criticized abortion-rights supporters who support abortion-rights opponents in elections, saying that supporters must "exercise vigilance" so that lawmakers do not "try to nuance themselves away from that commitment in the interest of political expediency," the New York Sun reports. Bloomberg's comments "signaled a condemnation" of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other abortion-rights supporters who are supporting candidates who oppose abortion rights, according to the Sun. Some Democrats say that supporting Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey (D) is the only way to beat Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) because Pennsylvania voters are "split on the issue of abortion," the Sun reports. (Berman, New York Sun, 4/27). The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is headed by Schumer, recruited Casey -- who has said he opposes abortion rights with exceptions for cases involving rape or incest or to save the life of the woman and supports family planning programs -- to run against Santorum, who opposes abortion rights, in the November election (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/11). Bloomberg on Thursday said, "Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right, and we can never take it for granted," adding, "[O]n this issue, you're either with us or against us." Stuart Loeser, a spokesperson for the mayor, said Bloomberg's comments were not directed at "anyone in particular" (New York Sun, 4/28).

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