Family Research Council Criticizes Obama Pick For HHS Secretary On Basis Of Abortion Position

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 24 Nov 2008 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The conservative group Family Research Council said President-elect Barack Obama's selection of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as HHS secretary demonstrates that the next president will not govern from the "middle" on issues related to abortion, CNSNews.com reports (Jones, CNSNews.com, 11/20). Although the appointment has not been announced officially, Democratic officials on Wednesday said Daschle had accepted the post and would be given the job barring unforeseen problems (Freking, AP/Google.com, 11/19).

According to FRC, Daschle has an "extreme" political ideology and was "a notorious opponent of every pro-life measure" during his tenure as Senate majority leader. FRC also said Daschle lacks public health experience, adding that the new administration's appointments "must seem incredibly ironic" for Americans "who thought this election was about 'change'" (CNSNews.com, 11/20). Daschle, who recently wrote a book on his proposals for improving the U.S. health care system, is expected to work closely with Obama on plans to expand health insurance coverage, according to the Washington Post (Connolly, Washington Post, 11/20).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2008 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations