NARAL's Advertising Antics

NARAL Pro Choice America, the leading abortion rights lobby in Washington, has been under fire recently for running a particularly controversial commercial that referenced John Roberts', participation in a case involving attacks against abortion clinics, as the soliciter general for the first Bush administration.

The ad condemns Roberts for his alleged "defense" of anti-choice fringe groups, who were responsible for abortion clinic bombings during the 1990s. I say alleged because defense attorney was not the role Robert's played in Bray vs. Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic, moreover, he was not defending the actions of Bray, who was rightly convicted of murder. The most important fact is, of course, that Roberts was arguing this case seven years before the Bray bombing took place.

Robert's case that he presented to the court was one of constitutional clarity. While abortion rights groups were suing by the argument that they were being denied the "equal protection" clause of the 14th amendment, Roberts argued that the actions of anti-abortion terrorists was not one of discrimination, but rather ideological differences. Bray objected to abortion, not to women.

E Pluribus Unum, a liberal blogger, revised the advertisement to make it more "fact friendly". Go here to see it.