If you aren't happy with Obama's decision to continue the Bush practice of operating a religious, or faith-based, office in the federal government, you won't like this any better. The Obama Administration has chosen Alexia Kelley, founder and former head of a pro life group -- Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (CACG) -- to be in charge of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services.
In the words of Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice: "[T]o have someone working in HHS who oversaw an organization that is anti-abortion... beggars belief."
Sarah Posner of The American Prospect notes that Obama has actually expanded Bush's faith-based project to include a policy side. And a top priority of said policy is to "reduce the need for abortion." Trouble is, Alexia Kelley seeks to "reduce access to abortion."
What next? A white supremacist at the Department of Justice?
And on a related note, in response to the anxiety expressed by pro choice groups about Sonia Sotomayor's unknown position on abortion rights, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs insists that while Obama did not ask Sotomayor about her position on Roe v. Wade, Obama "feels" that she must be pro choice.
Gee, I "feel" so much better:
"He did not specifically ask, as we've stated for the past several days," Gibbs said. "But as I just said, I think he feels -- I know he feels -- comfortable, generally, with her interpretation of the Constitution being similar to that of his."
In other words, we should trust Obama!
"Each abortion constitutes a direct attack on human life, and so we have a special moral obligation to end or reduce the practice of abortion to the greatest extent possible."
-- Alexia Kelley
"Historically I have been a strong believer in a women's right to choose with her doctor, her pastor and her family."
Hat tip to Alegre
TGW: NARAL Uneasy About Sotomayor
TGW: Is Sotomayor Even Pro Choice? Pro Gay Rights? Does Obama Even Know?
Feminist Politics Sotomayor Gender News Abortion Rights Reproductive Freedom Patriarchy Obama Church and State
