Obama campaign attacks political ad featuring abortion survivor Gianna Jessen

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Gianna Jessen / Sen. Barack Obama

Washington D.C., Sep 20, 2008 / 06:55 pm (CNA).- The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has responded to an ad which features abortion survivor Gianna Jessen asking Obama to support protecting those infants who survive abortions. In its own ad, the Obama campaign calls the Jessen ad “a despicable lie” and claims it takes out of context Obama’s repeated votes against the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

The new advertisement also implies that the original advertisement, which was produced by the 527 organization BornAliveTruth.org, is connected to the McCain campaign.

In the Obama advertisement, the narrator says:

“John McCain’s Attacks: ‘the sleaziest ads ever,’ ‘truly vile’

“Now, votes taken out of context accusing Obama of letting infants die?

“It’s a despicable lie.

“Even the bill’s Republican sponsor said it’s untrue.

“Obama’s always supported medical care to protect infants.

“McCain? He’s running on a platform to ban abortion, even in cases of rape and incest.

“Sleazy ads.

“Anti-choice.

“That’s John McCain.”

The advertisement begins with a brief appearance of Obama, who says “I’m Barack Obama and I approve this message.”

The BornAliveTruth.org advertisement features Gianna Jessen, was the victim of an attempted saline solution abortion which was performed on her then-17-year-old mother in the third trimester of Jessen’s gestation. The saline solution burned Jessen’s body for eighteen hours until she was delivered at a Los Angeles County abortion clinic at a weight of 2 lbs.

Jessen suffers cerebral palsy as a result of the abortion attempt.

In the original advertisement, she cited Barack Obama’s opposition to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act in the Illinois state senate.

She charged: “if Barack Obama had his way, I wouldn’t be here. Four times, Barack Obama voted to oppose a law to protect babies left to die after a failed abortion. Senator Obama, please support born alive infant protections. I’m living proof these babies have a right to live.”

In a response to the new Obama campaign ad, Jessen wrote on BornAliveTruth.org:
“Mr. Obama is clearly blinded by political ambition given his attack on me this week. All I asked of him was to do the right thing: support medical care and protection for babies who survive abortion – as I did 31 years ago.

“He voted against such protection and care four times even though the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 in favor of a bill identical to the one Obama opposed. In the words of his own false and misleading ad, his position is downright vile.

“Mr. Obama said at the recent Saddleback Forum that the question of when babies should get human rights was above his pay grade. Such vacillation and cowardice in public policy almost left me to die and no one should have to go through what I went through.”

Jill Stanek, a nurse who pushed for BAIPA after discovering infants who survived abortions at an Illinois hospital were being left to die in a soiled utility room, also replied to the Obama campaign’s attack ad.

“It is despicable, repulsive and beneath contempt that Barack Obama would attack Gianna Jessen,” Stanek said in a statement on BornAliveTruth.org. “She is a courageous abortion survivor and living miracle who would not be with us today if Obama's policies had been in place when she was born.”

She charged that Obama “continues to mislead the American people on this issue” and said he voted four times in the Illinois state senate against “medical care and protection for babies who survive abortions.”

“Mr. Obama needs to come forward and tell the American people that he understands people like Gianna Jessen, and that he will support and enforce Born Alive Infant protections -- that these are living, breathing human beings who have come into our world and deserve protection in the law and should receive medical care at health care facilities,” Stanek continued.

“These babies have the same rights as the rest of us.”

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Stephany
Texas 09/22/2008 07:50 PM EST

Coming soon to a town near you: Obama and his entourage of "faith" folks to turn up the decpption and confuse as many of the faithful that he can.
Now he's going after the Christian vote. He lies about the position he took, called those who exposed him "liars", has villified an abortion survivor and so called prominent Catholics such as
Kmiec, Roemer, etc STILL go out and promote this one who seems to believe he's some sort of long awaited one.
I think the "father of lies" is playing for the big prize and is using every trick in the book to win.

Jesus, save us! Holy Mother, help up! Holy Spirit, strengthen us!

Published by: Patrick
Columbus/GA/USA 09/22/2008 07:21 PM EST

Maybe my daughter who was conceived as the result of a date rape involving my wife when she was 15 years old would object to the rape and incest exception of not only Obama but even some 'pro-life' Christians.

Thank God my wife chose(it was never am option anyway) to have my wonderful daughter although she was thrown out of her banished from her home and sent away because of the embarrassment to her family. She was brave enough to resist the advice to have an abortion from her family including her Aunt who was a Dominican Nun at that time.

There are so many faithful people who are affected by the scourge of abortion.

Please remember these young heroines in your prayers.

Published by: Brian
Colorado 09/22/2008 06:25 PM EST

I pray for every Catholic to see the light. Do I support everything the McCain ticket stands for, not necessarily. However, we should vote to protect the defenseless 1st. I pray for the Holy Spirit to come down upon all and as to not be disillusioned by so many politicians have and "look the other way" as to the Church's teachings. I think that we can really make progress on this issue in this election. I also pray that these Politicians will come forward and apologize for trying to mislead Catholics for political gain. Truly sad.

Published by: Joan L. Roccasalvo
Bronx, NY 09/22/2008 12:31 PM EST

Sen Obama must be asked in one of the presidential debates for a direct and concise answer to his opposition to BAIPA in Chicago and to whether he would advocate restricting abortion at any time during a woman's pregnancy. Sen McCain ought to be asked the same question.

Published by: vin
ilion/nys/usa 09/21/2008 07:14 PM EST

Obama thinks that apoligizing for anything is a sign of weakness. It's not. If he conducts our government that way, we will be in real trouble. It is the wise and couragious man who can look back, see a mistake and correct it. Flexibility is required by anyone in power. Either he still believes in not providing health care for these unfortunate people, or he does not have the wisdom required to lead.

Published by: Stephany
Texas 09/21/2008 02:23 PM EST

Don't expect Sen Obama to come forth with the truth. He's running for political POWER and he's not likely to let something like truth get in his way.

What I cannot understand is how people are willing to sacrifice all their dignity and self respect by defending someone who actually would allow infantacide in order to preserve Roe v Wade and speak as a "catholics" while doing so.
It is jawdropping!

We all know who they are.

We must pray the Holy Spirit to give us the courage to stand against this deception and use the sword of truth!

We are the church Militant, after all.

Published by: Jeff Johnson
Collegeville, Mn 09/21/2008 07:28 AM EST

Obama is a coward and a liar. Three times he voted to kill legislation that would defend babies born alive, just has he will continue to vote for the death of innocents if elected president.

We all need to pray this does not happen.

Published by: Bill Donahue
Danville, IL. USA 09/20/2008 10:59 PM EST

This is why voting for life matters. Senator Obama is in too deep with funding by pro-abortionists. This election could be the last chance for our Country to stop the trend toward death. Everyone should register and vote and get their friends and family to register and vote. In Illinois you can vote early even. There is no excuse for failing to vote in this election. So many people doubt that people care about life anymore. I hope people who care about life come out of the woodwork and vote--let's prove them wrong.

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