JOHN KERRY CHOOSES FELLOW PRO-ABORTIONIST AS RUNNING MATE.

On July 6, pro-abortion Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry selected pro-abortion North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate. In choosing Edwards, Kerry has selected someone whose position is as extreme as his own, even to the point of opposing the ban on partial-birth abortions.

The selection was greeted with undisguised glee by the Abortion Establishment. Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF), the political arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, was jumping for joy.

After describing Edwards as "staunchly pro-choice," PPAF president Gloria Feldt (who is also president of PPFA) stated, "With the selection of John Edwards as his running mate, Sen. Kerry has again shown his complete commitment to reproductive rights and access to reproductive health care."

And "complete" is no exaggeration! In 1999 Edwards, like Kerry, voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. When the bill again came up for a vote in 2003, Edwards did not vote. However, his campaign spokesman said Edwards would have voted against the bill as he had four years earlier. During consideration of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, Edwards did vote for the Harkin Amendment which expressed support for Roe v. Wade.

When President Bush signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, Edwards not only misrepresented the bill, he accused the President of putting "political ideology" first.

Edwards also opposed another major piece of legislation, "Laci and Conner's Law," which recognizes unborn children as murder victims when they are killed by criminals in violent federal crimes. This bill, also known as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, was enacted this year despite Edwards' votes against it. Edwards has also voted in favor of tax subsidies for abortion on demand for federal employees and voted to allow abortions to be performed on military bases.

Douglas Johnson, NRLC legislative director, observed, "During his nearly six years in the U.S. Senate, John Edwards - - like John Kerry - - has consistently voted according to the dictates of hard-line pro-abortion advocacy groups, and contrary to the policies favored by most Americans."