Anti-Abortion Groups Gear Up to Fight Sotomayor

By Jacqueline L. Salmon

Groups opposed to legalized abortion had already been aiming at Judge Sonia Sotomayor as one of President Obama's likely Supreme Court nominees, and now that her nomination is official, they still don't like what they see.

Americans United for Life, one of the nation's oldest anti-abortion groups, has been conducting opposition research on her since her name surfaced.

This morning, AUL was one of the first such groups out of the blocks with reaction to news of her nomination. AUL president Charmaine Yoest blasted the choice, saying it nixed any possibility of finding "common ground" on the abortion issue, a goal of Obama and a number of progressive religious groups.

"For all the President's talk of finding 'common ground,' this appointment completely contradicts that hollow promise. She believes the role of the Court is to set policy which is exactly the philosophy that led to the Supreme Court turning into the 'National Abortion Control Board...'"

The group said its research shows that Sotomayor has never directly decided whether a law regulating abortion was constitutional, but she has decided a few cases that indirectly implicate abortion rights. It points out that Sotomayor upheld the Mexico City policy, which prohibited funding to international family planning groups that provide abortions. Obama reversed that ban shortly after taking office.

Keep in mind that groups firmly opposed to any compromise on the abortion (and that includes groups opposed to restrictions on abortion) have already expressed skepticism on the "common ground" approach to abortion. But we'll keep an eye out for how other religous groups, on all sides of the issue, respond to her nomination. Keep checking back here on GIG.

UPDATE: On his blog, Christian broadcaster David Brody has an analysis of Sotomayor's Mexico City opinion. He thinks there isn't enough there for anti-abortion groups to hang their hats on.
"Initially, it looks like the abortion issue may not derail Sotomayor. That's good news for President Obama. The last thing he needs is a fight over abortion. Pro-choice groups may feel a bit queasy on this because she actually hasn't ruled on the constitutionality of abortion but you would think they have to feel that her liberal leanings will point her in the 'right direction.' Taking the abortion issue off the table (for the most part) is an astute political move."

By Jacqueline L. Salmon  |  May 26, 2009; 10:38 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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