"SCREW ABSTINENCE." What might seem to be a sophomoric quip was actually the theme of a party hosted this summer by one of the nation's leading abortion-rights groups, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League -- an ironic statement from an organization whose self-purported mission is to "guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices"(emphasis mine). These aren't the only headlines NARAL has been making in recent weeks; the organization came out in full force against Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts, releasing an ad falsely linking him to a violent extremist anti-abortion group, which it ultimately had to take off the air. It seems as though NARAL needs to rethink its tactics for promoting a so-called message of "choice."
On July 14, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington held its "Screw Abstinence Party" at a bar in Seattle. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington's Web site had an online invitation promoting the event, which read in part, "Tired of Bush & Co. spending your tax dollars on abstinence-only-until-marriage initiatives that promote dangerous misinformation? Let them know how you keep it real when it comes to your sexual health and decision making." NARAL Pro-Choice Washington released a statement in response to controversy surrounding the event, contending that the group supports "responsible, comprehensive sex education that includes information about abstinence" and has been in favor of state bills that call for comprehensive sex education. Somehow, the loud and clear message of "screw abstinence" fits in with all of this.
It wasn't only the title of this event that raised some eyebrows. The party featured a comedy act by "Pork Filled Players," which performed a sex ed class for adults, and lessons and tips from "Toys in Babeland," described as "sex-positive purveyors of adult toys."
What's more, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington declared the event a "fun party" and a "wonderful success," which, according to its Web site, drew over 200 people. If this is NARAL's idea of a comprehensive sex education (and if it isn't, they have a funny way of showing it), I would venture to guess that it might not get the cooperation from mainstream America it was hoping for.
NARAL's severely misguided approach doesn't stop there; NARAL Pro-Choice America launched a campaign against Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts, airing an ad on CNN in Maine and Rhode Island beginning on Aug. 8. The ad included the following voice over: "Seven years ago, a bomb destroyed a women's health clinic... Supreme Court nominee John Roberts filed court briefs supporting violent fringe groups and a convicted clinic bomber... America can't afford a Justice whose ideology leads him to excuse violence against other Americans."
The Annenberg Public Policy Center's FactCheck.org, a non-partisan group, concluded that the ad was "false" and its statements and images were "misleading." Roberts didn't file briefs supporting the bombing of abortion clinics; in fact, he has labeled abortion clinic bombers "criminals." According to FactCheck.org, the briefs Roberts did file dealt with an entirely different issue -- the blockading of abortion clinics, which he didn't support. He merely argued that the blockade didn't constitute a violation of an 1871 federal statute, but instead a state law, which the Supreme Court affirmed in a 6-3 decision.
This type of mud-slinging and invective doesn't serve NARAL well. NARAL should find some real evidence about Roberts' record, instead of fabricating lies. Because the ad didn't contain one shred of truth, this leaves one to conclude that there isn't anything substantive against Roberts (regardless of whether or not there really is) or otherwise it would have come out. Also, this "boy who cried wolf" syndrome will come back to harm NARAL's credibiliy. The next time it raises an attack against Roberts or another political nominee or government official, it won't be taken as seriously.
Several prominent pro-choice figures denounced the ad, including Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice and pro-choice Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn. NARAL President Nancy Keenan pulled the ad on Aug. 11, saying in the typical Clintonian fashion, "We regret that many people have misconstrued our recent advertisement about Mr. Roberts' record." Keenan didn't back down, though, calling NARAL's ad "completely accurate and supported by objective documents" and demanding that FactCheck.org retract its analysis. NARAL Communications Director David E. Seldin agreed, and, according to the Washington Post, resigned on Aug. 12 because he thought NARAL shouldn't have removed the ad. However, FactCheck.org said it best: "We are not retracting our article. Instead, it is NARAL that is withdrawing its ad."
NARAL should retreat back to its war room and devise a new plan for championing its brand of sex ed and leveling effective attacks against its opponents; but hey, I'm not complaining.
Whitney Blake is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at wblake@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
PATEL: Personal development courses support students beyond the gradebook
By Heer Patel | 4 days agoThe University must rethink its approach to education beyond traditional major-specific requirements and mandate personal development courses.
EDITORIAL: Commercialization threatens U.Va.’s educational mission
By Editorial Board | 5 days agoAfter all, measuring the University’s worth in terms of accrued capital, operational efficiency and numerical rankings molds this space into just another cookie-cutter institution.
YOUNIS: Why every U.Va. student should say yes to English
By Ayat Younis | January 9, 2025Every student at the University, regardless of their primary field of study, can professionally and academically benefit from engaging with the English department.
