Newman, Valencia campaigns demean pro life issue

Marie Newman and Anna Valencia have tough Democratic Primary races in Illinois' 6th Congressional District and Illinois Secretary of State office, respectively. Both are running against well funded male opponents who are Democratic establishment figures: incumbent Sean Casten in the 6th and Alexi Giannoulias for Secretary of State.

Sadly, to catch up, both Newman and Valencia are pandering for the women’s vote by falsely claiming their male rivals are not sufficiently pro choice. Newman implies Casten is pro life because he voted for pro lifer George H.W. Bush for president 30 years ago. Valencia is even vaguer, charging that Giannoulias “once voted for a pro life candidate.”

The charges are specious and demean the critically important issue of women’s choice being torn asunder by the impending overturn of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. That decision will see abortion ended for 34 million women in nearly half the states.

It’s fine for more progressive candidates like Newman and Valencia to distinguish themselves from their more moderate establishment opponents. But implying their strong pro choice opponents oppose choice is dishonest; indeed harmful to constructive campaign debate.