Do abortion rights matter in local races? Yes!

PEORIA -- Republican candidate for State's Attorney Frank Ierulli has decided to attack Democratic candidate Jerry Brady on his support for abortion rights.

Here's a story from the WEEK-TV website on the issue.

Brady's response is not a profile in courage.  According to the TV story, he denies telling me, in person, with a witness present, that he's pro-choice. 

Then he says the state's attorney doesn't have a role in abortion rights.

From my perspective, Brady's pro-choice stand is a reason to vote for him!  As a precinct committeeperson in Peoria and on this blog I have endorsed him.

He should man up and give out the quote he gave me:  "I may be a Catholic but I didn't check my brains at the door," he said, as he affirmed he is pro-choice.  

Thousands of women and men agree with him.

Many political candidates who are Catholics say they are personally against abortion but do not believe the government should be telling women what to do with their bodies. That makes them pro-choice.

I will never vote for any candidate at any level who is not pro-choice, because you never know what post they will be running for next -- perhaps the state legislature or congress.

Brady said this to WEEK-TV: "That issue has no presence in prosecution of crime, management of the Peoria County State's Attorney's office," said Brady, "and frankly, I don't think it should be given any merit whatsoever to be part of a Peoria County State's Attorney's race."

That's not true! It's a woman's right to have an abortion if she needs one. The state's attorney protects our rights.

I have seen prosecutors and judges use abortion rights against women defendants ('she had an abortion, she's a bad person', or words to that effect).  Prosecutors also have a duty to protect the abortion clinic and its staff, patients and pro-choice advocates in Peoria, from the crazy fanatics.

Will Ierulli do that?  When I asked him the same question, what is your stand on women's reproductive rights, he gulped and looked sheepish, then said he's 'pro-life.' I took him at his word but I wasn't sure he really meant it.

So take your pick:  a cowardly pro-choice candidate or a cowardly pro-life candidate. Both seem to have checked their brains at the door.

 -- Elaine Hopkins  

 

Comments

[Jerry Brady]

In response to my opponent, Frank Ierulli's, recent campaign mailing for Peoria County State's Attorney and this writer's blog surrounding my position on Roe vs. Wade and abortion, I provide the following:

As Peoria County State's Attorney, I am duty-bound to follow the law. The law on abortion is currently outlined in the legal decision of Roe vs. Wade. I took an oath to uphold the law and must follow that decision and law. This cannot be a personal choice. Elaine Hopkins says this makes me pro-choice.

In my personal life, I have a right to my own beliefs. I am pro-life.

Finally, I do believe the election of the state's attorney should not be about Roe vs. Wade but rather solving our crime problem.

[Elaine Hopkins]

I stand by my reporting on this.
I hope Brady never seeks a higher office.

I take pro-choice to mean the government should not be mandating what women do with their bodies.

Abortion rights are in jeopardy due to politicians that lack brains to think clearly and the courage to stand up to the fanatics whose beliefs are based on superstition or a desire to control women. Beware!

[Joe Degitz]

I agree that persons holding public office have the right to their own opinion and to make choices based on their religious convictions in their OWN life. What they don't have the right to do is legislate or make decisions based on religious convictions that force the rest of us to conform to their belief system. I stand by pro-choice candidates and support organizations like Planned Parenthood who work to prevent unwanted pregnancy by educating based on science not fairy tales. With more comprehensive sex education and subsequent decrease in unwanted pregnancy the need for abortion decreases. Thats a good thing.