Posted: Friday, 23 October 2009 11:17AM
Abortion Still Matters In Scranton
Steve Corbett Reporting
Friday, October 23, 2009
We’ve got a lively day planned in Scranton tomorrow; the kind of gathering that not so long ago would have drawn elected officials and political candidates falling all over themselves to impress event planners.
But don’t look for the biggest names in Scranton politics at tomorrow’s all-day conference.
Although Pennsylvania’s biannual anti-abortion conference is expected to draw hundreds of committed activists from across the state, you will not see most of our most powerful and egotistical political names smiling at the Hilton.
No names of public officials appeared in this morning’s newspaper story about preparations for the get-together even though the all-day huddle features some of America’s most powerful names in the national anti-abortion field.
Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline will take the podium as a guest of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and the Scranton chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life.
Kline is best known for prosecuting Dr. George Tiller, one of Kansas’ few providers of late term abortions, during Kline’s tenure as the rogue AG between 2003 and 2007. A gunman shot and killed Tiller in May, making the physician into a martyr for abortion rights advocates and an example for others.
Tiller’s killer has not been called a hero by the local anti-abortion crowd, at least not publicly, but Kline has been elevated to champion status in the national debate against abortion.
Assassinations aside, the Scranton conference will convene to rally support and solidarity for a range of hot-button political issues that most of our elected officials would rather avoid. The event will feature programs detailing positions and information about euthanasia, stem-cell research and abstinence.
Even though I have taken a public abortion rights position for decades and wrote columns advocating a woman’s right to choose when not one columnist or editorial writer in Northeastern Pennsylvania would touch the topic, I would likely receive a respectful welcome at the conference.
That’s because I’m consistent and respect the severe personal differences that exist among people on these matters concerning the questions of life.
Helen Gohsler, president of the Scranton chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life who will receive the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Lifetime Achievement Award, has called “Corbett” recently to call out Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty for flip-flopping on his position on abortion. Gohsler accuses Doherty of purposely deceiving voters for his own greedy political expediency.
Doherty is now traveling the state – while running for re-election in the Nov 3 election – raising money for a Democratic gubernatorial run.
Because the mayor needs the Commonwealth abortion rights voting block to win the nomination, Doherty recently wrote an editorial that was published across the state extolling his support for a woman’s right to choose.
Gohsler called “Corbett” to say Doherty once made it clear on a campaign questionnaire that he adamantly opposed abortion. When he got elected, he issued a staunch proclamation that supported ending abortion. To Gohsler and many other anti-abortion voters, Doherty represents the worst form of political prostitution.
So don’t expect the mayor to lead tomorrow’s opening breakfast in a rousing rendition of prayer. The only acceptable benediction from Doherty would be, “Hail Mary, full of grace, look at me, I got egg on my face.”
Also don’t expect to break bagels with Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien, a fledging congressional candidate who was one of the first local Democrats to join the cult of Obama, who some anti-abortion activists literally view as the anti-Christ.
But, unless he repents onstage, the most obvious no-show at tomorrow’s conference will likely be U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., who is viewed by many rabid anti-abortion crusaders as perhaps the most treacherous and traitorous public official in the nation.
Casey was supposed to be one of them. Then he, too, jumped on the Obama bandwagon, joining the then-presidential candidate on a bowling, beer-drinking barn-storming tour of the state that helped land Obama in the White House.
Casey’s war over abortion with the former bishop of the Scranton Diocese made international headlines. Some conspiracy theorists even believe Casey and his powerful friends leaned on the Vatican to help usher the bishop out of office.
Whatever the case, Casey says he still opposes abortion.
Abortion rights remain a serious issue in the national public policy debate. In Scranton, arguments about abortion remain part of the wild partisan scene that can make and break a one-time favorite son.
The abortion debate in hard coal country is far from over. In some ways, it might be just beginning.
In hard coal country, life can get messy.
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