Hamilton Accepts Pro-life Honor, Rips Criticism By Oklahoma Pro-Abortion Democrats
State Rep. Rebecca Hamilton's role in enacting pro-life laws in Oklahoma recently received national attention when she was a featured speaker at the National Democrats for Life of America annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Hamilton urged pro-life Democrats to make their voices heard in both their party and the broader political process, regardless of any attacks that may come from the political left or right; "Protection of the unborn is just as important as defending the poor and the elderly, but for some reason it is controversial for a Democrat to stand up for unborn babies," said Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City. "That has to stop. The right to life should not be the property of one political party, but a value shared by all Americans regardless of partisan affiliation."
Hamilton is state director of Oklahoma Democrats for Life of America and House author of two major pro-life laws approved in the past three years, including a ban on state funding for abortions and a law requiring informed consent and parental notification for abortion.
"We've been trying to book Representatives Hamilton for several years and were so happy she could speak at our conference," said Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America. "Rebecca has been a leader among Democratic women in promoting pro-life causes -protecting the life of the unborn, aiding battered women and rape victims, caring for the elderly, defunding the Darfur genocide, and other human rights issues."
"Every state needs a House member like Representative Hamilton,"said Carol N. Crossed, vice-president for State Chapter Development for National Democrats for Life. "She is a reminder of what the party stands for. Her concern for our Party is translated in the courage and passion she represents at the state level in passing legislation that helps pregnant women make a good choice."
However, because of her active role in pro-life issues, Hamilton has been the target of non-stop attacks by individuals who do not share her views on the sanctity of life. Because of their pro-life views, Hamilton and a Senate colleague were both targeted for public reprimand during this year's Oklahoma Democratic Party Convention. The resolution failed by only 50 votes out of nearly 400 cast. Hamilton noted she was targeted for reprimand in spite of a solid voting record in support of traditional Democratic Party issues. A Journal Record Legislative Report analysis of voting trends shows that Hamilton broke with Republican leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on hundreds of votes this year, more often than all but four of the 44 House Democrats. "I have a 100-percent voting record on legislation to help working people going back 30 years. I am a feminist who has worked tirelessly all my adult life to end the plague of violence against women and to obtain basic human rights for all people. I have passed or helped pass bills promoting quality medical care, nursing home reform and other core Democratic issues.
"I have one of the strongest Democratic voting records in the Oklahoma Legislature," Hamilton said. "There is only one reason for the two-year campaign of character assassination launched against me by members of my own party: I am pro life. I've said this over and over again, and I mean it. I will not kill anyone. I believe that the first human right is the right to life. Without that, no other human right matters. Of all the stands I've taken, that is easily the most controversial. It has provoked the nastiest, most prolonged smear campaign I've ever experienced in all my years in politics. I have been a Democrat all my life. I love my party. But I can only say plainly that if the Democratic Party does not want to be known as the party of abortion, it needs to stop attacking its own members for being pro-life."
Hamilton urged pro-life Democrats to make their voices heard in both their party and the broader political process, regardless of any attacks that may come from the political left or right; "Protection of the unborn is just as important as defending the poor and the elderly, but for some reason it is controversial for a Democrat to stand up for unborn babies," said Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City. "That has to stop. The right to life should not be the property of one political party, but a value shared by all Americans regardless of partisan affiliation."
Hamilton is state director of Oklahoma Democrats for Life of America and House author of two major pro-life laws approved in the past three years, including a ban on state funding for abortions and a law requiring informed consent and parental notification for abortion.
"We've been trying to book Representatives Hamilton for several years and were so happy she could speak at our conference," said Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America. "Rebecca has been a leader among Democratic women in promoting pro-life causes -protecting the life of the unborn, aiding battered women and rape victims, caring for the elderly, defunding the Darfur genocide, and other human rights issues."
"Every state needs a House member like Representative Hamilton,"said Carol N. Crossed, vice-president for State Chapter Development for National Democrats for Life. "She is a reminder of what the party stands for. Her concern for our Party is translated in the courage and passion she represents at the state level in passing legislation that helps pregnant women make a good choice."
However, because of her active role in pro-life issues, Hamilton has been the target of non-stop attacks by individuals who do not share her views on the sanctity of life. Because of their pro-life views, Hamilton and a Senate colleague were both targeted for public reprimand during this year's Oklahoma Democratic Party Convention. The resolution failed by only 50 votes out of nearly 400 cast. Hamilton noted she was targeted for reprimand in spite of a solid voting record in support of traditional Democratic Party issues. A Journal Record Legislative Report analysis of voting trends shows that Hamilton broke with Republican leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on hundreds of votes this year, more often than all but four of the 44 House Democrats. "I have a 100-percent voting record on legislation to help working people going back 30 years. I am a feminist who has worked tirelessly all my adult life to end the plague of violence against women and to obtain basic human rights for all people. I have passed or helped pass bills promoting quality medical care, nursing home reform and other core Democratic issues.
"I have one of the strongest Democratic voting records in the Oklahoma Legislature," Hamilton said. "There is only one reason for the two-year campaign of character assassination launched against me by members of my own party: I am pro life. I've said this over and over again, and I mean it. I will not kill anyone. I believe that the first human right is the right to life. Without that, no other human right matters. Of all the stands I've taken, that is easily the most controversial. It has provoked the nastiest, most prolonged smear campaign I've ever experienced in all my years in politics. I have been a Democrat all my life. I love my party. But I can only say plainly that if the Democratic Party does not want to be known as the party of abortion, it needs to stop attacking its own members for being pro-life."
Labels: Rebecca Hamilton
posted by Mike McCarville @ 2:07 PM
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