Jim Moran again claims to be pro-choice, yet he twice voted to ban partial-birth abortions in bills that President Clinton vetoed

"'It is wrong for the U.S. Congress and the White House — two groups dominated by older white men — to usurp the right of women to control their own bodies and their own lives regardless of their individual circumstances,' said Rep. James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat. 'We should be empowering women to make healthy decisions through education and not judicial or legislative fiat,' Mr. Moran said."

However, Moran sang a different tune eight years ago when he voted in the 104th Congress to ban partial-birth abortions. Then, there was no talk from Moran about empowering women and their doctors. Fortunately, President Clinton vetoed the bill Moran supported. Here is what an anti-abortion rights newsletter said about Moran at that time:

"'In the original vote on H.R. 1833, twelve pro-choice congressmen voted to ban the partial-birth abortion procedure. They chose to vote their conscience instead of their pocketbook (abortion lobbyists were more than willing to try to sway their votes). Jim Moran, a representative from Virginia, said, 'I'm not going to vote in such a way that I have to put my conscience on the shelf.'"

Moran again voted to ban partial birth abortion during President Clinton's second term. Again President Clinton vetoed the bill that Moran supported.

It was only in June of 2003, after years of supporting a ban on partial birth abortions, that Moran finally, one time, voted against implementing such a ban.

Because my wife had a friend who for health reasons, on the advice of her doctor, had a partial birth abortion, I actually called Moran's office to complain about his support for banning the procedure. I remember being struck by the ignorance of the Moran staffer who fielded my call. The Moran staffer insisted that there was always an alternative to partial-birth abortions, but was vague on what the alleged alternative was.

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