MEDIA ALERT: Charmaine Quoted in CBS, CNN, Politico, LifeNews, ChristianityToday: Steele on Abortion

Charmaine has been quoted in a number of media outlets on GOP Chairman Steele’s remarks in GQ on abortion as an individual’s choice.

From CBSGOP Chair Steele Again Under Fire

Posted by Brian Montopoli | Comments 61

Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele is once again in the news after suggesting in an interview with GQ that he believes abortion should be “an individual choice.”

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Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life Action, meanwhile, characterized the remarks as “language straight out of Planned Parenthood’s messaging playbook.”

CNN Steele faces more fallout over abortion comments, From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

(CNN) — A chorus of leading conservatives continued to criticize GOP chairman Michael Steele Thursday over the Republican leader’s comments on abortion in an interview with GQ magazine….Other high-profile conservatives who have expressed criticism over the comments include … Americans United for Life and Action CEO Charmaine Yoest.

Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele Under Fire for Abortion Comments, by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor

…[P]rominent pro-life advocates have responded to Steele’s remarks.

Charmaine Yoest, the president of Americans United for Life, said she was disappointed that Steele had appeared to water down his pro-life views.

“I think it is very troubling for a public figure, of either party, particularly one who presents himself as pro-life, to describe the abortion issue as being a matter of ‘individual choice,'” Yoest said, adding that Planned Parenthood normally uses that sort of language.

“There are millions of pro-life Americans, Republican and Democrat, who are looking for leadership on the life issue and they will find Mr. Steele’s comments disturbing and demoralizing,” she continued.

Michael Steele Takes Heat after Abortion Remarks, Sarah Pulliam,

RNC Chairman Michael Steele is creating a big fuss after his interview with GQ where he said women have the right to choose abortion.

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?

Yeah. Absolutely.

Charmaine Yoest, the president and CEO of Americans United for Life Action responded:

“I think it is very troubling for a public figure, of either party, particularly one who presents himself as pro-life, to describe the abortion issue as being a matter of ‘individual choice,'” That is language straight out of Planned Parenthood’s messaging playbook,” Yoest said she hadn’t heard from the RNC. “There are millions of pro-life Americans, Republican and Democrat, who are looking for leadership on the life issue and they will find Mr. Steele’s comments disturbing and demoralizing.”

In Politico, Steele, under fire, walks back ‘choice’ remark,

RNC Chairman Michael Steele said today that despite telling an interviewer he supports “individual choice” and state-level decisions on abortion, he in fact opposes abortion and supports a Constitutional ban….

Steele has also been reaching out to anti-abortion leaders to damp down the controversy, a source said.

But Steele drew fire from activists Thursday morning for his remarks.

“I think it is very troubling for a public figure, of either party, particularly one who presents himself as pro-life, to describe the abortion issue as being a matter of ‘individual choice,'” That is language straight out of Planned Parenthood’s messaging playbook,” said Charmaine Yoest, the president and CEO of Americans United for Life Action, who said she hadn’t heard from the RNC. “There are millions of pro-life Americans, Republican and Democrat, who are looking for leadership on the life issue and they will find Mr. Steele’s comments disturbing and demoralizing.”

Another anti-abortion activist and sharp critic of President Barack Obama on the subject, Jill Stanek, was even blunter.

“Michael Steele has just unmistakably proclaimed himself to be pro-choice,” she said in an email. “You thought he was ’embattled’ last week over his Limbaugh comment? Ha. He has now stepped both feet into it.”