Opinion: Barack Obama celebrates birth of Roe vs. Wade abortion decision, just turned 37

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Today is the first anniversary of President Obama’s urgent executive promise to close the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility by today.

He didn’t get that done.

No new promised date either.

So instead today the Democratic chief executive issued a special statement celebrating the 37th birthday of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade abortion decision. He particularly hailed the hallmark decision’s granting of the ‘fundamental constitutional right to choose whether to have an abortion.’ (See full text below.)

Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued another decision concerning political contributions, which some people -- including a majority of Americans, according to a quick new Gallup Poll -- saw as a fundamental First Amendment constitutional issue of choosing to speak in the political process.

Obama had a different view of that one. So as an added Friday bonus, we’re including below his statement on that decision too.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Today we recognize the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which affirms every woman’s fundamental constitutional right to choose whether to have an abortion, as well as each American’s right to privacy from government intrusion. I have, and continue to, support these constitutional rights.

I also remain committed to working with people of good will to prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and families, and strengthen the adoption system.
Today and every day, we must strive to ensure that all women have limitless opportunities to fulfill their dreams. ###

With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.

This ruling gives the special interests and their lobbyists even more power in Washington--while undermining the influence of average Americans who make small contributions to support their preferred candidates.

That’s why I am instructing my Administration to get to work immediately with Congress on this issue. We are going to talk with bipartisan Congressional leaders to develop a forceful response to this decision. The public interest requires nothing less. ###

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