Abortion Rights:  NARAL NC Pro-choice PAC’s Legislative Endorsements for the Triangle area.

Wake County is home to Rep. Paul Stam (R), who is the Minority Leader of the North Carolina House.  He is also a “true believer” and an extremely outspoken zealot, who opposes abortion rights.

NARAL NC says, “We need pro-choice elected officials who understand what access and privacy mean when it comes to reproductive freedom for women”.

Having gotten his start over 25 years ago as a lobbyist for Right to Life groups in NC, Stam still spends an inordinate amount of his time dealing with any issue related to abortion-state or local.

The Raleigh News and Observer endorsed Stam for re-election today.  According to the N&O, “[Stam’s] often said that while being in the minority is difficult, he believes it is his job to help keep Democrats honest. Now the House GOP leader, the staunchly conservative Stam would be in line to be speaker should his party take control.

We do not often agree with Stam on issues, but the chamber needs some strong contrarian voices,” the endorsement concluded.

Debra McHenry (D) of Garner, Stam’s opponent  in the House race, was contacted for her take on this endorsement.  She replied via an email:

"I am not surprised by the News and Observer's endorsement.  This election season has been full of organizations which are afraid to take Paul Stam on due to all the [media] reports of the Republican's taking over the House and the possibility  that he will become Speaker of the House.  This is true even though his record of accomplishments is nil and his representation of his district even worse.  “

"Apparently I am a Lone Ranger in thinking that leadership is more than wagging your finger at the Democrats and doing nothing to better the lives of the citizens you represent.  It appears that I am the only one with the courage to stand up to Mr. Stam…My platform is clear, I stand for actually doing something for small business and moving our educational system forward. I have some knowledge and expertise in both."

McHenry is one of two women, who have been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, who are challenging Republican Incumbents (both men),

According to NARAL's web site:  "With the November general election fast approaching, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina is building a voter mobilization program big enough and strong enough to protect our pro-choice gains and elect even more pro-choice candidates."

As the political leader of the pro-choice movement in our state, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina will continue to make sure voters know the clear differences between the pro-choice candidates who support the values of freedom and privacy and the anti-choice candidates who want politicians to interfere in our most personal, private decisions.

STATE HOUSE

The pro-choice challengers listed below will make your voice heard on abortion rights issues.

• Robin Anderson HD 36
  
• Debra McHenry HD 37 (challenging Rep. Paul Stam of Apex)

STATE SENATE

The Senators below are pro-choice incumbents, who have championed choice in the NC General Assembly.

• Dan Blue (Wake) SD 14
  
• Josh Stein (Wake) SD 16
  
• Ellie Kinnaird (Orange/Person) SD 23
• All of these endorsed candidates are Democrats.

For further reading, see these articles:

State teen pregnancy rate at record low @WRAL online, October 19, 2010:

North Carolina's teen pregnancy rate fell to a record low last year, figures released Monday show.

Wake Commission mulls abortion [insurance] coverage for County employees, Independent Weekly, February 10, 2010:

“…the same Paul Stam. He was the plaintiff in a case against a Wake County program that subsidized indigent women choosing abortions. The state's highest court rejected his view that an unborn fetus was a "person" entitled to constitutional protections. But he won a judgment that the county had no legal authority to "’fund medically unnecessary abortions.’"

________________________________________________

Keep on top of Election 2010 Wake County news: become a subscriber.  Just hit the "Subscribe" button on this article, and you will receive Martha Brock's Examiner.com articles.  No obligation--you can cancel free at any time

________________________________________________