Editor, Times-Union: Marion Acton wrote a letter to the editor disparaging Democrats for Life, the group that has endorsed District 22 candidate David Kolbe. He intentionally misled readers by quoting statements from the DFLA website that were taken out of context. Careful examination of the website clearly shows the group’s passion to protect the unborn. The mission statement of DFLA states: “Democrats For Life of America advocates and supports programs and policies that respect and promote life from conception to natural death. This includes, but is not limited to, opposition to abortion, capital punishment and euthanasia.” DFLA agrees with former Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania, Robert Casey, Sr., who described the Democratic Party’s embrace of legalized abortion as “wrong in principle and out of the mainstream of our party’s historic commitment to protecting the powerless.” DFLA includes Campus Outreach which “seeks to mobilize the energy and the enthusiasm of today’s students and young people in support of DFLA’s efforts to promote the pro-life bloc of the Democratic Party.” A prominent link on DFLA’s website provides information about pro-life crisis pregnancy resources for pregnant women seeking help. Recent legal briefs filed by DFLA support the rights of sidewalk counselors in front of abortion clinics, the rights of employers not to pay for healthcare benefits for abortion, and the rights of pregnant women in the workplace. DFLA states: “It is not enough to simply oppose abortion; we must provide support and provide options for women facing unplanned or crisis pregnancies.” Contrary to Mr. Acton’s assertions, this all sounds very much like other traditional, pro-life groups. Being a Democrat does not automatically mean that one accepts all tenets of that party. There are people of differing viewpoints just as there are in the Republican Party. Party labels should not matter for those who embrace the sanctity of life. David Kolbe has been consistently pro-life and is a former board member of Kosciusko County Right to Life. His opponent’s supporters continually misrepresent the truth in an effort to discredit him. Voters, don’t be misled by their rhetoric. David Kolbe is a pro-life moderate who will represent you well in Indianapolis. Kathy Kolbe Warsaw, via email
