Minnesota citizens concerned for life

Minnesota’s largest anti-abortion group, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, is vigorously opposing all of the health reform proposals being offered by Democrats in Congress — and it’s not just about abortion. Several Republican talking points have crept into the group’s campaign, and most of them have been debunked by the very fact-checkers the group uses [...]

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the state’s largest anti-abortion group, says the University of Minnesota is trying to clone human beings and is in violation of the law. The university says its research is legal and that the group is engaging in a “disinformation campaign” designed to halt stem cell research.

Minnesota’s largest anti-abortion group says state-funded anti-abortion programs are responsible for a drop in the number of abortions among low-income women. If the group’s assertion is correct, the programs cost taxpayers more than $200,000 per woman successfully treated.

More than 3,000 anti-abortion activists gathered at the state capitol to hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Sen. Norm Coleman at the annual “March for Life.” But one group garnering more attention was Planned Parenthood. Only hours after an anti-abortion activist slammed his SUV into a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, rally attendees held up signs condemning the reproductive health organization, and MCCL speakers called for the defunding of the group they called the “abortion industry.”

Perhaps the most contentious political issue in the Minnesota Capitol remains abortion. And despite a budget deficit topping the legislative agenda, proponents of a woman’s right to choose and opponents of legalized abortion will be putting forward initiatives and playing politics to advance their causes in the coming months.

Minnesota’s religious right is pulling out all the stops to bring social conservatives to the polls on Election Day, but most Minnesotans won’t see any signs of the push unless they are in church. And the message is clear: Christians must vote Republican.

Abortion and homosexuality dominate the discussion, as ever, but typical Republican talking points in 2008 include notes on oil drilling, immigration and taxes — and a seemingly growing number of Minnesota pastors find this degree of politicizing of their faith inappropriate.