The story that will not end

Media Continues False Notion Abortion on the Rise Under President Bush

Philadelphia, PA (LifeNews.com) -- Shortly before the presidential election, a suspiciously timed study was released claiming abortions increased during the Bush administration. Media outlets latched on to the study as proof that President Bush's record doesn't match his pro-life views, despite the fact that it relied on false data and questionable assumptions. In an article Friday for the Knight-Ridder news service, Jane Eisner, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, perpetuates the more-abortions-under-Bush myth. Eisner cites a study conducted by Glen Harold Stassen, a professor of Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary that claims abortion rates have increased since President Bush took office. However, the claim just isn't true. Stassen studied 16 states and claimed abortions are on the rise in 11 of them. Dr. Randy O'Bannon, director of education at the National Right to Life Committee says the truth is only 8 of the states show an increase and abortions are on the decline in many others. Eisner's article claims abortions are on the rise in Kentucky under Bush. Yet, the most recent data from the Center for Vital Statistics in Frankfort show that abortions in Kentucky dropped by 250 in 2002 -- a decline of seven percent. Data from states Stassen ignored in his study also show abortion on the decline. From 2001-2002, abortions are down 9.3 percent in Kansas, 4.5 percent in Pennsylvania, they fell 6 percent in South Carolina. Read the complete story.