GOP Mailing Targets Rep. Vida Miller's Pro-Abortion Stance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2007
Contact: Tom Swatzel (843) 357-1673 w

GEORGETOWN--A fund raising letter sent last week by the chairman of the Georgetown County Republican Party to voters in Democrat Rep. Vida Miller's state house district informs voters about Miller's pro-abortion position and her acceptance of campaign contributions from a Washington, DC pro-abortion PAC, and appeals for financial contributions to the county party to help elect a pro-life Republican in the 2008 elections to replace Miller.

County Republican Party Chairman Tom Swatzel commented on the letter by pointing to the upcoming Christmas holiday.

"As we celebrate the birth of a baby who came to give life to the world, it's important to reaffirm our commitment as a civilized society to ensure that some day soon, the gift of life will once again be guaranteed to every prenatal child," Swatzel said.

Swatzel, in a letter mailed last week to Georgetown County voters, said the county GOP's "single highest priority next year will be to elect a Pro-Life candidate to represent Georgetown County in the South Carolina House of Representatives. That means our highest priority in 2008 will be to replace the pro-abortion-on-demand politician who currently holds Georgetown County's seat in the S.C. House, Democrat Vida Miller."

In the letter, Swatzel informs voters that "Vida Miller's campaigns have been endorsed and funded by Emily's List, a stridently pro-abortion PAC in Washington, D.C. that endorses only female candidates who support taxpayer-financed abortion on demand and oppose any restrictions on abortion, including partial-birth abortions."

Miller received financial contributions and endorsements from Emily's List in both 2004 and 2006.

The mailing included a copy of a 2002 Washington Post article that reported, "A candidate must meet three qualifications to be considered for an Emily's List endorsement: back abortion rights, including the right to late-term or 'partial birth' abortions; be a Democrat; and, in primary elections, be a woman."

Also included in the mailing is a copy of an Emily's List December 2004 newsletter web page that lists Miller as one of their election "winners," with superimposed photographs of Miller and Hillary Clinton under the caption "Both endorsed by pro-abortion Emily's List."

In the letter Swatzel asked, "(A)fter twice receiving the endorsement and campaign money from a national pro-abortion PAC that only supports women who support abortion on demand -- without limitation -- was Vida Miller open and honest with voters about her support for abortion on demand? Or is she trying to mislead Georgetown County voters with standard Democrat Party code-speak?"

"You decide," he wrote. "In a statement to the Georgetown Times published Nov. 2nd, Vida Miller said she 'supports the rights of women to make informed decisions regarding health care issues within our current state and federal laws.' To translate, since current state and federal laws under Roe v. Wade allow abortion on demand, Miller supports a 'woman's right' to decide to pay an abortionist to terminate the life of a prenatal child. Which means the truth is that Vida Miller -- like every other candidate Emily's List endorses and funds -- favors abortion on demand.