WASHINGTON, D.C.--It's nothing new. Pro-abortion activists work with their allies in the media to attack pro-life leaders and lawmakers. The most recent vociferous attack is against the Honorable Kevin Andrews, a Member of the Australian Parliament and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

"It is obvious that some pro-abortion zealot was in the United States or was searching the Internet in an effort to find something that could be used to attack Mr. Andrews," said Douglas R. Scott, president of Life Decisions International (LDI). "They eventually discovered that Mr. Andrews and his wife, Margaret, are members of our Board of Advisors. To pro-abortion activists, one may as well be a member of the Ku Klux Klan."

In an article by pro-abortion apologists Kerry-Anne Walsh and Michelle Singer of Australia's Sun-Herald titled, "Andrews in radical group that boycotts Disney," Kevin Andrews is called an "adviser to a radical right-wing international organisation that advocates economic boycotts to achieve social and political change." In the very next sentence, Andrews is said to be "officially listed as a board member to Life Decisions International (LDI)."

"Talk about admitting a bias right off the bat," Scott said. "LDI is called a 'radical right-wing' organization. We are later referred to as an 'extremist body'." (Do these writers have any idea what radical really is?)

"Kevin Andrews and his wife, Margaret, are members of LDI's Board of Advisors," Scott explained. "He has had absolutely no role in determining LDI policy or strategy. The listing of prominent lawmakers or business leaders on letterhead in an advisory capacity is nothing new. Virtually all organizations do so, including Planned Parenthood. There are many people on Planned Parenthood's Board of Advocates. Does this mean they are intimately involved in decisions made by the pro-abortion group? Of course not and any reasonable person who is not trying to push an agenda by using half-truths and innuendo knows it."

Walsh and Singer refer to one LDI boycott target, GlaxoSmithKline, as "respected." The pair goes on to say that the company "manufactures and distributes contraceptive pills and is involved with producing the so-called abortion drug RU-486." Yet GlaxoSmithKline is a boycott target for one reason--it supports Planned Parenthood. If its role was only in the manufacture and distribution of birth control, including abortion drugs, the company would not be on LDI's Boycott List. (The only corporations placed on The Boycott List are those that financially support Planned Parenthood.)

The writers (as opposed to "journalists") claimed that Andrews "immediately distanced himself" from LDI when asked about his association with the pro-life organization. To support this claim they quoted an Andrews spokesman who said the Minister "has not been asked for, nor given any advice, nor is he involved in the operations of this organisation."

"This hardly constitutes distancing himself from LDI," Scott said. "The fact is that Kevin and Margaret Andrews are strongly pro-life. Neither has tried to keep their views secret."

The writers suggested that Andrews should not serve in the Australian cabinet because he has a "conflict of interest." After all, they suggest, he could have to "make decisions that affect companies boycotted by the extremist body he advises."

"This is nonsense. We do not even send The Boycott List to Kevin and Margaret Andrews. And even if we did, the Minister would have to carry it around with him to know which corporations to target. Walsh and Singer cannot be serious!"

Andrews was asked why he "accepted the board position if he was not involved in the operations of the organisation." Scott said the answer is simple. "He is a member of the Board of Advisors. Advisors. A-d-v-i-s-o-r-s. This makes Kevin Andrews an advisor. Just what part of the word 'advisor' is confusing to these two activists? Just how blinded are they by their zealous support for the killing of preborn human beings?"

Stunningly, the writers claimed that, "Emails to LDI about Mr Andrews's role went unanswered." Scott called the statement "flatly untrue." The text of the response sent to the reporters reads as follows:

Kevin and Margaret Andrews have been friends of mine for many years. They serve on our Board of Advisors strictly as a favor to me. They have absolutely no role in this organization. Our Board of Advisors, which I believe you refer to as "patrons," is actually just to give our organization more legitimacy. After all, many organizations put well known individuals on such boards because, let's face it, it looks good to have the names of an member of congress or parliament on your letterhead. In fact, I do not remember ever discussing these issues with either Mr. Andrews or his wife.

Kevin and Margaret Andrews are honest and talented individuals. While lawmakers are called "honorable" just because they received a few more votes than their opponents, many do not deserve the title. Kevin Andrews actually lives up to the title. He is truly an honorable man.

I hope someone in the abortion or family planning industries has not been working to get allies in the media to do their dirty work by tarnishing the reputations of these two good people. While some would do such a thing with no regard for the truth, I trust you would never allow yourself to be used in such a way because you value intellectual and professional integrity, regardless of your personal positions on such issues.

Walsh and Singer wrote that LDI is "vehemently opposed to any organisation that provides abortion or sexual reproduction advice."

Once again, this is a lie. "While we obviously oppose any organization that commits or advocates for abortion, but we do not oppose groups that give 'sexual reproductive advice'," Scott said.

One of the most upsetting aspects of Andrews' association with LDI seems be the use of the economic boycott to impact philanthropic decision-making. "Boycotts are universally seen as a peaceful and legitimate means to affect change," Scott said. "In fact, the strategy has been used by many organizations and individuals in both Australia and the United States. Why does it seem that the strategy is not the real problem that Walsh and Singer have with LDI? Rather it is what we stand for that bothers them."

Scott said it is strange how Walsh and Singer think Kevin Andrews should be ashamed of his pro-life convictions and his association with LDI. "These two people embrace death as a 'solution' to adult-created social problems yet they think Mr. Andrews should be ashamed?" Scott said. "Kevin Andrews see death as a non-solution and we urge the writers to join us in seeking life-affirming, positive and real solutions to the problems facing women who are experiencing an untimely pregnancy."

"It is unfortunate that Walsh and Singer have no room for the truth as they push their agenda," Scott said. "Australians are very educated and intelligent people. They will see that these women are demagogues who are intent on destroying an honorable man. The truth and journalistic integrity be damned."

"I'm going to try to be less criticial of the American press from now on," Scott said. "At least they try to make their stories look balanced. Walsh and Singer have gone so far over the top that their bias is plain to see, giving them an instantaneous lack of credibility."

Interestingly, someone has sought to include mention of the Sun-Herald article in Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. "The entry has even more errors than the article," Scott said. "We have repeatedly tried to correct the errors, but the person or persons keep changing the text back to the lies. While we disagree on these important issues, can't we at least agree to be truthful when writing or talking about them?"

The timing of the baseless attack on Andrews is no coincidence. A federal election will be held in Australia sometime before mid-January.


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