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From 1996-2003, Barack Obama made at least seven controversial votes against bills mandating medical care for newborn children after late-term, botched abortions known as D&E procedures. During this time Obama headed an Illinois Planned Parenthood strategy to vote 'Present' on the controversial bills to provide political cover for other Illinois Senators since in the words of Pam Sutherland, head of the IL Planned Parenthood Council, "He came to me and said: ‘My members are being attacked. We need to figure out a way to protect members and to protect women. A ‘present’ vote was hard to pigeonhole which is exactly what Obama wanted. What it did was give cover to moderate Democrats who wanted to vote with us but were afraid to do so" because of how their votes would be used against them electorally. A ‘present’ vote would protect them. Your senator voted ‘present.’ Most of the electorate is not going to know what that means."<ref>Davis, Teddy (2007, July 17). "[http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/07/obama-abortion/ Obama Abortion Dodges Blessed by Planned Parenthood], ''ABC News''.</ref>  

From 1996-2003, Barack Obama made at least seven controversial votes against bills mandating medical care for newborn children after late-term, botched abortions known as D&E procedures. During this time Obama headed an Illinois Planned Parenthood strategy to vote 'Present' on the controversial bills to provide political cover for other Illinois Senators since in the words of Pam Sutherland, head of the IL Planned Parenthood Council, "He came to me and said: ‘My members are being attacked. We need to figure out a way to protect members and to protect women. A ‘present’ vote was hard to pigeonhole which is exactly what Obama wanted. What it did was give cover to moderate Democrats who wanted to vote with us but were afraid to do so" because of how their votes would be used against them electorally. A ‘present’ vote would protect them. Your senator voted ‘present.’ Most of the electorate is not going to know what that means."<ref>Davis, Teddy (2007, July 17). "[http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/07/obama-abortion/ Obama Abortion Dodges Blessed by Planned Parenthood], ''ABC News''.</ref>  

The votes are especially controversial because they fall outside the typical Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice debate, dealing not with abortion, but children left to die after botched abortions. In 2002 the Federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act made it a U.S. crime to let children die like this, and the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was passed outlawing the specific D&E procedures making them possible, even declaring this to be "Infanticide" in Section 2, 14(G) and 14(O).<ref name=partialbirth>''United States Congress'' (2003, March 13). "[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108s3enr/pdf/BILLS-108s3enr.pdf S.3: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003]."</ref> The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act had 70% public approval by the time of its passage<ref>Ray, J. (2003, July 8). "[http://www.gallup.com/poll/8791/gallup-brain-opinions-partialbirth-abortions.aspx Gallup Brain: Opinions on Partial-Birth Abortions]." ''Gallup''.</ref> (a 2011 poll shows 64% support<ref>''Gallup''. "[http://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx Abortion]." pg. 1.</ref>) yet the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was far more popular, to the extent that in Obama's own words, it was "the federal bill that everybody supported."<ref name=brody>Brody, David (2008, August 16). "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skq5M1Ksp_c McCain/Obama Forum]." ''CNN''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by Jill Stanek.<br>David Brody (August 16, 2008). "[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/08/16/obama-gets-heated-on-born-alive-infant-protection-act.aspx Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act]." ''CBN News''. The Brody File.</ref>

The votes are especially controversial because they fall outside the typical Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice debate, dealing not with abortion, but children left to die after botched abortions. In 2002 the Federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act made it a U.S. crime to let children die like this, and the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was passed outlawing the specific D&E procedures making them possible, even declaring this to be "Infanticide" in Section 2, 14(G) and 14(O).<ref name=partialbirth>''United States Congress'' (2003, March 13). "[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108s3enr/pdf/BILLS-108s3enr.pdf S.3: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003]."</ref> The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act had 70% public approval by the time of its passage<ref>Ray, J. (2003, July 8). "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/8791/gallup-brain-opinions-partialbirth-abortions.aspx Gallup Brain: Opinions on Partial-Birth Abortions]." ''Gallup''.</ref> (a 2011 poll shows 64% support<ref>''Gallup''. "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx Abortion]." pg. 1.</ref>) yet the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was far more popular, to the extent that in Obama's own words, it was "the federal bill that everybody supported."<ref name=brody>Brody, David (2008, August 16). "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skq5M1Ksp_c McCain/Obama Forum]." ''CNN''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by Jill Stanek.<br>David Brody (August 16, 2008). "[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/08/16/obama-gets-heated-on-born-alive-infant-protection-act.aspx Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act]." ''CBN News''. The Brody File.</ref>

Substantial controversy has surrounded '''[[Barack Obama|Barack Obama's]]''' voting record since 2004, when [[Alan Keyes]], his opponent for the [[U.S. Senate]], made Obama's record central to his campaign. Since then, [[Jill Stanek]], a central witness before [[Congress]], whose moving testimony led to passage of the federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act, has been the primary critic of Obama's voting record on the issue. The issue featured prominently in the 2008 presidential election as well, with both [[Sarah Palin]] and [[John McCain]] raising the issue, and major press coverage by CNN and other news media reporting on the controversy. Obama ultimately voted 'Present' or 'No' on 7 of the 'Born Alive' bills:

Substantial controversy has surrounded '''[[Barack Obama|Barack Obama's]]''' voting record since 2004, when [[Alan Keyes]], his opponent for the [[U.S. Senate]], made Obama's record central to his campaign. Since then, [[Jill Stanek]], a central witness before [[Congress]], whose moving testimony led to passage of the federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act, has been the primary critic of Obama's voting record on the issue. The issue featured prominently in the 2008 presidential election as well, with both [[Sarah Palin]] and [[John McCain]] raising the issue, and major press coverage by CNN and other news media reporting on the controversy. Obama ultimately voted 'Present' or 'No' on 7 of the 'Born Alive' bills:

*[https://www.voanews.com/a/tea-party-groups-settle-lawsuits-over-irs-mistreatment/4087069.html Tea Party Groups Settle Lawsuits Over IRS Mistreatment]. ''Voice of America'' (from the ''Associated Press''). October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*[https://www.voanews.com/a/tea-party-groups-settle-lawsuits-over-irs-mistreatment/4087069.html Tea Party Groups Settle Lawsuits Over IRS Mistreatment]. ''Voice of America'' (from the ''Associated Press''). October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*Singman, Brooke (October 26, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/26/trump-doj-settles-lawsuits-over-tea-party-targeting-by-obama-irs.html Trump DOJ settles lawsuits over Tea Party targeting by Obama IRS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*Singman, Brooke (October 26, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/26/trump-doj-settles-lawsuits-over-tea-party-targeting-by-obama-irs.html Trump DOJ settles lawsuits over Tea Party targeting by Obama IRS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*Adams, Becket (October 27, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/conservatives-were-targeted-by-a-weaponized-irs-all-they-got-was-this-lousy-apology/article/2638837 Conservatives were targeted by a weaponized IRS; all they got was this lousy apology]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 28, 2017.</ref> but it still declined to prosecute IRS official Lois Lerner for her major role in the scandal.<ref>Multiple references:

*Adams, Becket (October 27, 2017). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/conservatives-were-targeted-by-a-weaponized-irs-all-they-got-was-this-lousy-apology/article/2638837 Conservatives were targeted by a weaponized IRS; all they got was this lousy apology]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 28, 2017.</ref> but it still declined to prosecute IRS official Lois Lerner for her major role in the scandal.<ref>Multiple references:

*[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/08/doj-declines-to-charge-lois-lerner-in-irs-scandal.html Trump DOJ: No plans to charge Lois Lerner in IRS scandal]. ''Fox News''. September 8, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/08/doj-declines-to-charge-lois-lerner-in-irs-scandal.html Trump DOJ: No plans to charge Lois Lerner in IRS scandal]. ''Fox News''. September 8, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*Dinan, Stephen (September 8, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/8/donald-trumps-doj-wont-pursue-charges-against-lois/ Justice Department won’t pursue charges against Lois Lerner, former IRS senior executive]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

*Dinan, Stephen (September 8, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/8/donald-trumps-doj-wont-pursue-charges-against-lois/ Justice Department won’t pursue charges against Lois Lerner, former IRS senior executive]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 28, 2017.