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Substantial controversy has surrounded '''[[Barack Obama|Barack Obama's]]''' voting record on [[abortion]] 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.  

Substantial controversy has surrounded '''[[Barack Obama|Barack Obama's]]''' voting record as an Illinois state senator on [[abortion]] 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 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. From 1996-2003, Barack Obama made at least 7 controversial votes against bills mandating medical care for newborn children after late-term, botched abortions known as D&E procedures. 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). "[http://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. From 1996-2003, Barack Obama made at least 7 controversial votes against bills mandating medical care for newborn children after late-term, botched abortions known as D&E procedures. 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). "[http://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>