Susan Hill, President of the National Women's Health Organization, sent NARAL's Nancy Keenan this sharply worded letter:

NationalWomen's Health Organization
3613 Haworth Drive
Raleigh NC  27609
800-532-5383

May 15, 2008

NARAL Pro-Choice America
1156 15th Street, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005

Dear Nancy Keenan,

As an abortion provider for thirty-four years I have always had a close relationship with NARAL and it affiliates in several states. I actually served on the National Board of NARAL in 1978 until 1985. I have never been as upset as I was to hear yesterday that NARAL decided to endorse Barack Obama and I feel I must speak out against that action. The only candidate in this race that has assisted in the access to abortion services is the Clinton Family. Without President Clinton Administration's guidance more of our ranks would have been killed in the manner that Dr. David Gunn was. President Clinton's Administration stepped up to the plate during the violence against the providers in the 90's. We were able to survive that period and to continue to provide those services only because of the Clinton Administration's Policy.

Our organization has managed clinics in places like North Dakota, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Delaware, Florida, and most dangerously Mississippi. I truly believe we owe President Clinton and Hillary Clinton our lives for having been there for us. I believe the least we can do is be there for Hillary Clinton. We owe her that much. I have in the past contributed to NARAL but I can't in good faith do it any longer. I regret your decision. I would be happy to talk to someone about it and await your response.

Sincerely,

Susan Hill
President

This uncomfortable position taken by NARAL marginalizes the way we deal with politicians on our issue and mirrors their ill-reasoned endorsement of Joe Lieberman over Ned Lamont.

One NARAL affiliate NARAL Pro-Choice Washington distanced themselves from the NARAL PAC's action with the following letter to their supporters and press release:

As you may have heard, today NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC announced its endorsement of U.S. Senator Barack Obama for president.

I wanted to let all of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington's supporters know the story behind the endorsement.  None of us here, myself included, knew about it until a phone call this morning from D.C., and at that point it was a done deal.  To be clear, we at NARAL Pro-Choice Washington remain neutral in the race between Senators Clinton and Obama.  We strongly disagree with NARAL Pro-Choice America's decision to endorse at this time.

Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are 100% pro-choice and have been vocal advocates for the right to choose.  Both are co-sponsors of the
Federal Freedom of Choice Act, which would put the protections of the Roe v. Wade into federal law.  To endorse Obama at this point in the race is an
unconscionable slap in the face to Senator Hillary Clinton.

Furthermore, I want to make sure you know there is no transfer of funds between our affiliate and NARAL Pro-Choice America.  We are separate entities.

As I write this to you, our Board of Directors is planning a meeting to discuss our affiliate's next steps.  We will keep you updated on what we decide.

Please read our press release on the endorsement.

Thank you,

Karen S. Cooper

Executive Director
Our postal address is
811 First Ave, Suite 456
Seattle, Washington 98104
United States

Clearly, NARAL is becoming more and more irrelevant in the fight to maintain abortion rights in this country.  Activists and providers need to make their case directly to Americans without the unnecessary filter and waste of money of an inside the beltway organization that does not reflect the pulse of pro-choice Americans.
(UPDATE) Plenty of other NARAL affiliates are upset with NARAL's endorsement.

"This decision was not made in consultation with the affiliate network and NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon will not be endorsing a candidate in this race," said executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon Michele Stranger Hunter in a statement. ... NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri felt so strongly about staying neutral its president recorded a robocall in the wake of the announcement, which the group then sent to 8,500 households emphasizing its neutrality. ... NARAL Pro-Choice Washington emphasized its neutrality by praising both remaining Democratic candidates. ... NARAL Pro-Choice New York issued a statement calling the national endorsement "premature" and emphasizing that "this decision was made internally by NARAL Pro-Choice America, based in Washington D.C., and without the consultation of the NARAL state affiliates across the country." ... NARAL Pro-Choice Pennsylvania echoed the New York group's statement, calling the endorsement "premature." And NARAL Pro-Choice Texas chose mainly to emphasize that the endorsement of Obama had nothing to do with them, and would have nothing to do with them, rather than publicly renouncing the national endorsement as some of the other groups had.