Austin Adult Entertainment: Under attack…again
Most pregnancy resource centers continued their programs unimpeded, but those who spearheaded the attack went on to greater fame. Prime Time producer Ben Sherwood is now president of ABC News. Ron Wyden is now in the U.S. Senate. Fitzsimmons in 1993 was one of the top 50 “hired guns” on Capitol Hill, according to Washingtonian, and in 1995 he testified to Congress that partial-birth abortions occurred only when a mother’s life was in jeopardy or an unborn child had a medical condition that would prevent his survival. Two years later Fitzsimmons told the American Medical News, “I lied through my teeth.”
A new century brought the third attack on the centers. The most highly publicized part came in 2002 under the leadership of New York’s attorney general at that time, Eliot Spitzer: He later went on to the governorship, then left office in disgrace as his patronage of prostitutes received exposure. In 2002 Spitzer’s extracurricular activities were still secret but he openly praised NARAL, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, saying it was “instrumental” in his election and “made a difference not only for me but for candidates through the state who care about choice.”