Pro-Life Latino Star Endorses McCain, While Other Latinos Say Obama's 'Pro-Life' A Latino superstar has endorsed Sen. John McCain for president, citing Sen. Barack Obama's pro-abortion record, while some Latinos say they are supporting Obama because they believe he is "pro-life." Eduardo Verastegui, the Latino actor whose pro-life film "Bella" won the 2006 Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award, has produced a new video detailing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's record on abortion, which includes his opposition to a ban on partial birth abortion and his opposition in the Illinois state Senate to legislation aimed at protecting babies who survive botched abortions. Verastegui's pro-life views have been criticized by some Latino blogs, and the original version of his video was pulled by YouTube.com and an edited version re-posted, according to LifeSiteNews.com. Also, Verastegui's outspoken opposition to same-sex marriage has been denounced by homosexual activists, including Mexico's homosexual soccer club "Tri Gray." They publicly ridiculed the popular actor from the offices of Mexico's secretary of health on Oct. 22. Nonetheless, at a rally in Colorado earlier this month, Verastegui said he wanted to reach out to Latino voters by endorsing GOP presidential candidate John McCain. "I am endorsing McCain for president because of his commitment to end abortion, protect traditional marriage and reform immigration fairly," Verastegui said. In his video about Obama, Verastegui says he had to support a pro-life candidate. "If a president is not willing to defend the most innocent of his own country, the babies in their mothers' wombs, then my question is this, 'Who is he willing to defend?'" Verastegui says in the video. "That's what inspired me to put this video together." In addition to detailing Obama's pro-abortion record, the video, available in both Spanish and English, includes graphic footage of abortions and a message from Verastegui asking for people "to fight for those without a voice." "Did you know that every day in the United States more than 3,000 babies are killed by abortion?" he says in the video. "That means that more than 1.2 million babies are killed every year. "It broke my heart to find out more than 650 Latino babies are killed by abortion every day in the U.S.," Verastegui says. Verastegui joined McCain, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and current Gov. Charlie Christ at a McCain-Palin rally in Miami on Oct. 17. "We need to put an end to abortion, and political candidates play a very important role in this matter," Verastegui said at the rally. "More than 200,000 Latino babies were killed by abortion each year in the USA. This holocaust must end." "That's why we must elect John McCain," said Verastegui. "He will defend and protect the most innocent of his country, the beautiful babies in their mothers' wombs." Verastegui, 34, was born in northern Mexico and got his start singing with the pop group Kairo and acting in Mexican soap operas. A devout Catholic, Verastegui attends Mass daily and recently participated in 40 Days for Life in Los Angeles where he joined other pro-life activists who are praying until Nov. 2 in front of family planning facilities that perform abortions. "I was counting all the women lined up for an abortion," Verastegui said about the Los Angeles event in an interview with freelance writer Anita Crane. "It was all Latinas and African-Americans. "And I said all I want to do here is share with you a video on the hard truth about what is going on inside (that place). And you know what? By the grace of God, four babies were saved this morning," he said. Verastegui starred in and produced the 2006 film "Bella," which tells the story of a young couple who face an unplanned pregnancy and choose to give their baby up for adoption rather than have an abortion. In the Los Angeles interview, he also spoke out about Obama and the Latino vote in next Tuesday's election. "Most of the registered Latinos who are voting are voting for Obama," Verastegui said. "Why is that? He doesn't represent our values: respect for life, traditional marriage or even immigration reform." Two Latino activists in the Washington, D.C., area, however, disagreed with Verastegui. "That's just not true," Roxana Olivas, a Washington, D.C., resident who describes herself as pro-life and is voting for Obama told CNSNews.com. "If there is someone who shows the sanctity of life, it's Obama." Olivas added that she believes Obama's support for comprehensive sex education will decrease the number of abortions in this country. Emma Violand-Sanchez, who lives in Virginia, told CNSNews.com that she is supporting Obama because of his "pro-life" position. "To me pro-life means peace and to end war," Violand said. "I support Obama because of his education (policy), because he is anti-war, and because he supports the Dream Act," which would give children who are in the United States illegally access to college and in-state tuition. Contact: Penny Starr Source: CNSNews Source URL: http://www.cnsnews.com Publish Date: October 30, 2008 |
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