Important information and documentation about HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ involvement in abortion scandals when she served as Kansas Governor
Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is now serving as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama Administration. Operation Rescue, compiled and published the following information in opposition to Sebelius’ cabinet appointment.
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Sebelius is perhaps the most rabidly pro-abortion governor in the United States, and has a long history in Kansas of blocking common-sense legislation that would have protected women from unregulated and unaccountable abortion mills. She has also been caught impeding efforts to hold abortionists accountable to the law.
“Sebelius is joined at the hip with the abortion industry,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “She owes them her political career and has been more than willing to pay them back with personal favors that have shielded them from legislation and criminal prosecution. Her corrupt abortion politics make her unfit to serve.”
Extremist Support For Abortion
Sebelius has long been an avid supporter of the most radical abortion policies.
In an interview published twenty years ago on October 29, 1989, in the Wichita Eagle, Sebelius, who was then a member of the Kansas House of Representatives said, “I think for me and a lot of other people, there are certain inalienable rights established for a person, but those are not applied in utero.”
Sebelius has ties to late-term abortionist George R. Tiller, who is currently facing 19 criminal counts of having committed illegal late-term abortions. To understand how radical her support for Tiller truly is, it is important to understand what kind of abortion business Tiller operates. Click below to watch a revealing O’Reilly Factor interview with a former Tiller patient.
Photos Link Sebelius To “Tiller the Killer”
Photographs obtained by Operation Rescue show that Sebelius hosted a lavish secret party for Tiller and his entire abortion clinic staff at the official governor’s mansion, Cedar Crest, in April, 2007. The source of the photos, who actually attended the party, told Operation Rescue that it was an “invitation only” party to honor Tiller and his staff for their abortion work.
Operation Rescue made an open records request for documents related to the party, including funding. After much stonewalling, the request was answered, but the party was listed under the name of a PAC, not under Tiller’s name or his abortion clinic, Women’s Health Care Services.
Sebelius told the press that the party was the prize at an auction event that benefitted the PAC, and that the state was reimbursed for the expense. However, records show the state initially paid for the party, and was only reimbursed by the PAC – conveniently – on the very day that the open records request was finally answered a year and a half after the event, giving the strong appearance of impropriety.
Based on the eye-witness source and the open records evidence, which indicates the “auction prize” story was cooked, Sebelius’ account of the Tiller party just does not add up and should not be believed for one minute. (Read in depth analysis -NEWLY UPDATED!)
Even the Wichita Eagle criticized Sebelius for her lack of judgment in hosting the Tiller soiree.
Fox’s Bill O’Reilly: “Sebelius unfit to serve.”
Sebelius’ political connections to Tiller has even caught the attention of Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly, who took Sebelius to task for her efforts to protect Tiller. On a May 30, 2007, broadcast of “The O’Reilly Factor,” the popular host accused Sebelius of having blood on her hands and stated, “Sebelius is unfit to serve.”
Watch excerpts from the O’Reilly segment below.
Follow The Money
Documents on file with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission that show that Tiller, his abortion mill Women’s Health Care Services, and his political action committee, ProKanDo, donated tens of thousands of dollars to Sebelius campaigns over the years.
Those campaign contributions include, but are not limited to the following:
09-25-2001 JEANNE TILLER $ 2,000
09-25-2000 WOMENS HEALTH CARE SERVICES $2,000
09-25-2000 GEORGE TILLER $2,000
9-25-2000 GEORGE TILLER MD $2,000
09-10-1998 GEORGE TILLER $ 200
12-14-1998 JEANNE TILLER $ 250
06-18-1998 PRO CHOICE ACTION LEAGUE $1,000
05-01-1997 GEORGE TILLER $ 500
11-21-1994 GEORGE R TILLER $ 500
11-14-1994 GEORGE R TILLER PA $2,000
09-02-1994 GEORGE R TILLER $2,000
06-10-1994 GEORGE R TILLER $ 500
04-15-1994 GEORGE R TILLER $ 500
In Addition, Tiller has contributed generously to Sebelius’ PAC, the Bluestem Fund:
09-01-2000 GEORGE R. TILLER MD $5,000
09-07-2000 GEORGE R. TILLER MD PA $5,000
12-28-2001 WOMENS HEALTH CARE SERVICES $8,000
03-18-2002 WOMENS HEALTH CARE SERVICES $5,000
Since 2002, there has been public outry about the amount of money Tiller has pumped into Kansas politics. Since then he has made efforts to mask his political contributions by creating dummy “non-profit” organizations and other third-party groups that in turn make donations to candidates or make expenditures for political activity that has affected the outcome of elections, without having to give an accounting to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, or anyone else.
Watch Sebelius cover for Tiller
Watch the video below to see Sebelius making excuses for Tiller during an O’Reilly Factor surprise interview.
More Funny Money and More Poor Judgment
An example of how Tiller hides his massive campaign cash was the 2006 Kansas Attorney General’s race. Former Attorney General Phill Kline was defeated for re-election after a Tiller “dummy” non-profit group, one that was unaccountable to campaign finance laws dumped an estimated $1 million dollars into what has become known as the “Snoop Dog” campaign.
Sebelius had hand-picked Kline’s opponent, Paul Morrison, and helped fund his campaign. During the campaign, Morrison had pledged to drop all abortion investigations that were underway. With the financial help from Sebelius and Tiller, he defeated Kline.
However, Morrison later resigned in disgrace after news broke of his involvement in a sex and abortion corruption scandal after his lover accused him of trying to impede local investigations of abortion clinics by the Johnson County District Attorney’s office.
Later, Tiller’s PAC, ProKanDo was fined $15,000 by the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission for hiding the names of political contributors. (Read details)
Sebelius’ backing of Tiller and the disgraced Morrison have indicated that she lacks good judgment.
Sebelius Opposed Clean Clinics and Efforts to Stop Coerced Abortions
In return for Tiller’s generous support, Sebelius has opposed legislation that would have held abortion clinics – including Tiller’s – to a higher standard. She has worked to keep abortion clinics unregulated and unaccountable.
Beginning in 2003, and for five straight years, Sebelius opposed legislation that would have, for the first time, provided safety standards for abortion clinics. In her 2003 veto statement of a clinic standards bill Sebelius wrote:
Health care facilities should be safe, clean, and appropriate for the best medical care possible in every circumstance and for every medical procedure. Kansans experience and appreciate some of the highest standards for medical care in the country… Health care facilities addressed in this bill are already subject to those high standards.
Was she just ignorant, or was she being intentionally deceptive?
Evidence has surfaced of grossly filthy conditions at abortion clinics in Kansas City and Wichita. Krishna Rajanna eventually had his license revoked and him abortion mill closed after pro-lifers exposed the appalling conditions there, which included blood-stained carpets in the procedure rooms, lack of proper sanitation equipment, dirty instruments, and aborted baby remains being stored in the same refrigerator as the clinic worker’s lunches.
In 2005, she thwarted the will of the people when she vetoed one such measure that passed with overwhelming public support and with a two-thirds majority in both the Kansas House and Senate. Efforts to override the veto failed.
In 2006, Operation Rescue purchased the building that housed Central Women’s Services, an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas, and closed the abortion mill. We documented the dangerous and filthy conditions there, which included filthy carpets, roach and mold infestations, and out-of code plumbing and electrical conditions. (View video documentation, photos.) OR launched creative cockroach-costumed protests to draw attention to Sebelius’ support of filthy abortion clinic conditions.
In 2008, Sebelius’ opposition effectively insured that legislation failed that would have informed women that they have a right to refuse abortions if they believe they are being coerced. Currently, Sebelius opposes informed consent legislation now being considered that would offer women the ability to see ultrasound images of their pre-born babies that is denied women by abortion clinics.
The following video shows evidence of appalling conditions discovered by Operation Rescue after it bought and closed Central Women’s Services, an unregulated abortion mill. Contrast that to Sebelius’ veto statement of one of the clinic regulations bills. Is this what we can expect from health care with Sebelius at the helm?
Here is an editorial cartoon first published by Operation Rescue on July 9, 2006. It is titled, “9 Out of 10 Abortion Mill Roaches Agree.”
Sebelius’ Abortion Support Draws Stern Rebuke From Archbishop
Sebelius claims to be a practicing Catholic, but her defiance of Church teaching regarding the Sanctity of Life has drawn sharp criticism from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. He issued a public letter telling Sebelius to refrain from presenting herself for Holy Communion until she takes “the necessary steps for amendment of her life, which would include a public repudiation of her previous efforts and actions in support of laws and policies sanctioning abortion.” ( Read Bishop Naumann’s full statement.)
Abortion Death Cover-up Politically Motivated
Sebelius meddled with an investigation by the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts in the death of Christin Gilbert, who died from a botched abortion at Tiller’s Wichita clinic in January, 2005. The Board’s politically-motivated premature conclusions covered her veto clinic regulations.
A bill was introduced that year in the Kansas House of Representatives, HB 2503, which would have placed regulations on clinics that do abortion. The bill was strongly opposed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Tiller’s PAC, ProKanDo.
Cheryl Sullenger, an Operation Rescue staff member, filed a formal complaint against Tiller for his part in Gilbert’s death on January 26, 2005.
On February 2, Sebelius sent a letter to KSBHA Executive Director Larry Buening asking him to look into the death at WHCS.15
On March 15, 2005, Operation Rescue held a press conference in the Capitol rotunda opposing HB 2503 and discussing the Gilbert death along with other documented incidents of botched abortions at WHCS. A few days later, Sullenger testified before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee in support of HB 2503 about Gilbert’s death. On March 23, 2005, Operation Rescue issued an email containing Sullenger’s testimony was distributed throughout the United States, urging supporters to voice opposition to HB 2503. Large numbers of people began contacting Kansas Legislators from all over the country urging them to pass the law.
On March 25, 2005, Larry Buening issued a letter to Gov. Sebelius with an “interim” report on the Gilbert death indicating that their preliminary determination was that Christin had received care that “met the standard of accepted medical practices,” even though the autopsy report had not been released and a cause of death had not been determined.
Buening noted in that letter, “The Board is aware that office-based procedures and clinic licensure are currently being considered by the Legislature and wanted to provide you with an interim report.”
This statement gives cause to believe that the Buening letter was politically timed and motivated, and that his determination was such as to please the governor. Not coincidentally, the letter was issued the very day a vote was expected on HB 2503 in the Kansas Senate. In spite of Buening’s transparent efforts to defeat the bill, it passed the Senate by a two-thirds majority.
Sebelius later vetoed the bill, basing her decision in part on the premature conclusions drawn by Buening in his hastily written letter of March 25, 2005. An attempt to override failed.
Buening later was forced to resign in disgrace after it was revealed that he and other members of his staff had stonewalled investigations into dangerous Kansas physicians, including abortionists.
The new staff of the KSBHA was recently asked to re-open the Gilbert death investigation due to new evidence and allegations of political corruption. (Read the details.)
Planned Parenthood Throws Birthday Bash For Sebelius
Sebelius has given the abortion lobby so much support that Planned Parenthood threw her a party on the occasion of her birthday in May, 2007. Sebelius attended the raucous event where PP CEO Peter Brownlie led a conga-line dance in her honor. (See it in PP’s own newsletter.) Brownlie’s clinic was later charged with 107 criminal counts of conducting illegal late-term abortions. Those charges are now pending.
Abortion Cronies Make Lousy Appointments
Sebelius has showed a shocking lack of judgment in choosing her political partners and appointments.
Sebelius personally recruited Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison to oppose Attorney General Phill Kline for re-election in 2006. Morrison vastly outspent Kline with the help of Sebelius’ support and legally questionable soft money from Tiller, promising to halt all investigations into abortion clinics. He defeated Kline. But within a year, Morrison was forced to resign after news broke of his long-time adulterous affair with a Johnson County DA’s office employee, who he tried to persuade to spy on abortion investigations there for the purpose of impeding them.
Other embarrassing appointments include the following:
• Sebelius appointed a former abortion clinic “escort” John Carmichael, a militant supporter of Tiller’s Political Action Committee, ProKanDo, to the Human Rights Commission. His name was quietly withdrawn ten months later.
• Sebelius appointed political supporter and abortionist Howard Ellis to serve on the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts after he surrendered his medical license in Missouri rather than face disciplinary action. Ellis resigned under pressure, and two months later was charged by the Board with attempting to persuade a physician to falsify records.
It is clear that Sebelius’ ties to the abortion industry and abortion corruption scandals in Kansas that she is not fit to serve.
