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Choose Life tags irk Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood of Maryland is up in arms over the Choose Life license plates recently issued by the State of Maryland, and has vowed to try to stop them.

"Using state license plates for the purpose of making a political statement is inappropriate and will be legally challenged," fumed Planned Parenthood of Maryland board chairman Dan Clements, according to an article in the September 5 Washington Post.

The Post story broke the news that the Choose Life tags are now available in Maryland, a fact that had slipped under the mainstream media's and Planned Parenthood's radar at least since May, when the Department of Motor Vehicles approved the tags.

Choose Life plates began appearing on cars in mid-August.

Robert Baldwin, president of Choose Life of Maryland, the nonprofit group sponsoring the plates, says that CLM has been purposely low-key in bringing the plates to Maryland.

"We didn't design an advertising program. We didn't want a hue and cry, because we didn't want to raise opposition to the plates," he explained.

Knowing the liberal proclivities of the state's General Assembly, Baldwin, a former Anne Arundel County state delegate, did not try to get a law passed permitting the issuance of the tags.

Instead he chose the "administrative" route, which requires an application to the DMV by a nonprofit organization.

Specialty tags must be approved by a DMV license plate committee.

After a huge brouhaha six years ago over Sons of  Confederate Veterans tags that contained the Confederate battle flag, the DMV adopted regulations prohibiting specialty tags with any slogan or logo deemed obscene, sexually suggestive or racially offensive.

DMV Administrator Anne Ferro told the Post that the regulations offer no grounds for rejecting the Choose Life tags. The Post article generated follow-up stories on WMAL and WCBM radio, and on Channel 9 in Washington,DC.

As a result, Anne Johnson, treasurer of CLM and Bob's daughter, was deluged with calls requesting applications for the tags.

"Planned Parenthood is giving us all the free publicity we need!" says Baldwin.

Bob is optimistic that the pro-abortion organization will get. nowhere in its avowed attempt to block further distribution of the Maryland plates.

Seven other states are currently issuing Choose Life tags, despite attempts by pro-abortion groups to stop them.

The only state in which existing plates are currently being successfully blocked in the courts, Louisiana, had acquired them through legislation rather than administratively,making them more vulnerable to legal challenge, Bob believes.

In the meantime, CLM is moving ahead with plans to set up an advisory board.

"We want to get pro-life members of the Maryland legislature to recommend people for the board," says Bob.

Choose Life of Maryland will use its $15 portion of the $40 cost of the tags to support and promote adoption.

Applications for Choose Life plates can be obtained by calling Anne Johnson at 410-987-0313, by e-mailing one's name and address or by writing Choose Life of Maryland, Inc., 1 Churchview Road, Millersville,MD 21108.