Ever since 1973, the year of Roe v. Wade, I’ve followed the histrionic ravings of NARAL, NOW and other professional abortion supporters. as they attempt to frighten enlighten the public.

I’ve read their websites, watched their vulgar marches, perused their op/eds and letters-to-the editor, all the while shaking my head.  Why do these people go about pleading their cause in such self-defeating ways?

As a matter of fact, four years ago I wrote an op/ed published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Tips for Pro-Choice Advocates. Yes, I was so annoyed by their ineptitude, I wrote an article giving them advice.

(If you’re interested in background to that article, and curious to see whether or not my tactic was risky, go to the Issues, Etc. archive for an audio  interview.)

I mention this because a very recent, brief Barack Obama abortion ad  Barack Obama abortion ad is in the works. After a “nurse-practitioner” intro, an announcer concludes, “As president, John McCain will make abortion illegal.”

Whoa. Those are red-hot words.

Phil Lawler, over at Catholic World News, pours on some much needed cold water:

“As president, John McCain will make abortion illegal,” an announcer says on a new Obama campaign spot.

That simple declarative sentence is misleading– indeed it is obviously intended to mislead.

While he opposes legal abortion, McCain has given absolutely no indication that he would attempt to outlaw the practice.

President Bush, whose pro-life credentials are at least as strong as McCain’s has not attempted to legalize a ban on abortion.

Why not? Because Congress would not pass an abortion ban, and even if by some miracle the majority in Congress did support a measure making abortion illegal, the Supreme Court (as currently composed) would overturn it.

Like it or not, this simple, declarative sentence is undeniably true: “As president, John McCain will not make abortion illegal.”

Obama knows that. His campaign staff knows that. His ad tells the public otherwise.

So why does this presidential candidate known for his intelligence, precision and “nuance” — aka hair-splitting — allow himself to state, “I am Barack Obama and I approve this message”?