Prospects for Planned Parenthood’s answering 107 criminal charges in court dimmed as pro-life Kansas prosecutor Phill Kline conceded defeat Tuesday night to his opponent Steve Howe in the hard fought Republican primary.
Seeking election as District Attorney of Johnson County, Kline failed to overcome moderate Republican Steve Howe in the primary. Howe won the primary with 33,260 votes to Kline’s 22,188, or 60 percent to 40 percent, according to final unofficial returns.
Although Howe has stated that he will review Kline’s case against Planned Parenthood’s (PP) Overland Park clinic should he overcome his Democratic challenger, Rick Guinn, in the November 4 general election, pro-life advocates suspect he will drop the charges.
“We’re certainly disappointed that Kline lost his election bid, and more than likely the criminal charges brought against Planned Parenthood will be dropped by Steve Howe and Guinn,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Both of them are supported by Planned Parenthood and the big abortion money.”
Kline became DA after Johnson County GOP officials asked him to fill the vacancy left by Paul Morrison, who beat Kline in November 2006 to become Kansas Attorney General. The switch allowed Kline to continue the nation’s only criminal case against an abortion provider.
Kline charged PP with 107 criminal counts – 23 felonies and 84 misdemeanors – for unlawful late-term abortions and other abortion-related crimes on October 16, 2007, but for the next nine months the abortion giant managed to wait it out until the clock ran out for Kline.
Evidence in the case included subpoenaed medical records indicating the PP Overland Park clinic in Johnson County willfully neglected to report instances of child rape, forged viability reports, and performed illegal late-term abortions.
Kline graciously conceded defeat to Howe at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel, thanked his supporters, and urged Republicans to rally together to support Howe and defeat Guinn in the general election.
“I’ve been so honored in many ways,” said Kline. “There are some causes that are worth losing for, and in that there is no defeat.”
However, OR President Newman said that pro-life advocates are winning the culture war and Kline’s defeat (although a setback) should be seen in light of the forward progress the pro-life movement is making against the abortion industry. One victory was last week’s ruling by a Kansas judge that infamous late-term abortionist George Tiller would have to face 19 criminal charges filed against him for illegal abortions, carrying the possibility of 19 years in jail if convicted.
“Although we are disappointed we are not deterred. We have several other backup plans that we are working on right now,” said Newman.
“Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers are breaking the law flagrantly and we are going to be here until this battle ends and that will be noticed by the fact that no more children are dying,” Newman continued.
As for Phill Kline’s future, Newman added, “God’s not done with him. This is far from the last time we will hear from Phill Kline.”
