A lot of people in the Republican Party have forgotten something. And when they realize what they've forgotten, it's going to be too late.
The Republican Party is fast moving towards the nomination of either former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Arizona Senator John McCain to represent the party in the presidential election this November.
Neither of these men are fully or reliably pro-life, in the eyes of the many people who place a great deal of importance on issues like abortion, recreational embryo-destructive stem cell research (REDSCR) (I call it "recreational" because there is no scientific reason to do this research, so I can only assume that they do it just for the fun of it), euthanasia, gay "marriage", the defense of the traditional family, and other life and culture-war issues.
But they're strong on either economic and fiscal issues (in the case of Romney) or else military and foreign policy issues (McCain), in the perception of many who place paramount importance on those issues.
I haven't heard any rumors about a possible Romney running mate, but there have been suggestions that McCain might choose his buddy, Sen. Joe Lieberman, the former Democratic vice presidential nominee, to run on the GOP ticket for vice president.
Many pro-lifers were, I think, quite shocked last year to discover what a large portion of the GOP's movers and shakers, and even grassroots activists, were either not pro-life at all, or else were only pro-life when other factors were favorable, such as when Hillary Clinton wasn't running, or when the stars were properly aligned, or when America was not threatened by radical Islam. Failing any of these conditions, even the most vocally pro-abortion candidates the GOP could produce were found acceptable to people who somehow claim to be "pro-life".
We were shocked because we thought all Republicans were pro-life. We thought that, for the last 25 years and more at least, we all understood that abortion was a great evil that killed millions of innocent Americans, damaged physically and emotionally millions more women, destroyed families, and ate away at the moral underpinings of our culture like nothing in our history since slavery.
But no. It turns out that many, many Republicans believe in the "right" of a woman to choose to abort her children in at least some circumstances, if not all. And for them, tactically speaking, Roe v. Wade is an important barrier to their ever actually having to deal with the issue of abortion.
But what these Republicans have forgotten, and what they will be shocked to be reminded of, is that many of us are Republicans not because of our love for Jack Kemp or Newt Gingrich, not because of our love for small governmnet, not because of our enthusiasm for killing our enemies "over there", but because the GOP is a pro-life party.
And when the GOP nominates a candidate we pro-lifers can't trust, particularly someone like McCain, and most especially if he chooses a running mate with such an actively pro-abortion and pro-gay posture as Joe Lieberman, we won't be showing up to darken in that little circle next to the Republican candidate's name, and those guys who were so enthusiastic about nominating a "war hero" who advocates abortion rights in at least some circumstances, federal funding of REDSCR, allowing the euthanasia movement to continue unchecked, and allowing the traditional family to stand or fall on its own, will get quite a shock when their guy goes down to ignominious defeat.
The response to this development, both before, as they begin to wake up to the danger, as well as after it comes to pass, will be to blame pro-lifers for the election of a Democrat devil as president. There will be no attempt to moderate their stance. No conversions. No admission that we are right on our issues and that they should be on our side. It will be all blame and "aren't you sorry now?"
But we won't be sorry if our lack of support costs a pro-abortion Republican the White House.
To us, support for abortion rights is demonic. If there must be a devil in the White House, better it should be a Democrat.
The GOP must win as a pro-life party, or not at all.
Any other way, and there won't be any pro-life party at all.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
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12 comments:
This is a sorry election indeed. As far as Romney is concerned, I have actually - and quite strangely - heard rumors of him possibly selecting the Governor of my state, Missouri, Matt Blunt. This comes after the shocking announcement last week that he will not seek re-election this year. Personally I can't believe it. The guy is only 37 years old and has not yet completed his first term as Governor. But others have said that his 10 years in military service helps him, besides the fact that he has been in politics for a decade now and his dad is the US House minority whip.
Gov. Blunt is, again, another Republican who is not reliable on all life issues as I have pointed out many times on my website:
More on Gov. Blunt
Why I Can't Support Gov. Blunt
Blunt Gets $250K from ESC Research Supporters
And he's been blasted again this year for announcing disbursements in the 2009 state budget to an organization that promotes cloning and ESC research in our state.
I don't think that this is all that recent. Going back to Gerald Ford, Goldwater, etc - we have had pro-abort "conservatives" and they have always been around in the party, but most were willing to give lip service to the pro-life cause to get elected. The number of ardent pro-lifers in the elected ranks of the GOP are probably not all that large. Though the percentage in the rank and file is much larger.
Could we have had ardent elected pro-lifers and had continued public funding of Planned Parenthood?
Though I think things are certainly getting worst. Gov Christ in my state is muddled on abortion as he was on Terri Schiavo, though he says he would sign an abortion ban. For Republicans it is becoming like Democrats who would change their view on abortion when they seek higher offices.
The odd trend is that while the country is going more pro-life, Republicans politicians are becoming less so and less afraid to say so. But even though the country is going more pro-life this doesn't mean that they consider this a deciding issue in elections and once again the economy seems to trump everything.
Though at least we have Rudy's campaign crashing in flames.
Instapundit thinks that perhaps Huckabee is sucking up to McCain for a VP nod. See here
Would an Evangelical as a running mate soften your view of McCain?
Maybe, but I'll believe it when I see it.
More likely, it would lower my opinion of Huckabee. Just as Brownback's and Gramm's endorsements of McCain has lowered my opinions of them.
Seems that you're in good company! Although, in Instapundit's view, a McCain/Huckster ticket would lower his opinion of McCain.....
Going back to Gerald Ford, Goldwater, etc - we have had pro-abort "conservatives" and they have always been around in the party, but most were willing to give lip service to the pro-life cause to get elected.
But Jeff, since the days of Reagan and his Coalition, we're all supposed to be for smaller government, and a strong national defense, and pro-life.
Those who have just been mouthing the words of the pro-life song are soon going to be shocked to discover that many of us really mean it, and that we expect them to mean it too.
Wow, great post. It's so true: they have to win as a pro-life party, or not at all. Yes.
I actually just finished a post about how I went from being rabidly pro-choice to rabidly pro-life. It's here if you have any interest.
Keep up the good work!
When Goldwater ran, abortion was not yet a political issue. While Gerald Ford was in office, it became one, though not so much from his doing. However, Ford and his wife later became part of the pro-abortion wing of the party, fighting the pro-lifers all the way in platform debates and the selection of candidates.
No, this battle is not new within the party. But many pro-lifers who are young or young to the movement come into the party as Paul describes, and become increasingly shocked to see how prevelant it is after supporting the Republican Party in general, thinking they're supporting the pro-life party.
This is not a time to be disillusioned, it is a time to get in and fight this battle within the party. Become a Precinct Captain or "Precinct Committee Officer" as they're called in my state. These are the folks who have a vote in party leadership positions and on rules that govern the party. Elections for these are every 2 years (even numbered years). You usually file with your county election department sometime in the summer, depending on your state. Check with them to see when the filing period is. There's usually a filing fee of $1.
The Huckster? A pro-life liberal? I won't vote for The Huckster because he's basically John Edwards wrapped in a cloak of "Jeeeeeeesus," any more than I will vote for the open borders RINO McCain, who's spent the last 10 years undercutting conservatism at every chance.
The Republicans have morphed into the Mini-Me to the Democrats' Dr. Evil.
Not clear what you're referring to, here, Peter, I'm a Ron Paul supporter.
The Republican Party has never been pro-life. Sure, they'll say anything to get the vote of ignorant, clueless pro-lifers. But will they ever do anything to actually outlaw abortion? Never! It would be the end of the Republican Party if they were somehow responsible for outlawing abortion. Learn some history. Do some research. If you're not willing to become informed, please don't vote. We don't need ignorant, clueless people voting.
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