Coming Soon!
Highlights include:
Allocated National Delegate Ballots with only one candidate (pre-screened by John McCain staffer), and no option for write-ins or nomiations from the floor.
Ron Paul takes 4 unallocated national delegates from the state of Washington.
McCain & Party Leadership led a March Out in Exodus, in order to pull quorum, to avoid debate on the issues.
When the March Out backfired due to the hefty quorum remaining, the McCain & Party Leadership Marched back in to fillibuster and obstruct the body from completing any other business.
Still, the body managed to pass three pro-life resolutions including: support for a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, opposition to the WA state Assisted Suicide Initiative I-1000, and support for the freedom of conscience for pharmacists to not despense abortion drugs. In addition, the body passed a resolution opposing any military action on a nation without the U.S. Congress declaring war, which is in keeping with our Constitution.
The spontaneous Ron Paul March and Rally immediately following the convention, signalling this movement has just begun.
Please stay tuned for the full report. I need to get reacquainted with my family and then find an opportunity to write a blow by blow. Meanwhile, TVW has full coverage of the convention business. Note: there are three segments and they are long. Most interesting are segments B and C. More details can be found here, here and here.
My apologies to Geri Modrell (Snohomish Co. Republican Chair), who appears to have stayed during the "march out". It was reported to me otherwise, and I am sorry for repeating that misinformation.
Update: Republicans for Choice President, Ann Stone pays Life of the Party a visit in the comments. Gotta love this gem from Ann, "It is following the advice of folks like you that has taken the GOP to the brink of anihilation." Does anyone have anything to say to her? Since the "Republicans for Choice" website is not open for comments, here is your chance.
While the McCain scandals are just now breaking out in the mainstream media, and as Michelle Malkin points out, "if you lie down with MSM dogs, you wake up with stories like these," conservative Republicans still have their own beefs with McCain. The MSM scandals and the conservative beefs are sure to keep coming from many directions.
For instance, from Republican National Coalition for Life (RNC for Life):
Some prominent pro-life Republicans have endorsed John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination. Visit the McCain for President web site — you will see some names that may surprise you http://www.johnmccain.com/supporters/. They will surprise you because, while John McCain claims a pro-life record, he supports research that involves the killing of human embryos and he justifies abortion for babies conceived through rape or incest. Those are not pro-life positions. He voted to expand taxpayer funding of embryo-killing research, and he joined other Senators in signing a letter to President Bush asking him to expand the number of embryonic stem cell lines to be used for research.
The pro-life Republicans who endorsed John McCain should be embarrassed to find themselves on the same side as Republicans for Choice, the organization created in 1990 by Washington, D.C. fundraiser Ann Stone with the stated purpose of removing the pro-life plank from the Republican National Platform. They support Roe v. Wade and oppose a human life amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Ann Stone and her supporters also understand that abortion will remain legal in this country as long as the human embryo is denied respect and protection under the law. Many pro-lifers don't "get it," but you can be sure that Republicans for Choice supporters do.
While their "first choice" Rudy Giuliani did not win, their second choice is John McCain. In asking their supporters to consider McCain in a message posted on the Republicans for Choice web site (http://www.republicansforchoice.com/) they say: "We know we can work with him to create common ground that will allow moderates and conservatives to come together to rebuild the GOP." That is code-language meaning that they think John McCain will work with them to rewrite the Republican National Platform to remove the principles that we have worked so hard to maintain since 1980.
The Republican National Coalition for Life came into existence in order to defeat the efforts of Republicans for Choice. We have done so successfully at every Republican National Convention since 1992 and we plan to do it again. If John McCain becomes the Republican nominee, he will exert tremendous pressure on the Platform Committee to bend to his will on many issues. John McCain has poked his finger in the collective eye of conservatives throughout his career. His campaign for the presidency has not been supported by social conservatives but rather, it has been buoyed by the entrance of Independents and Democrats in open primaries. If he gets the nomination, to whom will he listen? Will it be the smattering of pro-lifers who endorsed him, whatever their reasons? Or will it be to Republicans for Choice and Rudy Giuliani, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lew Eisenberg, and the rest of the Eastern seaboard establishment who are bankrolling his campaign?
Life of the Party came into existance, largely inspired by RNC for Life, to do what they do on a state level, but as a private citizen and blogger. While there is no "out" Republicans for Choice in the State of Washington, the pro-abortion-choice forces are alive and well within the state GOP, and are constantly pressuring the party to weaken the platform on life, and even to pressure pro-life candidates to not campaign on the life issues. This way, they figure, the argument can never be made that it's a "winning issue". Instead, pro-life Republican candidates constantly get killed on the life issues when the Democrats attack their "anti-choice" position, and the candidate is handicapped to respond for fear of losing the support of party leadershp. For these and other similiar reasons, the Washington State Republican Party is in the tiny minority with almost no end in sight. The candidates do not defend Republican Principles.
As the campaigns get rolling here for local offices, I will try to report to you where the candidates stand, but meanwhile, the focus is still on the presidential race.
As the media and the GOP Establishment are closing in, and calling the nomination "sewn up" for McCain, grassroots Republicans, need to give a close look, and determine whether or not we have it in us to defeat the "inevitable". Remember that it was a "done deal" when President Bush nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Remember that it was "inevitable" that Rudy Giulianin would be our nominee. But the determination of the grassroots defeated those two "inevitables".
Can we do it again? Yes, if we unite the coalition.
Huckabee is not the answer. While he says all the right stuff on the life issues, he cannot win the nomination or the presidency by being pro-life alone. Grassroots conservatives who come to the GOP because they are activists for other good causes like fiscal conservatism or fighting illegal immigration, will not rally behind Mike Huckabee (much like they won't rally behind McCain), because they know his record. Further, Huckabee has publicly stated that he could support McCain and that anyone who says they can't "is not a conservative". That's an insult.
I call on my fellow pro-lifers and conservative Republicans to resist a McCain nomination, which will be a disaster for the Republican Party, not to mention, a loss to Barack Obama. There is still time, and there is still a Republican alternative: Ron Paul, the ultimate non-McCain candidate.
Ron Paul is solidly pro-life. As a congressman, he has introduced legislation that would define life as beginning at conception and turn Roe vs. Wade on its ear. His proposed bill has largely been ignored by the "cosmetically pro-life" politicians in D.C. As president, this proposed legislation would be given much more publicity and suppport from the grassroots to pressure Congress to pass it. To learn more, visit his Life and Liberty page.
Ron Paul opposes amnesty for illegal immigration. Further, he wants to restore the original intent of the 14th Amdendment and remove birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants, and remove the welfare incentives that drive illegal immigration here. It should also be noted, that Ron Paul is not interested in punishing churches or private charities who give aid to illegal immigrants. Visit his Border Security and Immigration Reform page to learn more.
Ron Paul has never voted for a tax increase or for an unbalanced budget. He has much to say about inflation, run away spending and our fraudulant and unconstitutional monatary system. No other current or previous candidate in this presidential race has addressed these issues the way Ron Paul has. Visit his Debt and Taxes and Inflation Tax to find out more.
Ron Paul supports our right to keep and bear arms. He has offered legislation that would guard our second amendment rights, including repealing the Brady Bill and the "assault weapons" ban before its sunset in 2004. You can read more on his Second Amendment page.
Yes, Ron Paul voted against the war in Iraq. Is this a deal breaker for you? Perhaps you should have a look at his perspective, in his own words, on Iraq. Despite his detractors calling him a pacifist, he is strong on defense, and his biggest contributors are active duty military from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. If after reading his position on Iraq, you are still not won over, are you willing to give up all of the other Republican Principles (and give up restoring constitutional principles) to stay in Iraq?
On just about every issue conservatives care about, Ron Paul is a champion. (You can learn more on his issues page.) It's a wonder the conservative movement as a whole, hasn't caught on yet. Though he does already have a movement of supporters ready to carry on the fight, whether he gets the nomination or not, and mostly within the GOP.
McCain is leading now for a few reasons: 1) The MSM media has given him help, 2) Democrats have been able to vote in our primaries, working to give us the weakest nominee, and 3) conservative opposition has been divided among the other candidates.
I urge my fellow conservatives to join me in doing everything we can to defeat McCain with the real non-McCain candidate: Ron Paul.
Politics Jaded. Prayer Works. Who Knew?
The Trigger
It started Sunday, November 4th. Fred Thompson, the man whom many conservatives hoped would be "the next Ronald Reagan", committed the un-Reaganesque thumbing of nose at the pro-life plank of the Republican Party platform. It happened on "Meet the Press". Tim Russert, his persistent interviewer, read the entire plank aloud, and asked for Thompson's position on it. He opposed it. It was a serious blow to many of his pro-life supporters.
Committed pro-lifers who are fairly new to the 30 year debate over how best to strategically end legalized abortion, might consider his mere opposition to supporting a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution acceptable, especially in light of his support for overturning Roe vs. Wade. If one considered it long enough, one would realize that his position, supporting the overturning of Roe, and then leaving it to the states, would have allowed slavery to continue in some states.
But it gets worse. When pressed, Thompson said, that although he believes that life begins at conception, and that abortion is the taking of a human life, he doesn't believe it ought to be "criminalized" (read: made illegal).
The blow set off....
The Implosion
All in the same week:
Evangelical leader, Pat Robertson, would endorse pro-abortion, pro-gay, cross dressing, adulterer, Rudy Giuliani, the man who has inspired a sizeable opposition among serious Catholics, a key constituency for Republicans.
After flirting with the idea of doing the same, and then receiving outrage from his former supporters, Senator Sam Brownback, former candidate for president, instead chose to gamble away his pro-life Catholic political capital on "Gang of 14" leader, embryonic stem-cell research supporter, illegal immigrant slave trader, John McCain.
Paul Weyrich, Founding President of the preeminent conservative think tank, Heritage Foundation, and considered by many to be the "father of the modern religious conservative movement", would endorse "Multiple Choice Mitt" Romney.
David Osteen, Director of The National Right to Life Committee, would defend Thompson's "pro-life" voting record on nominally pro-life legislation as proof enough of his pro-life position, in spite of his aforementioned opposition to making abortion illegal. (UPDATE: A week later, the National Right to Life would endorse Thompson!)
What disappointment and disarray! What confusion and utter chaos!
From the Ashes
For the last several months, the diverse array of pro-life bloggers have been cheering on their guy (any one of the nine eight, well...nine if you include Alan Keyes) and yet anticipating the whole of our movement to pick one of the Republican candidates to get behind before the primaries and caucuses, so we'll be united and ready to defeat the pro-death wing of the Republican party and their covert plans, so we can move on to defeat Hillary. And then these "leaders" divide themselves up between our worse possible choices.
It would be depressing if it wasn't so comical. Or so biblical. (Psalm 2:2-4)
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
Amazingly, this implosion was triggered on day 40 of the 40 Days for Life campaign, the largest simultaneous, pro-life mobilization in history that promises to be "the beginning of the end of abortion in America."
The campaign was not political, though of course, we hoped it would have political impact. It was a mobilization of thousands of Christians across 90 cities, to pray and fast, and hold peaceful vigil in front of their local abortion clinic. Some cities also did community outreach to educate the public about abortion, but the main components were prayer, fasting and vigil outside the abortion clinic. Prayer to end abortion, in our laws and in our hearts, for the mothers, the fathers, the clinic workers and all involved, including politicians.
Those of us participating had little to no time for politics during the 40 days. We were on the front lines. We saw amazing things that only come about through the power of God. Answers to prayers for the individuals we saw there. I really could write a book about our campaign in Everett, Washington alone, and if I can stop for long enough, I just might. (Check out the blog)
I wondered many times aloud, what would transpire on day 40. Would the Jericho Walls of Planned Parenthood come crumbling down? Would the liberal U.S. Congress suddenly have an "aha" moment and pass laws outlawing abortion? Would married women of childbearing age and their husbands suddenly be converted to embrace the gift of their fertility and of life, and single men and women commit to saving themselves for marriage? I hoped.
No. Instead of the Culture of Death imploding, pro-life leadership did. This is consistent with what I felt that God was saying through the 40 Days for Life campaign.
Though I knew that it was not beyond the power of God to crush the Culture of Death, with only a word, as I told the crowd at our midway rally, I was convinced that He wouldn't. That instead, He was calling all of us to take part in ending abortion. More than putting a bumper sticker on our car, or voting for the right candidate, or even campaigning for the right candidate. More than giving a few dollars to a pro-life organization. What He wants from us is not political, but will have impact on politics.
He wants total commitment from us. He wants repentance and sacrifice. Our own sins have had a part in getting us where we are too, and He is calling us to repentance for ourselves and for our nation. Repentance for our immorality as well as for our apathy and for our lack of courage. Our actions, as Fr. Pavone says, "have not reflected the magnitude" of the blood that spills out daily on our land from abortion, and cries out to God...that is, until 40 Days for Life, according to Fr. Pavone. I agree.
Participants here in Everett, showed the magnitude by giving of their time, standing out in the cold, sometimes rainy, sometimes stormy, windy weather, often enduring insults from Planned Parenthood supporters, to show their love and commitment to the mothers and babies and most of all, to God.
Soaring to Heaven
Everyone who took part in the 40 days across the nation has sacrificed in some way, and each is a touching story. I encourage you to learn about Regis Burlas (pictured left), the man in his 80's, who was killed in a car accident on his way to a 40 Days for Life vigil in Jacksonville, FL on the final Saturday (listen to the audio version of the story here). You will be moved when you hear about the deep commitment to life that Regis and his wife shared.
Though the exhausting 40 Days has concluded, pro-lifers have a renewed commitment and energy to work like we've never worked before and pray like we've never prayed before, with firm resolve to end abortion. After rejuvenating for a little bit, here in Everett, we will continue to hold vigils on targeted days in front of the local Planned Parenthood. New people are entering pro-life work for the first time, and veterans are encouraged by their presence to persevere. Whether it be weekly prayer vigils, sidewalk counseling, pregnancy aid or post-abortion counseling, running for public office or teaming up to flood the caucuses, pro-lifers are committed. We will not quit until we see the end or until our Lord calls us home.
If the latter comes first, I suppose we'll still be at it there.
Victory and Peace
I think it's no coincidence that the aforementioned implosion was triggered on day 40. I see the hand of God in it. The Human Life Amendment hasn't had this much public discussion for a long time. Now it does. On day 41, a Washington State potential candidate for Congress, from Seattle, no less, wrote in favor of it, and 2 presidential candidates responded to Thompson's opposition of it.
Putting it charitably, I think the imploding pro-life leaders are tired and weary. Their endorsements aren't likely to change the opinion of very many voters. If they were combined, it would be another story. Thank God they're not.
As I write this, my feed reader has a new headline from the Sound Politics public blog, "Big News for Pro-Life Washington Tonite" [SIC]. The news is that "A federal judge has suspended Washington state's requirement that pharmacists sell "morning-after" birth control pills [which works as a chemical abortion if the woman is pregnant], a victory for druggists who claim their moral objections to the drug are being bulldozed by the government. "
And last night, I saw something else that was inspiring, and what I believe to be part of God's plan in all of this. A new film maker has a trailer out for their first film, due out in Spring of '08. It's called "Come What May" and it's about Roe vs. Wade, and the trailer indicates a theme of "no compromises". "Do the Right Thing, Come What May," it's graphic says. What a fitting name. That should be our new theme.
I don't know what will happen when Republican primary and caucus voters make their choice. Politics is jaded. Though it shouldn't be. My hope is that they will pick one of the few candidates who consistently stand for Life and for our nation's founding principles. I hope these candidates have a heart to heart before that, and decide which one of them should go forward, so that we don't split the pro-life vote or split the coalition, and as a result, hand the nomination to Rudy. I'm hoping some of the other campaigns implode before then.
Our nation is at a turning point in the coming months. But whatever happens on a political scale, I know that it's all in God's hands. His Truth is Marching On!
Our job is to "do the right thing, come what may." Don't compromise. Pray. Trust in God's mercy and perfect justice.
Going at it the old fashion way, as opposed to the way of conventional wisdom. Refreshing! The Iowa Straw Poll is Saturday. Pray for Iowans.
Read the story! Photo by Russ Mitchell of the Spencer Daily Reporter.
It's heating up in Iowa. Here is a press release from the Tancredo for President campaign:
Des Moines, IA) - Presidential candidate Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) today demanded an apology from Senator Sam Brownback for the "despicable and deceitful campaign tactics" he is using to deliberately mislead the voters of Iowa concerning Mr. Tancredo’s unassailable pro-life record. Tancredo was referring to push calls financed by the Brownback campaign that intentionally suggest Congressman Tancredo has ties to Planned Parenthood, a major abortion provider. (Transcript below)
"Sam [Brownback] and I have been friends for several years and he is well aware of my life-long commitment to the unborn. Yet he has approved the use of despicable and deceitful campaign tactics in an effort to deliberately mislead the voters of Iowa concerning my record and my commitment to life." Tancredo said, "I call on Senator Brownback to cease with the maliciously misleading push calls intended to harm me and apologize."
Concerning contributions he has received Tancredo said, "Americans from all walks of life, from all racial and religious backgrounds, and from all political persuasions support me because they believe as I do that illegal immigration is the greatest domestic threat we face as a nation and they know I will never resolve this issue by giving amnesty to illegal aliens."
Tancredo has an A rating from the National Right to Life Committee, and a 0% rating from NARAL, an abortion rights organization.
And here is the transcript of the Brownback campaign push call:
Hello this is an urgent alert for pro-life republicans in Iowa.
Tom Tancredo has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from the founder of a Planned Parenthood network, the largest provider of abortion in the world.
Pro-life republicans have asked Tom Tancredo to donate the money to a crisis pregnancy center here in Iowa that helps women chose life.
Tom Tancredo stubbornly refuses to do so.
Say no to Tom Tancredo and his Planned Parenthood friend and help end abortion in America.
This call is paid for by Brownback for President.
As reported here before, the individual to whom the Brownback campaign is referring, happens to be on the board of directors of FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform), so he obviously shares Tancredo's position on illegal immigration and border security, NOT his position on abortion. Tancredo not only has a 100% pro-life voting record, but supports a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, a rare pro-life position among the presidential candidates.
It seems Brownback is at a loss for how to win over some of the pro-life voters in Iowa who also oppose amnesty for illegal aliens and want to see the borders secured with no compromises. In Tancredo, they find a candidate for president who shares their views on both of these watershed issues and many others.
Senator Brownback, you know better.
Update: According to Vital Signs, Brownback stands by the call.
In a press release yesterday, Sam Brownback attacked his pro-life opponent Tom 
Tancredo for accepting "thousands of dollars from the founder of a Planned Parenthood network." He was referring to Dr. John Tanton, who also happened to be a founder of FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform). The press release failed to mention that, but instead attempted to mislead pro-lifers supporting Tancredo:
Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show that Tancredo's presidential campaign, political action committee, and congressional re-election campaign have accepted thousands of dollars personally from Tanton, and thousands more from a political action committee connected to Tanton.
The Tancredo campaign has responded:
Those who contribute to the Tancredo campaign are supportive of Congressman Tancredo and his principles and values; in no way does this suggest he endorses theirs.
As for the Congressman's pro-life record, it is unassailable. What is far more interesting to the people of Iowa is Senator Brownback's complete embrace of massive amnesty for illegal aliens.
Further, not only is Tancredo's pro-life record unassailable, but his complete position is pro-life without discrimination over how babies were conceived. He has received the support of Republican National Coalition for Life, an uncompromising pro-life PAC.
Senator Brownback is grasping at straws with this "guilt by association" attack after being widely criticized by conservatives for his support for amnesty and his waffling on the cloture bill last Thursday regarding amnesty. That he is attacking Tancredo in Iowa, indicates that Tancredo is gaining ground for his unwavering position against the illegal invasion of America by law breakers and against Republican politicians who would sell out our American sovereignty for some "cheap labor", as well as his solid commitment to protecting innocent life.
Perhaps Congressman Tancredo should ask why Senator Brownback would accept an award from the National Council of La Raza (The Race), which also has plenty of ties with pro-abortion groups and has been on the record supporting pro-abortion policies, aside from being one of the top lobbying groups in favor of the recently defeated (for the 5th time) Senate amnesty bill.
