Life of the Party

Who Does He Think He's Foolin'?

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From Rich Lowry at The Corner:

NR has learned that the McCain campaign has been calling key state GOP officials around the country the last couple of days and sounding them out about the consequences of a pro-choice VP pick. The campaign is asking about the reaction of conservative grass-roots activists to such a pick and whether a pro-choicer can be sold to them. This is an indication that the McCain campaign is serious about the possibility of a pro-choice VP nominee and that McCain leaving the door open to Tom Ridge last week may not have been merely a friendly nod to a longtime supporter. In this scenario, McCain's emphatic pro-life statements Saturday night and his pledge that he'll run a "pro-life administration" would have been partly an attempt to reassure conservatives in the event of a pro-choice pick. Here is NR's take today on why going with a pro-choicer would be a mistake for McCain.

H/T: Save the GOP

Let's see.  Here's a sampling since he first floated the idea:

A Catholic guy from swing state Ohio and his blogging friends.

Michelle Malkin

Phyllis Schlafly

Free Republic

Creative Minority Report

Regular Guy, Paul

Feddie at Southern Appeal, and founder of Catholics Against Rudy,  where that "Mission Accomplished" Sign really bugs me.

And finally, someone who gets the whole picture and doesn't have such a short memory.  It's worth quoting:

Maybe if McCain had not been pushed on us in the first place, and maybe if pro-lifers had not been urged to support McCain in the primaries, we would not be in this situation.

Compare -- "John McCain's character, courage, record, and life experience make him the best candidate of either party to meet today's challenges . . . Senator John McCain has a long-standing pro-life record. What’s more, he has the ability to secure the Republican nomination and to prevail against any Democrat nominee, each of which is strongly pro-abortion . . . Here is the way we thought about our decision. It was made at the intersection of three issues: defense of the unborn, defense of our nation from the Islamic terrorists, and electability. When these issues are taken into consideration together, we believe there is no candidate who is better than John McCain. We urge all pro-lifers to consider John McCain in precisely this way."
--Two Catholic Pro-Life Advocates Endorse John McCain's GOP Presidential Bid

With -- "Right now McCain is skating on the thinnest of ice. At best, the election is tied. In many polls, he is 4-5 points down. He has yet to crack 45 percent in any national poll and is behind in key states. At worst, he is facing a blowout. Now is not the time to pussyfoot around with a guy like Tom Ridge. . . . McCain is already suspect among social conservatives. And picking a pro-choicer will have the further effect of cooling whatever ardor he has been able to gin up among them mostly because of the fear of Obama. Social conservatives are largely not for McCain, they are against Obama. A lack of enthusiasm among McCain supporters could spell disaster for him come Election Day. . . . At the moment, McCain can expect at least tepid support among faithful Catholics, those who go to Mass at least once a week and who support the teachings of the Church on core issues like abortion. He needs this group to win the election. He is putting them in an untenable position if he decides to pick Ridge . . ."
--Defeat and Disaster if McCain Picks a Pro-Choice Catholic

We are in the situation that the second writer describes largely because of what the first writer and others like him were enthusiastically saying about McCain in the primaries, even though most other pro-lifers were very suspicious of McCain.

But guess what, the second writer and first writer are the exact same person.

This annoys me to no end. If John "most electable" McCain had not been kept afloat by such endorsements when his campaign was floundering, we might have a different nominee. A better nominee. A truly authentic and enthusiastically pro-life nominee, and not merely some guy who has happened to cast a few Senate votes on the pro-life side.

UPDATE: Could it be McCain-Giuliani?!?!?!  I wouldn't put it past him, would you?  Some believe, this might be the campaign floating his name out there to make the real veep choice seem more palatable to pro-lifers.  That's possible.  On the other hand, the campaign has already hired Rudy's staffer as the unnamed veep's communication director. 

Life of the Party Endorses Delavar for Congress

Life of the Party is proud to endorse Michael Delavar, candidate for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District. 

Michael is a principled candidate who is committed to upholding the U.S. Constitution and ending legalized abortion through the most sensible means of defining personhood as beginning at conception or "fertilization" in the law.  This simple step would automatically place preborn children under the protection of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which states in part, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." 

Not only does Michael hold true to the first of our founding principles, the Right to Life, but across the board, he examines every issue with the guiding light of the Constitution.  At times, this puts him at odds with pro-life organizations and with his party.  But it ought not be that way.  His position on Life is solid, not discriminating towards babies conceived through rape or incest, and he only differs with pro-life organizations on some of their pragmatic legislative proposals, because a) they violate a particular constitutional principle or b) they further enshrine Roe vs. Wade into the law.  With his party, he is at odds over the war, but his position is more in line with traditional Republican thought in the model of Robert Taft.  Republicans who fancy themselves Goldwater or Reagan Republicans, would do well to go back and read the book A Choice Not an Echo by Phyllis Schlafly, which helped to propel the candicacy and presidential primary victory of Goldwater, and ultimately paved the way for the Reagan Revolution.  Shlafly's book exposes the backroom manipulation by big government figures in past Republican primaries, to ensure that no conservative got nominated within the party.  The primary issues were opposing big government, including the New Deal domestic policies and foreign interventionism, both of which benefited the fat cat power brokers who were manipulating public opinion through their media and corporate connections.  Robert Taft was considered a model conservative in this landmark book. 

This brings us to Michael's primary challenge, which will be covered here soon.  For now, please visit Michael's website and donate or get involved to help this principled, pro-life, constitutional, freedom loving candidate for Congress!

Local Pro-Life Powerhouse Celebrates Third Year of Publishing

Congratulations to Mary and Jonathan at Abortion in Washington!  They have some amazing accomplishments in their three short years as highlighted in their celebration post, including some incredible admissions by Planned Parenthood and NARAL officials, as well as a look at their shady finances.  Aside from their groundbreaking investigative reporting on the abortion industry, the profound commentary offered by Mary E., is worth reading, even a second time around.  Two of my favorite posts are: Liberty Line and Death and Taxes.  Both are refllections on her visits to Planned Parenthood, where we spent many hours together in last year's local 40 Days for Life Campaign (of which, by the way, will be launching its third nationally coordinated campaign within a 12 month period).   

If you don't already have Abortion in Washington blog bookmarked, you should.  There's sure to be more astounding news as they uncover the truth about the abortion industry in Washington, and provide profound insights into the dignity of life and of women, the privelaged bearers of life.  It's a pleasure to have such an ally working in the trenches to restore the Right to Life in Washington State and across America! 

Local Pro-Life Conference--Mark Your Calendar

Healing the Culture: A New Vision for Life

2008 Pro-Life Conference and Expo, November 6-8
Hilton Bellevue • Seattle, Washington

Mark your calendar for the pro-life event of the year! Join Father Robert Spitzer, Camille De Blasi Pauley, and other nationally acclaimed speakers and guest celebrities at the 2008 Healing the Culture Conference in beautiful Seattle, Washington.

Hailed in 2006 (Vancouver, British Columbia) as "one of the most important and useful pro-life conferences," Healing the Culture is bringing our power-packed, 2-day national conference to the world-class Hilton Bellevue Conference Center, near Seattle.

This important event will include:

• Cutting-edge pro-life training and education,
• Nationally acclaimed speakers and guest celebrities,
• Generous time for networking and visiting the Exhibits Expo,
• All meals and refreshments, including the Grand Ballroom Banquet,
• Exquisite accommodations at the Hilton Bellevue.

Visit Healing the Culture for more information and to register now. 

November 2008 Election Historic for Pro-Life Movement

Because it's a presidential year?  No.  Because of a particular congressional race?  Well, perhaps some of them might prove to be interesting, but not that either.  Because voters in the state of Colorado, the first state to liberalize abortion laws before Roe vs. Wade, will be the first of any state to vote on defining "personhood" and when it begins.  Why is that important?  Watch this video and pay particularly close attention to the discussion between Justice Potter Stewart and Attorney Sarah Weddington who represented Roe in Roe vs. Wade.   

Colorado for Equal Rights Personhood Amendment from Personhood USA on Vimeo.

I'm suddenly reminded of one of the "principles" (more like verbal gymnastics) of Mainstream Republicans of Washington:

We value life and seek to protect it - We should not attempt to legislate a definition of life.

Well, yes we should.  How else will we know who is protected by the law?  They know this is an attempt to sidestep the issue, their organization being full of lawyers and experienced politicians, several of them instrumental at liberalizing our own state's abortion laws pre-Roe. 

Kudos to Kristi Burton, who is showing courageous leadership at such a very young age, and to all in Colorado who have worked to get the personhood amendment on the ballot.  Many of us will be watching and praying for Colorado, and ready to follow in their footsteps.  You have set the example for us all!

Vote Pro-Life

In the presidential race, that might not be so easy to do.  But in local races here in Washington, there are some great candidates to support. 

At the Washington State Republican Convention, I had the pleasure of hosting the first ever Life of the Party booth.  With the help of some wonderful volunteers, we collected pro-life pledges from candidates for national delegates, and confirmed through the many pro-life voter pledges collected, that grassroots Republicans are still strongly pro-life. 

We also had a few candidates for public office stop by and take the time to fill out the Republican National Coalition for Life Candidate Questionnaire, and I'm happy to report, after reviewing their answers, that the following candidates take a firmly, pro-life position:

John Ahern is running for re-election for State Representative in the 6th Legislative District.

Steve Beren is running for U.S. Congress, challenging the very entrenched pro-abortion liberal Democrat incumbent in the 7th Congressional District, Jim McDermott.

Michelin Doan is running for State Representative in the 17th Legislative District, challenging the incubent, Deb Wallace, who votes in lockstep with NARAL and Planned Parenthood. 

Matt Shea is running for State Representative in the 4th Legislative District, in an open seat, vacated by retiring Republican Lynn Schindler, who has endorsed Shea. 

The willingness of all of the above candidates to take the time to fill out a candidate questionnaire at a busy Republican convention, says a great deal about their seriousness toward protecting the right to life.  Please consider giving them your early support this campaign season. 

I've also had the opportunity to get to know Michael Delavar and his wife Katja, through the Ron Paul campaign.  I'm very impressed with Michael's grasp of the issues, especially with regards to the right to life.  He's running for U.S. Congress in the 3rd Congressional District against Brian Baird. 

And closer to my home (but not in my district), Val Stevens, a champion of Republican principles, including the right to life, is running for re-election.  Her seat is probably pretty safe, but she deserves the enthusiastic support of pro-life Republicans. 

Oppose Assisted Suicide in Washington

Read the facts, and find out how you can help spread the truth about I-1000, the so-called "Death With Dignity" iniative.  Coalition Against Assisted Suicide

First Abortion Clinic to Close Following 40 Days for Life Campaign

The national 40 Days for Life blog has the news about a New York clinic scheduled to close tomorrow, April 25th.  This and other breaking news gives all of us here locally, and around the country, who have organized or participated in a 40 Days for Life campaign.  Pictured above, prayer volunteers during the 40 DFL at the abortion clinic that will close tomorrow.  How true that sign is as evidenced by this news!

More Pro-Life Activism and Conservative Values

Suzanne Gallus, who has been featured here before, has announced her greatest accomplishment this year.  Aside from getting ready to give birth to her 5th baby girl (all within 7 years), she has managed to do the impossible:  Comply with Washington State car seat law without having to buy a 12 passenger van.  Read about how it's done by a pro. 

Hope for the Pro-Life Movement

UPDATE:  It was lots of fun!  What a neat group! 

I'm very pleased to have been invited to speak to Youth for Life tomorrow night.  "Youth for Life is a Catholic, pro-life youth group begun in November of 2001 in an effort to involve and educate youth in their particular role in the pro-life movement."  Their group has 100 members in the state of Washington.  Many of them are of voting age and some attended their first precinct caucus this year and have become very interested in learning more about the caucus and convention process.  So I'll be speaking about that and how pro-lifers can better advance the pro-life agenda through the political process. 

Here is the mission statement of Youth for Life:

As the youth of our generation, we are committed to living the Holy Father's call to live the Gospel of Life with courage and conviction. We consider it our duty and great honor to serve our unborn brothers and sisters in a manner that is both uncompromising and compassionate. We endeavor to show the truth about abortion, reach out with charity to the women and men whose lives have been affected by abortion, and to show forth the inherent beauty and dignity of every human person from the moment of conception until natural death.

I think I'll feel right at home, regardless of my age ;0).