The NRLC endorsement
Word around the right side of the blogosphere, Politico, and Fox News is that the National Right to Life Committee will endorse Fred Thompson tomorrow.
Ramesh Ponnuru muses: “So is this the first time the NRLC has endorsed a presidential candidate who opposed a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution? (Romney supports it.)”
Must be part of that “maturing” thing.
OK, quick poll:
So…
***
See-Dubya in comments below: “Fred’s pro-life, always voted that way, and thinks Roe v. Wade is unconstitutional and poorly reasoned, so he wants to overturn it and return the decision to the states. It’s a conservative, incremental position that he actually seems committed to acting on. I’m not surprised at the endorsement.”
***
FWIW, here’s the NRLC flyer on the candidates’ positions on life (click for full-size):
See what others have said
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I approve of this endorsement, being a strict pro-lifer. However, I will not vote for anyone who supports the taking of human life after it is born either.
I’m sorry, but there are many more important things to base a candidacy on than abortion issues.
The libs want this to be an issue. In the meantime, our country is losing its sovereignty, inching closer to anarchy and being undermined during a time of war against ruthless foes by socialists calling themselves democrats and movie stars.
I am VERY disappointed with the NRLC! Thompson lobbied for pro-choice groups and opposes a Right to Life Amendment. There are two candidates vying for the Republican nomination, Mitt and Rudy. Rudy is pro-choice and Mitt is pro-life. I hope they reconsider their terrible decision over at the NRLC.
Is Fred still alive?
Law and Order was canceled, right? Personally, if we eliminate all the government agencies with the power to tax and control education, that’s a huge steps towards valuing life and not wasting it.
Fred is irrelavent.
The abortion issue has to be secondary in 2008. The main issue is survival of the country so defeating Islamofacism is what will drive the election.
No Democrat can do that so send em all packin.
The right to life is fundamental. I won’t compromise on “You shall not murder.”
Abortion, in my opinion, should not be a political issue.
lonewolf: Then you should agree with Fred who would leave it to the States.
Fred’s pro-life, always voted that way, and thinks Roe v. Wade is unconstitutional and poorly reasoned, so he wants to overturn it and return the decision to the states. It’s a conservative, incremental position that he actually seems committed to acting on. I’m not surprised at the endorsement.
This just in, Fred Thompson has just issued a press release saying that he will soon decide as to whether or not he will accept the endorsement of the NRLC. Stay tuned!
Boy, things sure are getting crazy. A pro-abortionist getting the NRLC endorsement. A gay-rights activist getting Pat Robertson’s nod. What’s next?
Oops. Shouldn’t have asked.
I cannot recall ever voting for a candidate due to any endorsement. It matters not what someone else thinks. It’s my one lone vote, and I make the decision to cast that vote based on prior performance or qualifications. If you’re unable to do the necessary leg work to find out about a candidate, you shouldn’t be voting. Yes, I have left blank spots on a ballot.
I’m not is sure Duncan Hunter is unelectable anymore. Anyone see the full hour on Beck Friday? Not the most charming cat out there, but wow, solid as a rock. Real conservatives should wake up and smell the coffee. I did.
I agree with See-Dub. Beyond that, he ain’t getting a Human Life Amendment in 8 years, so the fact he doesn’t support it is completely irrelevent. Functionally, he’s the best candidate a pro-lifer is gonna get this election…unless you want that Open Border Nanny Huck.
So what difference does it make? Fred’s voting record is 100% pro-life anyway.
Irrelevent, you’re an informed voter…most people are vaguely informed, if at all, and NRLC holds more sway with those types.
#14 Schweggie – I did watch Duncan Hunter and it changed the mind of another person in the room after seeing his steadfast committment to the issue of border security and support of the troops. I’ve liked him from the beginning but felt he wasn’t electable with the top 3 getting all the attention. He and Tancredo have both been left out in the cold during the debates for questions. Guess RP is more entertaining.
I like Hunter a lot and hope he gets a VP nod.
And speaking of Pro-Life issues, go see Bella if you have not already. Wonderful movie. Finally saw it last Friday…finally a movie you can really sink your teeth into…
At least it was not Rudy
At least it was not Hillary
…
Can Al “I invented global warming” Gore get it? He’s won everything else on thaat hoax.
People really need to give Duncan Hunter a close look. He’s not a RINO, not a democrat running as a republican, and seems to be the only one in the current field that is a true conservative.
#16 Bad Candy – my mother was Republican, my father Democrat. I learned early to have the answers ready. Politics were discussed, but never argued about. Every election day they would cheerfully go together and cancel each other’s vote out. But, they voted. After my mother passed away, my dad admitted he’d often voted for the candidate, not party.
24Klady – I didn’t know he was a Nam veteran either…big bonus
See-Dub – Ouch!
Let me ask this…and be honest, what chain of 2008 GOP candidates have you at one time supported, in order?
Me:
Condi (original draft movement)
Romney
Thompson
Huckabee
Thompson (again)
Hunter
LOL, I’m a loser.
Yeah, but not everybody is like that 24K. Most people don’t pay much attention to politics, which is what I’m trying to say.
For pro-lifers who don’t pay attention to politics, it matters because the NRLC is an authority on pro-life issues, and Fred can point to them as his Pro-Life Seal of Approval, and it’ll be good enough for them.
Anyone who chews bacca and drives a pickup is ok with me
I don’t chew but do have an old Chev pickup.
Actually Fred is a little more Tennessean than Algore was/is. I’m biding my time to see if Fred wakes up in time to realize there is a presidential race. At the moment there aren’t any Republicans that shake my socks and that is scarey given the number of invalid voters out there who could put someone like a Gore, Kerry or Hillary over the top. Be afraid people, very afraid. A few votes either way and we could have had imbeciles like Gore or Kerry on Pennsylvania Ave.
I’m with trinitytim, PBoilermaker, and lonewolf. Right-to-life issues should be considered secondary in an election this important. The issue only serves to alienate voters the Republican party needs to hold onto the Executive.
#24 Schweggie – believe Hunter also just had a son return home from the war. Never heard about it before his interview with Beck, which is also refreshing. I’m not sure he’d be interested in the VP slot, he’s so valuable where he is now.
#22 Jim M – Hunter impresses me the same way. Don’t think he has the time to lay it on as thick as some that are running. The constant reaching out by some of the candidates to show how “Reaganesque” they can be is getting old. RR was a gift, in a time where we needed a gift from the heavens. Would the country have the good sense to elect him today, I’ve wondered?
I thought we already had this. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the Constitution gaurantee the right of life, liberty and ther pursuit of happiness?
LC
Actually, those words are in the Declaration of Independence.
#25 Bad Candy – I’d be willing to bet you are the same way and do your homework too. We need to keep our friends and family informed. Many just don’t have the time after long work hours, kids, commute times. I forward a lot from MM’s and HA’s site, plus JihadWatch and a few others. If we can focus as much energy on this as we did Shamnesty and the Dream Act, we could make a difference.
IMHO, Fred’s lookin to be the Veep Southern seasoning on the ticket.
I am a solidly conservative, pro-life Christian. I’ve heard Fred’s position on abortion and I agree with him. His voting record bears out his stand on the issue.
My only beef with Fred is that he voted against the Clinton Impeachment. But I haven’t really heard his full explanation of it yet, so I’m keeping an open mind.
Right now, he looks to me to be the best shot at winning the base of the party (this endorsement shows that) and also swaying enough undecided voters to vote for him in the presidential election. Hunter and Huckabee have far too much to overcome, particularly in the area of name recognition (the most important issue currently).
I’ve often wondered whether we are so divided we could even elect Washington were he around today.
Schweggie #24–I used to be for drafting Condi, too. Sigh.
I still like Romney, by the way. Usually campaigning shows off the worst of people and makes me like them less (I went into this year with a great respect for Senator Brownback before he started his pandering). But I like Romney more than when the campaign started and I’ll be satisfied if he’s the nominee.
Fred -is- an excellent choice from the NRLC. I’m as pro-life as they come, and it’s boggling my mind that anyone is actually opposing that endorsement.
Qwinn
If it weren’t for Romney’s health care plan I’d be on his band-wagon. But mandatory health insurance? That’s not exactly free market economics.
Fred irritated me by sitting on the fence for so long, and he really hasn’t gotten any exposure since, aside from the occasional Hannity appearance.
I like Hunter, but he never gets any time at the debates to get his message out, and when he does, he hasn’t been hitting the question out of the park like the Huckter has been, which is how he’s been moving up.
Qwinn:
I agree with you. I have to shake my head when people call Fred Thompson a pro abortionist..etc.
Their ignorance of facts shows.
I wish more people would actually read up on politicians instead of listening to media sound bites before they go off on a topic. Maybe then we could have a better debate on the topics.
taylork – I guess you missed Fred on Meet the Press?
The way I read it, Fred, Mitt, John McCain, and Mike Huckabee all agree that Roe v. Wade is bad. To overturn that law is to send it back to the states. Now why is Fred being singled out as if he’s pro-abortion? They’re all against it, well, except Rudy – the new poster child for The 700 Club.
Apparently so! I’d didn’t even know he was on Meet the Press, and it got no play in my the newssites I visit regularly (drudge included).
Maybe after the Kerik thing settles down and Rudy loses more support because of it I’ll here more of him. I’m not opposed to him per say, he’s just not done much to excite me lately–the Michael Moore response was the last time.
I just hope that’s the case.
Well, taylork, I’ll give you that. The press sure isn’t giving him a lot of air time. They spend most their time focusing on Rudy or the DEMS.
See-Dub is absolutely right. I’m not even a supporter of Fred!, I’m just a supporter of “anyone but Hillary (or any other modern day Democrat)”. But it seems that his pro-life record and stance on Roe vs. Wade speaks for itself.
That said, I agree with most poll respondents… “ZZzzzzz”. This is one of those “lesser of two evils”/”anyone but Hillary” elections. Sure, it’s all fine and dandy to say you’re going to “take a stand” and not vote for Rudy (over abortion) if he’s the nominee, but you’re just handing votes to Hillary by doing so. Now we can fight over this all day long, but there is no debate. A protest vote or a “stay home on voting day” is just handing a victory to the Dems, any way you slice it. It only stands to make things worse, so all of you “principled voters” should think about that.
I won’t be home. I’m voting for Fred!
#42 = Unclaimed Money, all the more reason to talk to people. Because the hype started earlier than ever before it has become all but cast in concrete that it’s Rudy, the TN southern seasoning Fred (I love that line Bear) or Mitt. I’d love to be pleasantly surprised by not having to vote for “anyone but Hillary.” Many more guffaws from the Clinton 2for1 camp and it’ll be Obama.
If Hillary doesn’t sufficiently rebound, and fast, it’s going to be ‘anyone but Gore’ pretty soon. I think he’s getting in, no matter what anyone says. His ego demands it.
1 of 3 children being killed by abortion is not a secondary issue.
You won’t think the sanctity of life is a secondary issue when they come after you as an expendible liability.
Just a few points from my opinion based on some of the comments:
1. I cannot believe some are still trying to portray Fred as pro-abortion. May as well try and portray Hilary as pro tax cut.
2. I do think endorsements like this can have an impact on voters, if nothing more than to open someone’s mind who might already have previously overlooked Fred.
3. I agree abortion should not be the number one issue, but a President’s view of morality, constitutional law, and states rights should be considered crucial, and all those come into play on the Abortion issue.
Some seem to be down on Fred because he has failed to electrify the campaign overnight. Yet looking closely at all the candidates and their positions, I think Thompson most closely reflects the conservative stance, especially on illegal immigration.
I used to be a Duncan Hunter supporter, but decided that Fred was our best shot at getting a solid conservative in the White House. The fact that he neither flies nor walks on water as some had hoped are hardly reasons to pile on with the liberal media in attacking his motivation to be President.
The concept of caring where a President stands on abortion is absurd. The President has no affect on the abortion debate. Even appointing conservatives to the court won’t change abortion laws. The President can’t make law…only enforce it.
So, let’s keep our eyes on the ball and focus on enforcement of law, vetos and national defense. That’s what the President can do and that’s why having a conservative is important.
Michelle:
What about the fact–which you, yourself, pointed out in a previous post–that Fred does not have an opinion on Terry Schiavo? “Didn’t know enough about it.” I love how NRLC suddenly now doesn’t think that’s a life issue. Incredible.
DS
Well, he’s been in the race long enough to do something by now. And electrifying the campaign was what we were promised. Given that the Iowa caucus is only 7 weeks away, his time to electrify is running out fast.
I wonder how pro-life some of these people would be if they had a loved one raped and inpregnated by a crackhead of another race?
Just wondering. Theoretical beliefs and real life are 2 different animals.
It’s a complicated issue.
Fred is really gonna have to blowem away in the next few debates this winter to get back in the race. Rudy just has too much support from conservatives, moderates, and some liberals who hate Hillary. I don’t see his lead being dented. I do think he’ll try to get a social conservative as a VP like Mike Huckabee or Duncan Hunter. I wonder if a pro-life conservative would be willing to dance with Rudy for a shot at the VP? He could look like a sell out.
It seems to me that the MSM is determined to make the general election between Rudy and Hildabeast.
I will never vote for a pro abortion candidate. To place mere political expediency before human life reveals a serious lack of priorities.
Debbie! Where have you been??? You’re a few chapters behind in the anti-Fred play book. Fred is careful about what he says and why would he give some knee-jerk answer that can be used to hang him with later? As you know Fred lost an adult daughter and was involved as a family member in her end-of-life decisions. He said he doesn’t feel that issue should be up to the Federal government. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the Federal government having that kind of control over my life or the lives of my loved ones. Don’t get me wrong, I think what happened to Terri Schiavo was barbaric and it broke my heart. But it is NOT up to the Federal government to make those kinds of decisions. It’s not the government’s job to save you. It’s too late for Terri Schiavo, but it should be a lesson to everyone to get your affairs in order and for God’s sake, don’t wait on Uncle Sam to do it for you.
Well Oink,
That article covers about 1/4 of the mindnumbing responses here.
Fred Thompson fully understands how to get things done in Washington. When he first started considering his run he said a partial reason he left the senate was due to the fact he couldn’t make the changes that were necessary as a Senator.
Now, some of you are beginning to appreciate the man walks the talk where he was walking it before almost all of the others were even talking the talk.
Link to #58. Sorry I didn’t include it earlier.
And #61 didn’t quite work like I thought it would either! Yikes. Just click on it!
Don’t know whether I’m one of the “these people” you mean, Buck I, but I’m not going to take out my vengeance for something like that on an innocent child.
Buck, I am sure these people would not abort on the conditions you had stated. Prolife folks mean they don’t terminate babies of any race. By the way why are Pro-choicers have trouble showing what they do when a woman has an abortion? Are they ashamed? Just wondered.
Possiby, we’ll see.
Some Democratic candidates should show a little bit of courage, and come out againt partial-birth abortions, unless the woman’s life is in danger.
Thompson is at least as pro-life as Mitt is. When did Mitt come around on this?
No more absurd than the concept of caring where he stands on taxes or trade.
The latest Rasmussen poll shows Hillary beating Thompson by 48% to 42%.
It shows Hillary leading Giuliani by 48% to 42%. Big difference there, yes?
If conservatives and moderates LOVE Rudy, it does not show up in the polls.
And from Pew, we see this.
Keep repeating it, Jim. Maybe it will get through eventually.
Yeah, but he better do it somewhere else. He’s just preaching to the choir here.
Lets see here;
Fred voted pro-life for his entire eight year career in the Senate while Willard Romney changed his mind about every subject his entire career…what a tough choice it was to make eh??
RazmehbecauseI’mPompous was betting that WrongwayRomney was going to get that endorsement, I guess he felt he had to announce it as quickly as he could before he got it taken to him…What a donkey that schnook is. I wonder when he’ll decide to observe our custom of taking an American name since he has his nose so far up our business.
While I agree there are many more things to be concerned about, I dont know of one that’s much more important than the killing of American citizens in the womb. Who will stand up for the most defenseless among us? It used to be the Republicans. If we cant expect a candidate to protect the unborn, they why should we expect him to do his best for the country?
I’m just one man and one vote. But I’ll state it here – I will NOT support any candidate regardless of party or religion that does not support the right of the unborn to live.
For too long I’ve voted for the lesser of two evils. But I came to the conclusion that the lesser evil is still evil. That goes for the RINOs Rudy and Mitt.
Ok – you all can fire away.
Well I’m sure you’ve heard all the arguments already. Just remember, none of these guys are running for Jesus.
Flenser, also true for taxes, but not necessarily trade. The “Bush” tax cuts were, in reality, Congressional tax cuts. The President can’t cut or raise taxes either. Unless you count influence, the President has no affect on taxes either.
He can however make decisions that affect trade.
Um, I’ve been following it, actually. And I think his first answer was his answer. He doesn’t get a million bites at the apple. Sorry, but unlike you, I don’t fall for his “I voted for it before I voted against it” John Kerry act. Pity that you do. He’s given several knee-jerk and idiotic statements over the past few months, actually. Pity you missed them. Fredheadism does that to ya.
Thompson had poor ratings from the NRLC during the 105th, 106th and 107th Congresses. Add to that his anti-life position on war and suffering, and I cannot support him.
really worked, didn’t it?