Reply to MCCL

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life are recommending Republican caucus-goers to vote "uncommitted pro-Life." I wrote the following reply to them, urging them to reconsider. Their e-mail address is information@mccl.org.

Dear Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life,

I understand that you recommend "Republican Caucus attendees identify themselves as uncommitted pro-Life." I am writing to respectfully but emphatically ask you to reconsider your position.

You reason that your position is the best for voting "later on." But I would propose that pro-Lifers should cross the "later on" bridge when we get to it. Voting pro-life is easy in the general election; the contrast between the Democratic and Republican nominees is usually stark. Now that Giulani has dropped out of the race, that looks to be the case again in 2008

However, all the Republican candidates are not equally pro-Life, and I can see no harm that would be inflicted upon the Minnesota pro-Life movement by the endorsement of the best.

The unfortunate situation of this election cycle is that we are not inundated with fully, fervently, and consistently pro-Life choices. John McCain opposes a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, believing that "Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states." In addition, he has positioned the issue of life anywhere but at the forefront of his campaign, making it a secondary concern, at best.

The same goes for Mitt Romney. He has said that he would like to end abortion, but that he doesn't think that the country is ready. Regardless of the validity of that statement, it is not one of a leader of pro-Life action. It is saturated with apathy and resignation. Furthermore, his site states that he is in favor of abortion exceptions, an unsettling position--especially for a man who has only recently become pro-Life.

In drastic contrast, Mike Huckabee is and always has been completely, consistently, and committedly pro-Life. The abortion issue is what originally got him involved in politics, and he passed pro-Life legislation while governor of Arkansas. He supports a Human Life Amendment and has made Life a flagship issue of his campaign.

By refusing to endorse the best candidate for the pro-Life cause, you are implicitly hurting the pro-Life movement. If Huckabee is not nominated by the Republican party, pro-Lifers will naturally coalesce around the best candidate remaining. But if you do not endorse Huckabee, and he fails to garner the nomination, your lack of initiative will likely be one of the reasons. Seven state organizations have already endorsed Huckabee. I hope you will become the eighth.

Thank you for your time.