You’re missing the entire point. In fact, you’re making 2DV’s point for him.
Reagan was anti-abortion and worked to limit, with the goal of ending, abortions. But the “Theraputic” act is a blemish on his record. It was a mistake, not a hypocritical act, but still a blemish.
Does it make Reagan any less of a hero for the pro-life cause? No. But some people — those who demand absolute “purity” — would use this one incident to paint him as a “RINO” in today’s terms.
Add on the amnesty, and these same folks would be reaching for their pitchforks.
Yet Reagan is still a conservative icon, because these few blemishes are almost the “exception that proves the rule”. If anything, the California abortion bill opened his eyes to the deception and dirty tricks the left uses through the introductions and subsequent twisting of legislation. The amnesty might have worked if the promised enforcement methods had ever happened, instead of just laughed off by the Democrat-controlled Congress.
The cautionary tale here is: if the same standard of “purity” were applied in Reagan’s case as the so-called “true conservatives” would brand him a RINO or DIABLO. “Look, he signed a bill that was pro-abortion! He endorsed moderates (liberal Republicans); that proves he’s just another party loyalst who’s talking a good game to get elected!”
And so on.
Remind you of any FR posters of late?
It would seem some posters would like to distract this thread from its main point ... Sarah Palin is a 'King-Maker'. She was 3 for 4 and the only one to lose, Bledsoe, went from a 'distant second' to almost winning. I'd say a very good night for Sarah Palin's future. People can take all the RINO shots they want at selected candidates but she's a winner. She is an authentic conservative and I expect that she'll have great influence in keeping the primary winners on point with her agenda and governing as they campaigned (i.e. as a conservative) if they end up winning the general election or they risk losing her support.
Good for America too. We're in a war for survival, and an all-or-nothing approach (at this time in this culture) is doomed for 'nothing' as the result.