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NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE...:Nation’s largest pro-life group endorses Fred Thompson
National Right To Life Committee Inc. ^ | November. 13, 2007

Posted on 11/13/2007 8:31:22 AM PST by Reagan Man

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE SHAKES UP RACE FOR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION:

Nation’s largest pro-life group endorses Fred Thompson WASHINGTON – Marking the first major endorsement by a national grassroots organization in the Republican presidential contest, National Right to Life, the nation’s largest pro-life organization representing pro-lifers in fifty state affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, today announced its endorsement of former Senator Fred Thompson for President of the United States.

“As the first major grassroots organization to enter the Republican presidential race, National Right to Life is proud to endorse Fred Thompson,” stated Wanda Franz, Ph.D., president of National Right to Life. “Our endorsement is a testament to Senator Thompson’s long-standing pro-life record, his commitment to unborn children, and our belief in his ability to win.”

In making its endorsement, National Right to Life considered the position of candidates on the life issues, their records on the life issues and their ability to win.

Fred Thompson has had a strong, consistent pro-life record throughout his political career. Thompson opposes abortion and believes the 1973 abortion on demand Supreme Court decision was wrongly decided and must be reversed. During his eight years in the United States Senate, he always opposed using tax dollars to promote or pay for abortion and supported the many pro-life measures such as parental notice and consent.

Thompson has also stated his opposition to the kind of stem cell research that requires killing human embryos, while supporting the kind of stem cell research that harms no one and is the only kind producing cures.

Since announcing his candidacy in September, Fred Thompson has run second only to pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination in the overwhelming majority of national polls. As pro-lifers throughout the nation begin to unite behind his candidacy, he will be well positioned to win the nomination and the presidency.

“Unlike endorsements by single individuals, this endorsement was made by representatives of statewide pro-life organizations across America which themselves are comprised of local community chapters and grassroots activists,” said Dr. Franz.

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation’s largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008endorsements; abortion; fredthompson; life; nrlc; prolifevote; rmthread; zot
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To: Shelayne

Of course all our headlines say anti-abortion group backs Fred. They’d never say a pro-abortion group backs anyone now, would they? The bias is so blatant.


221 posted on 11/13/2007 12:52:30 PM PST by secret garden (Dubiety reigns here)
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To: secret garden

I’m surprised they don’t lower themselves to “anti-choice” like NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and NOW. So transparent.

Choice. Yeah right.


222 posted on 11/13/2007 1:08:00 PM PST by Shelayne (...)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
Even Roberts said Roe was a settled precedent

What Robert's actually said was:

Roe is "settled as a precedent of the court, entitled to respect under principles of stare decisis".

This is true of all past decisions. It is meaningless in terms of a decision being overturned. In the same confirmation hearing, Roberts discussed the criteria for overturning a "settled precedent".

223 posted on 11/13/2007 1:27:00 PM PST by Prokopton
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To: xsmommy

awwww.....what a shame..


224 posted on 11/13/2007 1:31:43 PM PST by prairiebreeze (Fred '08 Because our troops DESERVE BETTER than Mrs. Bill Clinton.)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
The odds of overturnig Roe are probably less than the odds of passing a HLA

I doubt that seriesly, and Roberts saying that something is 'settled precedent' doesn't mean he would not agree to overturn Roe. He's simply stating what IS, not necessarily what COULD BE.

225 posted on 11/13/2007 1:35:24 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

and every time the noob is wide-eyed and aghast that anyone suspects them of anything untoward, then ZOT! they fulfill everyone’s assumptions, until the next wide-eyed noob comes along.


226 posted on 11/13/2007 1:36:04 PM PST by xsmommy
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To: David13
Thompson could have my vote if his supporters would see that he has flaw, and he needs to address it.

Oh puhleeze! Even we who support Thompson wholeheartedly, know that there was only ONE Perfect Man. He just doesn't happen to be running for President, so we're looking for someone with whom we can agree on most of the issues. We know Fred has flaws, every human being does, but those flaws don't happen to disqualify him for the Presidency.

If you don't support him, that's fine, just say so. We obviously won't agree with you, and we will challenge you, if you try to spread nonsense about him.

227 posted on 11/13/2007 1:55:45 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: David13
Fred should not have taken a whole week off after the debates.

I told you I would challenge you if you kept spouting nonsense. Consider your statement challenged. Fred was on the road after the debates, and there are newspaper stories proving it. Quit parroting what you hear in the MSM, and from supporters of other candidates, and do the research for yourself.

228 posted on 11/13/2007 1:58:46 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: TheThirdRuffian

I’m a Fred supporter, you’re welcome to check my signup date...


229 posted on 11/13/2007 2:00:48 PM PST by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: Jim Robinson
Jrochelle has posted a thread relating an interview with Fred by National Review: HERE

NRTL has some great answers about why they picked Fred. Check out my post #48 and the article link if you haven't seen them.

230 posted on 11/13/2007 5:38:45 PM PST by greyfoxx39 (I have a tagline . I just don't think the forum police will allow me to use it. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE)
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To: xsmommy

Can’t say he wasn’t warned.....


231 posted on 11/13/2007 5:40:23 PM PST by greyfoxx39 (I have a tagline . I just don't think the forum police will allow me to use it. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE)
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To: xsmommy
and every time the noob is wide-eyed and aghast that anyone suspects them of anything untoward, then ZOT! they fulfill everyone’s assumptions, until the next wide-eyed noob comes along.

I just wonder how darn many of these n00bs are retreads though.

232 posted on 11/13/2007 5:43:45 PM PST by greyfoxx39 (I have a tagline . I just don't think the forum police will allow me to use it. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

“Here’s a guy who said on Meet the Press that he was against a constitutional amendment banning abortion. Go figure!”

Fred is a Federalist, and murder is part of the State’s portfolio of powers. There is no federal law against murder, and so the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe vs. Wade was an example of a Federal branch exceeding its powers.
A constitutional amendment banning abortion is the nuclear option, and is impossible to achieve under the present political conditions. But because it’s simple and easy to see it will work, the simple minded among us have focused on it to the exclusion of any other options, which might actually work.
Millions are dying every year and we are morally obligated to save as many as we can. By failing to recognize the reality of the situation and changing our strategy, we become complicit in their deaths. If we start small, at the state and local level, as the anti-smoking campaign did, we can save thousands of lives NOW.
Changes to the Supreme Court plus State and Local abortion laws challenged all the way to the Supreme Court, could eventually cause the over ruling of Roe vs. Wade based on Federalist principles.
Fred is right, and is leading the way, all we must do is follow.


233 posted on 11/13/2007 5:59:19 PM PST by Eagle74 (From time to time the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots)
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To: greyfoxx39

I took the liberty of posting the write-up about the interview with NRLC concerning why they endorsed Fred. Sure sounds like they carefully reviewed the voting records of each candidate and also interviewed each before they decided to endorse Fred.

Posted on 11/13/2007 2:20:37 PM PST by JRochelle
On Monday evening, officials at the National Right to Life Committee agreed to take some written questions from National Review Online regarding their pending endorsement of Fred Thompson for president. I just received the answers from Darla St. Martin, NRLC’s co-executive director. They are posted below in their entirety.

Kathryn Jean Lopez: Why Fred?

Darla St. Martin: National Right to Life endorsed Fred Thompson based on three factors: his commitments on life issues, his record on life issues and his ability to win.

Lopez: Did you hear what he had to say on Meet the Press the other day? He sounds like someone who buys into the conventional wisdom criticisms of pro-lifers: We want to “criminalize” women – throw them in jail. As Bob Novak put it, Senator Thompson “revealed astounding lack of sensitivity about the abortion issue.” Are you schooling him or are you confessing we really do want to throw desperate women behind bars?

St. Martin: Neither National Right to Life nor Fred Thompson supports criminal penalties for women who have had abortions.

Lopez: Are you upset that Jim Bopp, your general counsel, is with Romney?

St. Martin: Our General Counsel James Bopp has a number of clients who may endorse various candidates for President. His endorsement of Romney is a personal endorsement and does not represent that of National Right to Life or his other clients.

Lopez: Why is it O.K. with you’all that Thompson co-sponsored McCain-Feingold campaign-finance-reform legislation that you’ve been fighting for years?

St. Martin: Our endorsement was based on the life issues themselves: the killing of unborn children by abortion or stem cell research and euthanasia. Further, several of the Republican candidates disagreed with us on various aspects of “campaign reform”. However, Fred Thompson has revised his opinion on the principal problem National Right to Life had with “campaign reform.”

Lopez: If you forgave Thompson on some things, why not forgive McCain, who has the longest pro-life record (stem cells excepted) of any of the viable candidates?

St. Martin: We gave every candidate who had a significant number of pro-life votes on their record or took pro-life positions on life issues serious consideration for endorsement. It is simply not true that anyone was ruled out of consideration because of his position on “campaign reform”. Meetings took place with all the leading Republican candidates except Giuliani.

Lopez: Does Fred Thompson have a Terri Schiavo problem? He’s said he opposed congressional invention to save her life.

St. Martin: Fred Thompson has stated that he believes decisions about a patient’s life saving care should be made by the patient or their family. But he has also made clear that when the patient wants treatment, or in cases where the patient’s wishes are unknown, their families want life-sustaining treatment, that it should be provided. In cases where the family is divided, he believes the benefit of the doubt should be given to life. It should be noted that Terri would be alive today if the division in the family had been decided in favor of life as Fred Thompson favors.

Lopez: Is the Thompson endorsement an indication that the National Right to Life Committee is abandoning its support for a Human Life Amendment?

St. Martin: National Right to Life continues to support a Human Life Amendment (HLA) as a goal. However, National Right to Life also knows that it will take a change of 25-30 Senate seats to even pass a Human Life Amendment out of the U.S Senate where a two thirds vote is required —not to mention, the required two-thirds vote in the U.S. House and three fourths of the states to ratify. It is very, very unlikely to happen in the next presidential term, and the President does not have a vote in the amendment process anyway. The only way Roe v. Wade will be reversed in the foreseeable future will be through the Supreme Court and Fred Thompson has stated that he will appoint judges who will interpret the Constitution according to its actual text (the kind of judges who will know that abortion is not in the U.S. Constitution).

Lopez: Does Fred Thompson have to do some things differently now that he has your endorsement? Did it come with conditions and/or assurances?

St. Martin: We discussed their positions on life issues extensively with each of the major pro-life candidates, including Fred Thompson. We did not interview or consider Giuliani for endorsement.

Lopez: How important is it that the Republican candidate for president be opposed to legal abortion? Was there a political calculation here? Does the National Right to Life Committee think Fred Thompson is the most viable pro-life candidate?

St. Martin: We think that it is very important that the Republican candidate for President be pro-life. Yes, viability is an important criteria for our endorsement, but all three factors, commitments, record and viability are all important and were considered.

Lopez: Is your endorsement of Thompson an explicit rejection of Romney? Do you not believe he is pro-life?

St. Martin: The endorsement of Thompson was done based on the three factors mentioned above: record on life issues, commitments on life issues and ability to win.

LOPEZ: Does this mean that you believe that: a) Romney’s record as governor is weak on life? b) Romney is not fully committed to defending life? c) Romney cannot win the Republican nomination? d) Romney cannot win the general election?

ST. MARTIN: Our emphasis today is on our endorsement of Fred Thompson. That endorsement reflects his strong pro-life commitment and record. Fred Thompson has been pro-life his entire political career.

Lopez: Why not go safe and endorse Huckabee? Or heck, Ron Paul, a pro-life doctor?

St. Martin: If you look at our website www.nrlc.org, you can examine for yourself the pro-life records of several of the candidates who have served in Congress. An objective comparison of the statements of all candidates is also available on our web site. Huckabee has an excellent pro-life record, but as you can see on our web site, Thompson also has an excellent pro-life record. However, Thompson has been the candidate consistently running second to pro-abortion Giuliani in the national polls. You may also wish to check out Ron Paul’s voting record on our web site.


234 posted on 11/13/2007 6:00:17 PM PST by seekthetruth
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To: pissant
Hey pissant!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

235 posted on 11/13/2007 6:15:54 PM PST by ConservativeTerrapin (Fred Thompson '08)
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To: ConservativeTerrapin

Yep. I’d tell you what I really think, but I would be banned. Gotta walk on eggshells around the golden child.


236 posted on 11/13/2007 6:17:23 PM PST by pissant (Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
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To: greyfoxx39

you’re right, of course. they all are. a true noob isn’t mouthing off on a thread within days of sign up, they are still attempting to learn the ropes on the site.


237 posted on 11/13/2007 7:08:23 PM PST by xsmommy
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To: Politicalmom

Excellent Post!


238 posted on 11/13/2007 7:28:37 PM PST by frogjerk
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

I have no problem with you supporting Hunter, where have you seen Thompson “thugs”?


239 posted on 11/13/2007 7:30:41 PM PST by steve8714 (When full-out jihad hits Europe they'll all want dollars.)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; KlueLass; ...
Ping!
240 posted on 11/13/2007 8:59:03 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Thursday, November 8, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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