RIORDAN ON ABORTION.

San Francisco Faith ^ | February 2002

[ElkGroveDan]

*PING*

[ElkGroveDan]

Bill Simon is Catholic too by the way -- a REAL Catholic.

[Gophack]

Sounds like he is trying to have two sides of the same coin. I understand he also contributes money to pro-life groups.

That is coming from the Davis Administration trying to confuse the issue because Bill Simon is rising up in the polls. Davis WANTS to run against Riordan. Riordan has flip-flopped on every important issue. He may have given some money to pro-life organizations, but he has given far more to pro-abortion groups and politicians, including Gray Davis himself -- and liberal nut Barbara Boxer.

Riordan called Bill Clinton the greatest leader in the free world.

Riordan first supported gay marriage, then said he opposed it, then said he's open to talking about it, then said he supports civil unions. He gave money to Barbara Boxer, then denied he gave her anything. He says he's personally opposed to abortion, but that he is pro-choice. He thinks everyone -- you and me -- should pay for abortions.

Riordan says he's a fiscal conservative, but he supports taxing the Internet. He has said repeatedly that he is opposed to the death penalty, then in the debate said that he always supported the death penalty. He said that parents should be notified when their minor daughter wants an abortion, but he thinks that same daughter should be given contraceptives without parental knowledge.

Riordan is a disaster for Christians, a disaster for the Republican Party, and would hand a victory to Davis on a silver platter. I feel sorry for him ... I really think he doesn't know what he says and who he says it to. We need to pray for him, but we can't vote for him.

Bill Simon is the conservative choice for Governor. Responsible, reasonable, articulate, he will be a great advocate for conservative fiscal and social principles. He is pro-life, has an A-rating from the NRA, and has emphatically stated that he will not raise taxes.

Go Simon!

[Gophack]

Ping!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Thanks EGD. I just saw this and copied it. I plan to give it to every Republican I can get my mitts on. I think I'll copy a whole stack and place it on the table that sits in the narthex at my church.

[clamper1797]

Bill Simon IS my guy. That being said ... I hope that he doesn't alienate to many voters on his pro-life stance. There are other important issues that need to be addresses ie. 2nd amendment and immigration that can be emphazised without losing the left leaning (pro-choice) voter. The most MAJOR issue by far IMHO is getting the Demorats out of Calif politics. The abortion issue ,as important as it is, may need to hold off until we are in a better position politically. We can't do ANYTHING about pro-life as long as we as a party are not in a position of influence in California's body politic. I'm sorry, and I don't like it but that's the reality.

[clamper1797]

addresses= addressed

[ElkGroveDan]

Did you know that in 1998 -- the worst year ever for Republicans in California, that Lungren the loser GAINED votes because of his prolife stance?

That is according to the LA TIMES Exit Poll the next morning.

The simple fact is that of the people who vote based upon a candidate's abortion stance, more are prolife than pro abortion. In Lungren's case it was 13% of the voters who voted because of abortion picked him over 12% for Davis.

Also note that many prolifers stay home until they see someone they can really get excited about. Turnout affects elections more than people really appreciate.

[clamper1797]

Well ... I'm just concerned. I think his pro-life stance has now been recognized and understood. Now I believe since he has made his pro-life position clear he should more emphazise the other very important issues. Bottomline ... and trust me I DON'T want to be right about it, but bottomline ... if he is TOO pro-life he will NOT win the swing votes IMHO.

[Gophack]

I think that a candidate can be pro-life and win. Look at GWB. He was pro-life, but didn't wear it on his sleeve. He's been probably the best president since Roe v. Wade in working to change the hearts and minds of the American people on this issue.

Regarding Simon, I agree with you partly: he is pro-life, people know it, but we need to make sure that the RIGHT people know he's pro-life. He's obviously not going to go on TV and spend $2 mil on an ad talking about the sanctity of human life, but prolifers need to get his message out to the prolife community through emails, the internet, churches, religious organizations, friends, etc.

I think that when the public -- after March 5 -- sees and hears Bill Simon, they will know that he is not Dan Lungren. They will know that he is not a hard-sounding, mean-sounding "white male"; instead, they will see a compassionate conservative, someone who is smart and articulate and has good ideas for California's future. It will be hard for Davis to wrap the pro-life albatross around Simon's neck because Simon doesn't sound like liberals think pro-lifers sound like. Does that make any sense?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Lungren lost votes not because he was pro-life, but because he was "hard" and couldn't get out on any issues. Simon has a well-rounded policy plan and will come off as being a compassionate businessman. And he can bring coalitions of disparate interests together, just like Ronald Reagan.

[clamper1797]

I think that a candidate can be pro-life and win. Look at GWB. He was pro-life, but didn't wear it on his sleeve.

That is the point that I'm making. I believe he can be pro-life and win too. I just really hope that it is NOT protrayed as his main issue.

[BillyBoy]

If REARDON is so convinced of his views, he should start running ads showcasing the fact he's the only GOP candidate who supports abortion on demand. That's what the RINO candidate did her in Illinois...and within a few weeks, the number of Republicans who said they had a "negative" view of her more than DOUBLED. RINOs refuse to accept the only "extremists" in the party are their supporters!

[Brian Kopp DPM]

yep, selling babies for 30 pieces of political silver

[ElkGroveDan]

I just called the Simon campaign this morning. A copy (PDF) of Simon's statement for Sanctity of Life Sunday is available HERE

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Thank you so much for the link.

[nickcarraway]

I wish he would run that ad. Ob the other hand, he doesn't seem to disguise the fact he toes the Dem party line. The only one who seems to think he isn't pro-choice is Davis, and I suspect that's disingenous. I want someone to ask Riordan why we should vote for him over Davis, given that he thought enough of Davis to give his campaign money.

[Khepera]

Hey lets leave all moral choices up to the individual then we can have this guy drawn and quartered. I'll supply the horses for that one.

[Inkie]

Well, that's very interesting. I'm guessing a lot of you posters are from California, as am I. The airwaves are positively inundated with Davis ads telling about how horrible Riordan is because he gave to pro-life causes, backed Bork for the SCOTUS (because, oh gosh, he wanted to overturn Roe v Wade), etc. etc. You see this ad about every five minutes. It is disgusting, no matter what you think of Riordan. It also insults women, as if that is the only issue they would vote on. Davis has been the worst governor in modern times (excluding Jerry Brown). I am voting for Simon, but you can bet that if this is how Davis attacks Riordan, he'll do it in spades for Simon. Simon better have a really good campaign based not only on his pro-life views, but on all the fiscal mismanagement and Democrat tyranny this state has suffered under one-party rule for decades. If Riordan wins in the primary, I will vote for him. Anyone is better than Davis. I would vote Libertarian except for their insane view on open-borders and Browne's opposition to the war. Open borders are responsible for California's being overrun with illegal migrants, for being under the thumb of the Democrats (who buy votes from immigrants with their give-aways), and for the Arab-Muslim scum who are right now in this country trying to kill every last one of us.

[nickcarraway]

but you can bet that if this is how Davis attacks Riordan, he'll do it in spades for Simon.

At least then it would be true. Why doesn't Davis run an ad showing how stronly Riordan supported him. I think that's something that would be an important point.

[Gophack]

I am voting for Simon, but you can bet that if this is how Davis attacks Riordan, he'll do it in spades for Simon. Simon better have a really good campaign based not only on his pro-life views, but on all the fiscal mismanagement and Democrat tyranny this state has suffered under one-party rule for decades.

It will be hard for Davis to sink Simon on abortion. First, Simon comes across as a compassionate person, and being pro-life isn't a negative unless you're a "hard" person like Lungren.

Second, Simon is the only Republican candidate who has come out with sound policy ideas, knowing that as the underdog, he had better make up his name ID deficit with sound, smart, common sense solutions. His position papers on transportation and education and the budget are a good start ... detailed enough to know that he has given the issue thought and come up with practical solutions, but not so filled with bureaucratic garbage that they are undecipherable.

If Davis tries to turn the election on abortion, he'll be in for the shock of his life. Davis has a lot of baggage. When Bill Simon says, "Where were you Governor in 2000 when experts foretold of the energy crisis?" the voters won't look kindly on a Davis who answers, "I am pro-choice and my opponent is anti-choice." People are going to want answers, and Davis doesn't have them.

We all have to work hard for Simon now, and after March 5.