Posted on 01/31/2002 11:27:58 PM PST by nickcarraway
RIORDAN ON ABORTION. In his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan has called for more taxpayer funding for abortion. In a November 8 interview, Los Angeles Times columnist, George Skelton asked Riordan "whether he had core political beliefs." "My basic conviction," said Riordan, "is what is in the best interest of the poor. We need to have successful businesses so there will be quality jobs.... We should fire bureaucrats in school districts who fail poor children." And, said the Republican contender, "the poor should have the same option on abortion that the rich have. Government should supply the resources so poor people have a choice." "I just lost the Republican nomination," said Riordan after his revelation, though his stance on abortion is no secret. The official "Riordan for Governor" website quotes the candidate as saying that he is "in favor of the right for women to make their own moral choice. I believe economically disadvantaged women should have access to medical funds, so they have the same right to make the choice as any other woman. You're not really giving the choice to somebody unless they have the wherewithal (to pay for an abortion). I'm against third-trimester -- or late-term -- abortions," Riordan continued. "Underage females should get permission from their parents. I don't like abortion. but a woman has the right to make her own choice."
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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