Posted on 11/13/2004 6:05:41 AM PST by cpforlife.org
PRO-LIFE WARNING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
We believe that abortion is infanticide, and that a holocaust of infants is taking place. We do not believe that there is any other issue on Earth that compares with abortion in moral import. And therefore, there is no policy or combination of policies you Republicans can offer, including perfect tax policies, tort reform, and every other thing that is near and dear to Republican hearts, that matters a damn if abortion is overlooked and allowed to slide by.
We know that this issue has to be settled in the Supreme Court, nowhere else. And we know that the opportunity to put new justices on the court comes once in a decade, maybe, and that the current opportunity to alter the complexion of the court is not going to come again for a generation. Therefore, the real possibility exists that abortion can finally be seriously curtailed, soon, by the Supreme Court changing Roe v. Wade or eliminating it...IF, and ONLY IF, we can get pro-life judges on that court.
To do that, we have trusted the Republicans for years. We just came out and voted for you again this time, in unprecedented numbers, because we are not stupid and we know what is at stake. Not just evangelicals either. The religious CATHOLIC vote went Republican in 2004, and they didn't do it because of trade policy or even gay marriage. Their issue is abortion.
And the overriding issue is abortion.
So, if the Republicans allow Senator Specter to get the Chair of the Judiciary Committee and he blocks pro-life nominees, or if the Republicans do not use the nuclear option to override Democrat filibusters of pro-life nominees, THIS TIME there is no place for Republicans to hide. WE KNOW that you have the power, now, because WE just voted to give it to you. We understand that you can block Specter. And we understand the nuclear option.
And therefore, we most certainly will understand that if you allow the pro-life judges to be blocked, that it will be your political CHOICE to have done so. You CAN put pro-life judges on the bench, if you expend a lot of political capital. This will offend some people - a lot of people. And that is the price you HAVE to pay to get our votes next time. You have to be willing to bet the whole house to end infanticide.
If not, we will not vote for you. We won't go running to vote for the Democrats: they're pro-abortion. We won't go out and form a third party: we're not stupid and know that won't work. We'll just stay home, just like we did in 2000. Except that in 2000 it was out of frustration and neglect, and the lack of belief that anything will change. There was no organized campaign to keep the pro-life vote home in 2000.
This time, it's different. We understand the system, and we know that you have the power. And we demand that you use the power straight down the line to fill the high court and the appellate courts with judges who will protect the lives of babies. Period. This is not negotiable. At all. This is why we voted for you. You have nothing with which to bargain with us, and if you screw us, we will stay organized and we will stay home purposely to destroy the Republican party. Because if you do not protect the babies when you have the power to do it, you are no better than the Democrats...and worse, you will have lied to us.
This means, in effect, that all of those things YOU care most about: taxation, immigration, trade and business policy, deregulation - all of those core issues that come as an economic package, are held hostage to our issue: babies. If you will not protect the babies, we will stay home and let the Democrats destroy everything that YOU believe in.
This is called "Chicken". It is called a "Mexican Standoff". And since we are fired up by the certitude that we are doing God's work in defending babies, we cannot be bought, and you cannot win so much as an election for dog catcher in this country without us.
Therefore, the solution is simple and obvious: give us what we voted for you to do. Give us pro-life judges. Use all of your power to do it. Sweep Specter out of the way: is he worth losing all the rest of your agenda? - because we really will stay home and throw the country to the Democrats if you're no better than they are on abortion, just to punish YOU for having betrayed us. When the filibusters come, and they will come, use the nuclear option to override them. That will poison the Senate, yes. So what? We are talking about babies here. And with our votes, militantly mobilized because we are winning, alongside of yours, in 2006 and 2008 and beyond, even if the Senate is poisoned, you will be able to replace it with a more Republican one.
That there is even a debate going on as to what to do with Specter is alarming, but we have had our hearts broken before, so we'll sit and pray and trust President Bush and Senator Frist and the Republicans to do the right thing.
Screw us, though, and we will turn on you and your whole agenda will go down the drain with the blood of the babies you wouldn't put your power on the line to save.
The easy solution, the win-win solution, is to BE as pro-life as you campaigned as being. Just do it.
I apologize for the length of this post. But it needed to be said. The Republicans do not seem to get it. They need to understand that we are more committed to saving babies than we are to the fortunes of the Republican Party. That Specter is still in play demonstrates that too many of them do not take this seriously.
Rather than test us, what you guys should do is simply cave, now, and give us what we want. Do that, and you wont hear from us again - there will be no creeping theocracy in America - because this is about the only religious issue that Catholics and Orthodox and Evangelicals AGREE on.
So reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. Fair enough. We each have different abilities. Re-read the warning AGAIN. Recognize that it resonates across the comitted pro-life community. If it does NOT resonate with you, ask yourself what commitment you have to life. Do as you will, but if the GOP doesn't live up to the Platform, it is asking for serious trouble. As the D's lose power, and they are, the GOP is ripe for a schism. Moral issues are the Great Divide in the GOP. Hide your head in the sand, pretend that the Divide is just ONE person, but ignnore the warning at your peril. I will be a delegate to the Washington Convention in 2006 and 2008, God willing. I will fight for this issue. If the left wing wins, I will act.
I certainly agree with that principle hoc.
But that is not exactly what is happening here.
These folks are not telling the truth, in that they are painting lipstick on a pig.
Judicial temperament is what we want, not opinion!
You could easily end up with a Constitution rewriter in the form of a pro-life judge.
One of those folks who are the exact same copy of the current crop of believers that the Constitution Is a living, breathing document and it should be changed, interpreted and molded to todays social needs.
The judicial temperament we desire is strict constructionist. A temperament where personal opinion is not at all important. The Judge, should be neither pro-life not pro-choice in his judgments.
What is sought here is a judge who acts on personal opinion. This Judge would be wrong. How can you test this judge?
The question/demand/ requirement,should be one of temperament, not opinion on any issue except the Constitution.
What I am seeing here on this thread, is not a desire to get judges with proper judicial temperament, it is to get temperamental judges.
We do not want, need or desire activists of any cause, belief or deity. We want men/women that see the Constitution in it's true wisdom, who see the founder's desires as they were, and not as they should have been.
A judge with opinions on either side of issues and allows these opinions to shade his/her judgments is the worst kind of judge to be on our bench.
But this is what they are asking for, and that is why I profoundly disagree.
You clearly had not followed the full exchange then. The vitriol poured against me and the Catholic Position on Life made it clear that a - he meant the type of research and treatment forbidden by Natural Law and b - was deliberately baiting people. He and others here want People of Faith OUT of the debate. They have said so here on this thread. Sorry, the meat eater has the exact same moral standing as the butcher. Killing a child, selling the body parts of that child or using those self same parts are ALL evil.
Your constituency has never been loyal. You are a pain in the a$$. You whine, you complain and if you don't think you are getting your way you stay home on election day.
You are not considered part of the republican base by anyone except democrats, and they are always wrong. This election was not about you. It was not about abortion.
Your turnout numbers as a percentage were no greater than before. Nobody in the party held your hand this year. Nobody promised you anything out of the ordinary, and certainly no promise has been made to overturn Roe.
What Bush said, he meant.
An observation -- "your side" (if you'll forgive the generalization") has attacked "my side" with similar vitriol. More, they've told us to LEAVE the GOP, they've said we have ought not participate in making public policy. Since none of know each other, it is our belief system that is being attacked (on both sides), hence the high emotion.
What a shame.
I'll miss all the insults and profanity.
Dear Amelia,
Folks who are active in the pro-life movement haven't been forgetting about the cultural change. In fact, practically speaking, it is cultural change that takes up most of the time and energy and money & stuff the really committed pro-lifers spend.
For the really involved pro-lifers, "welcomed into life" isn't rhetoric. Folks work real hard to take care of women and their children who find themselves in crisis pregnancies. Although the abortion industry is lucrative and chokes on its own profits, nonetheless, there are several times as many crisis pregnancy and pregnancy aid centers as there are abortion mills. And the number of active folks out there working to welcome children into life, and support women in tough circumstances is at least an order of magnitude greater than the number of evildoers working hard to kill every baby before she can take her own breath.
But whether or not these things are true, if Roe is overturned, there will be legal consequences. Immediately.
A little googling revealed that of the 50 states, 16 still have unrepealed pre-Roe laws severely restricting abortion. Another 11 have laws on the books severely restricting abortion that were passed AFTER Roe, which say that if Roe is overturned, they take effect.
And 40 states have passed significant restrictions on late-term abortions that are currently inoperative due to Roe.
Thus, if Roe were to be overturned, the next day, most abortions would be illegal in most of the states, and at least a significant proportion of abortions would be illegal in 80% of the states.
What would happen then? I'd expect that in short order, the bluest of the blue states would move to an unrestricted abortion license, and the rest of the states would place significant restriction ranging from significant regulation of late-term abortions to nearly banning abortions even in the first trimester.
But I also suspect that many folks who right now think of themselves as "pro-choice" (but when closely queried reveal that they would prefer restrictions that would effectively ban most abortions) would start to think of themselves as "pro-life."
And that's because a significant portion of the population is really more than anything, "pro status quo."
You can see it in Mr. Bush's approval numbers. In the upper 40s throughout much of the summer, by election day, when most folks expected he'd win, he was at 51%. Now he's at 56%. In less than two weeks, 5% of the population has moved on job approval.
It creates cognitive dissonance to be in disagreement with "the way things are." Lots of folks deal with the cognitive dissonance by going with the flow, by viewing the status quo, whatever it is, as the right way for things to be.
The day after Roe was overturned, I'd expect this phenomenon to begin. Just as it is currently very, very difficult to get enough folks to support a Human Life Amendment, because it would change the status quo, the day after the overturning of Roe, it would become very hard to achieve a national consensus for a relatively unrestricted abortion license, because it would change the status quo.
"And realistically, even if Roe is gone, without the cultural change,..."
Really, Amelia, that train has already left the station. Culture is working against the death-mongers. Science is working against the death-mongers. Popular knowledge and belief are working against the death-mongers.
The only thing the death-mongers have left is lots of money. Lots and lots and lots of money. But even money fails, at some point.
sitetest
I believe the term here is "power mad".
I knew this pro-choice cabal had some moderator muscle behind it.
"Your constituency has never been loyal. You are a pain in the a$$. You whine, you complain and if you don't think you are getting your way you stay home on election day."
So when you support, say a Rudy Guliani or an Arlen Specter as the GOP candidate in the 2008 primaries, you do NOT want my support, right?
Dear Cold Heat,
"What Bush said, he meant."
When he said that he was working to have all children, born and unborn, protected in law, what did that mean?
Please explain to me how protecting unborn children in law can be done without undoing Roe, either through amendment to the Constitution, or through a decision of a differently-constituted Supreme Court, or through legislation (a speculative approach) that takes the abortion question out of the hands of the courts.
How can unborn children be proteced in law without undoing Roe?
As for loyalty, I have pulled a straight Republican Party ticket since I was old enough to vote, since 1978. I have voted in every federal and statewide election from 1978 on. I have even voted for Republicans who were iffy on the question of life, to strengthen the Republican Party, to get to the point where the party would be strong enough to take decisive action against Roe.
I have donated to the last several Republican presidential candidates.
I and my wife have performed volunteer work for Republican candidates and the Republican Party.
I did my small part to elect Gov. Bob Ehrlich in the state of Maryland, the first election of a Republican governor in 36 years. Even though he is officially pro-abortion.
I have done these things because the Republican Party has been the pro-life party.
Now, it is possible to take the first steps to reverse Roe. Now is the time. It is merely the fulfillment of part of the party platform.
Do you have a problem with President Bush keeping his promises?
Do you have a problem with the Republican Party executing a long-standing part of its platform?
sitetest
Maybe. Somewhere deep inside this 1200+ post thread was a comment about FRiend Howlin getting suspended once, at least I think that was what the post meant.
Yes, that's true, and I think those people don't get enough publicity - for which we can in part thank the MSM. And I don't think those people are anything but loving and compassionate to the young women they are trying to help.
Unfortunately, what most people "see" when they think of pro-lifers - and I'm talking Average Joe and Jane on the street, not FReepers - are judgemental mean people - the "Taliban wing" of Christianity, if you will. And I think we've seen some very good examples of that sort of behavior on this thread even.
I've had discussions with people who "wouldn't have an abortion but don't want to restrict another person's right to do so", who are convinced that those who want to stop abortion wouldn't lift a finger to help a teenager who found herself alone and pregnant, but would instead revile her for the sin that caused her to be in that position - and I know there are "Christians" out there who would behave in just that manner.
But I also suspect that many folks who right now think of themselves as "pro-choice" (but when closely queried reveal that they would prefer restrictions that would effectively ban most abortions) would start to think of themselves as "pro-life."
I think you are probably correct. Of course, I live in the Bible Belt South, and prevailing attitudes here are not necessarily the same as those in the rest of the country, and I can't speak for the rest of the country. Most people I know claim they wouldn't seek abortions themselves, but can see circumstances where other people might.
HOWEVER, they don't think abortion should be used for birth control, or performed after the age of viability (which is getting younger all the time).
Really, Amelia, that train has already left the station. Culture is working against the death-mongers. Science is working against the death-mongers. Popular knowledge and belief are working against the death-mongers.
Yes, again I think you are correct - and in the long run, I think this is more important than law. As I said earlier, there are plenty of things that are illegal, such as drugs, that are still being done. To really end them takes a change in hearts & minds.
Just something I've noticed.
If pro-lifers aren't welcome here, Jim Rob needs to change his statement on the home page:
As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America.
Notice Pro-Life comes only after Pro-God?
Statement by the founder of Free Republic Free Republic ^ | Jim Robinson Posted on 03/22/2004 9:22:17 PM EST by Jim Robinson "I posted the following statement to our front page in response to the criticism I'm receiving lately as to not being fair and balanced and perceived mistreatment of trolls and assorted malcontents. Got news for all, I'm NOT fair and balanced. I'm biased toward God, country, family, liberty and freedom and against liberalism, socialism, anarchism, wackoism, global balonyism and any other form of tyranny. Hope this helps....
Lots of things are evil, and I'd bet that you've partaken of some of them.
I've had many conversations with pro-choicers, and they never ask how much my family gives or donates to charities that help unwed mothers-to-be. They just assume we don't because it fits their argument that we're all repressive, heartless puritans who favor zygotes to real people.
They all make the same standard argument about us. They never ask questions that may contradict that sacred point of theirs.
No question, I am a sinner. The question is degrees of evil and impact on others. Abortion = Murder. I've never murdered, God Willing I never will.
The LAW should not allow or encourage the murder of babies for any reason. For PROFIT especially using 'medicine' as the hook, well it is stomach turning.
I think most merely take offense at the arguably childish "do it my way or I'll take my ball & go home" attitude expressed in the article this thread is based on.
Exactly. When I remind a killer of the FACT that they are a KILLER, I am helping their conscience to work. If you support killers, you share in their blood debt.
I don't know how this site is run or organized, but the Mission Statement is pretty darned clear.
Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family
Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family
Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family
Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family
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