Successful Tea Party Movement Must Include Pro-Life Issues, Not Just Economy

Life News ^ | 8/31/10 | Tom Glessner

[wagglebee]

LifeNews.com Note: Tom Glessner is a pro-life attorney who is the president of NIFLA, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates. NIFLA is an organization with more than 1,200 affiliated pregnancy centers that provides legal, medical and practical help for pregnancy centers across the country.

Political change is blowing in the wind but it is not the change promised by Barack Obama when he ran for the presidency. For sure, Obama has brought political change to the nation, but his transformational policies have meant bigger government, higher taxes, federal subsidies of abortion on demand, and greater governmental control over the lives of American citizens.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens across the nation have raised their voices to protest Obama’s policies of change. They are crying out for a different change that will honor the integrity of each individual and create an atmosphere where true liberty in all spheres of life – economic, cultural, and spiritual- reigns. Political pollsters are now predicting a huge seismic shift in the political landscape this November. The recent Glenn Beck sponsored rally in Washington D.C., attended by thousands upon thousands of grass roots activists, indicates that this public outcry of protest is real and powerful.

The Tea Party movement is comprised of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents from all walks of life. The political ruling elite, the corporate world, and the media have completely failed to comprehend this populist movement dismissing it as marginal, extreme and even racist. However, this movement is not composed of ignorant and bigoted individuals, as suggested by the political class. Rather, it is an authentic grassroots movement of thoughtful and patriotic people demanding real change from an out-of-touch political establishment.

The Tea Party movement, for the most part, centers its protest on economic issues and concern about the loss of freedom that an ever-growing federal government brings. These concerns are valid and appropriate. Most leaders of this movement also believe in the sanctity of life and the need to halt the wholesale destruction of innocent human life through abortion and other life related issues such as embryonic stem cell research. However, many in the Tea Party movement have made it clear that while they are sympathetic with the pro-life cause, the abortion issue is not formally part of the Tea Party agenda.

Economic issues are a vital concern; as is the growing size of the federal government and its overreaching into the lives of ordinary citizens. The overwhelming burden of excess regulation and taxation upon businesses and individuals is alarming. In the same manner, however, the killing of 1.25 million unborn children annually from abortion must be a grave concern. Accordingly, a failure by the Tea Party to incorporate the serious pro-life concerns of millions of Americans into its agenda will be fatal to achieving success.

Perhaps, the Tea Party should take a lesson from the old fashioned three-legged milking stool. When I was a child I visited my aunt and uncle on their dairy farm and was intrigued watching my uncle milk the cows while sitting on a three-legged stool. I asked him why he used such a funny chair to milk the cows. He explained that a four-legged chair can be unbalanced if one of its legs is a different length than the others and it could even tip over if you leaned backwards. A three-legged stool, on the other hand, balances evenly and won't tip over even if one of its legs is longer

We should learn something from the old-fashioned milking stool. There are three legs to a successful agenda that will change America for the better. Each leg is critical and the current grassroots movement for change in America will collapse if any of these legs is ignored. These legs are:

1) Revival of the Economy: This leg requires the establishment a strong robust economy that creates full employment and does not burden small businesses with taxes and oppressive regulations that hinder job development. Limited government and reduced taxation are at the core and are necessary to bring the nation out of the serious economic recession/depression in which we find ourselves.

2) Maintaining a Strong National Defense and Protecting Homeland Security: This leg requires a serious commitment by the government to win the war on terror and protect our country’s border from those who would illegally enter and do us harm.

3) Protecting the Family Unit and Restoring the Right to Life for All: The social issues – protecting the sanctity of marriage and restoring the right to life – are issues of equal importance. Millions of Americans, including myself, have placed these issues at the top of the priority list for the next generation of political leaders to seriously address.

To date, while it appears that most Tea Party leaders verbally support all three legs of this “milk stool” some, such as Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, assert that the social issues (and specifically abortion and the right to life) must take a back seat to the other two legs, which are seen as more important.

A further example of this viewpoint was shown in a recent interview of Sarah Palin with Sean Hannity of Fox News. Gov. Sarah Palin, a committed pro-life leader, was asked to name the top five issues facing the country today and the deaths of 1.25 million unborn annually from abortion was not on her list. If, indeed, this is the approach a new Congress takes after the November mid-term elections, then the agenda of the Tea Party movement will fail.

America must be forewarned. A nation that fails to protect the lives of its most vulnerable members has set a course for itself that will lead to its eventual destruction from within. The killing of future generations through the act of abortion has already taken a toll on the demographical future of the nation and the Western world. Unless this trend is stopped then, notwithstanding the impact of the Tea Party movement, our culture and nation will have effectively committed suicide.

The invention of the three-legged milking stool was truly ingenious. Will the current populist movement for change understand this and formally incorporate the life issues into its agenda? Time will tell and the future of America hangs in the balance.

[mlizzy]

Yes, I agree, the Tea Party movement is lifeless without their standing up for Christ's little ones (and their mothers).

I like to follow holy souls when it comes to matters of defeating the demonic hold of abortion:

"There is no stopping abortion without an ocean of grace from Jesus Christ. No way will human means stop abortion. The principle source of this grace is the Holy Eucharist" --Fr. John A. Hardon.

"Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today" --Padre Pio.

"We are reminded that even supposed political victories are temporary, and that the solution to these problems is not political, even if we have to keep up the political fight and our activist efforts. We are called to prayer, fasting and conversion...only God can put a stop to the horror of abortion now" --Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer.

"A sign of care for the weakest of the weak - the unborn child - must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for" --Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Abortion will become less and less appealing to Americans, if we follow the above suggestions, as the Eucharist carries the power to win all battles, as the Eucharist is Christ Himself. Consider daily Mass, in addition to the daily recitation of the rosary and frequent Confession, fasting, etc. In doing so, Planned Parenthoods would eventually be forced to close, as the Christ Child would replace the evil desire we have to murder our babies and destroy our mothers.

[moehoward]

Correct-a-mundo.

Focus on the big prize. Associated issues will self cure.

[aruanan]

"There is no stopping abortion without an ocean of grace from Jesus Christ. No way will human means stop abortion. The principle source of this grace is the Holy Eucharist" --Fr. John A. Hardon.

Principal source.

[DJ MacWoW]

Those “steps/points” are absolute proof that drugs rot your brain.

[DJ MacWoW]

The tea party was formed as a grass-roots revolt against runaway government spending.

Social programs are responsible for runaway government spending. It costs money to please everyone and be their mommy. I'm sorry that you can't see the obvious connection.

[DJ MacWoW]

So, if you were a liberal, what *would* you call abortion and gay marriage?

I'm not a liberal. I'm a conservative. And the federal government has no business making abortion legal nor defining marriage. Federal backing of both costs taxpayer $$$$$.

This is Jeffersons view of government.

"The way to have safe government is not to trust it all to the one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions in which he is competent....To let the National Government be entrusted with the defense of the nation, and its foreign and federal relations..... The State Governments with the Civil Rights, Laws, Police and administration of what concerns the State generally. The Counties with the local concerns, and each ward direct the interests within itself. It is by dividing and subdividing these Republics from the great national one down through all its subordinations until it ends in the administration of everyman's farm by himself, by placing under everyone what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best." Thomas Jefferson

[little jeremiah]

This 12 point thingie (sounds as though they need the Narc Anon or whatever it is 12 STEP program!) is nothing more than one of the worst phony baloney “heave on earth” nonsense I have ever seen.

[DJ MacWoW]

It sure sounded like Princess Moonbeam wrote it. Holy cow what crap!

[rbmillerjr]

Well, you’re simply wrong on three counts.

Initially, I was the first poster, I believe, that said that the TeaParty should NOT take on the Social Issues.

Secondly, that doesn’t mean that social conservatives who are also economic conservatives, can’t bring their Pro Life signs.

The GOP, as big as a failure as it is, has to manage all three legs. If you think they don’t you’re wrong. The GOP can’t win without any of the three, then need economic, social, and natsecurity conservatives. Period, or they lose.

[little jeremiah]

Leftist/liberal/libertarian/or whatever you want to call it social positions are in and of themselves Big Government. For a number of reasons, but time constraints allow me to post just this one, for now:

They mandate that government overturning generations and centuries - or even longer - millenia! - of cultural and legal and societal norms and restraints, to please the left and associated entities.

The conservative view is “leave things as they are and have been” or in some cases, a roll-back.

That is the small gov position. Strange you don’t see it.

[dsc]

“Such a Congress could outlaw funding of Planned Barrenhood and similar groups and gut many usurped powers of SCOTUS and inferior courts over Comrade O’s veto if possible.”

Hey, BlackElk, long time no see.

That there is mighty cheery talk.

[HairOfTheDog]

Social programs are responsible for runaway government spending. It costs money to please everyone and be their mommy. I'm sorry that you can't see the obvious connection.

Nothing I've heard on this thread (abortion/gay marriage) involves cutting costs at any social program...

[DJ MacWoW]

Social programs cost money. First, you stop them from implementing any new ones, like “gay” marriage and taxpayer funded abortions. Once you get social and fiscal conservatives in office, cut more garbage out. That’s the point. Most of your taxes are paying for nanny state garbage. Social and fiscal conservative ideals are the basics of conservatism.

[HairOfTheDog]

Your argument is so muddled with your own brand of societal mothering it’s only because I already have a clear understanding of what fiscal conservatism actually *is*, that I still support fiscal conservatism despite you.

You don’t have a prayer of convincing anyone new.

[little jeremiah]

You mean, she cannot convince anyone who is married to socially liberal positions, apparently. She makes perfect sense to me.

“Societal mothering”? Where is that part, maybe I missed a comment?

[DJ MacWoW]

HairOfTheDog is a social liberal. She simply refuses to acknowledge a connection. Guess she missed this too.

Post 181 Jim Robinson

If you’re not fiscally AND socially conservative, you’re not conservative!

[HairOfTheDog]

You’re a little tattle tale.

I’m not a social liberal. I just really really like a simple, fiscal strategy of fighting the high cost of government first. That’s what I’m most interested in from candidates, and that’s what I think that’s what would do us the most immediate good.

You’re still free to fight for other priorities, but those are mine.

[HairOfTheDog]

“Societal mothering”? Where is that part, maybe I missed a comment?

I mean gay marriage and abortion, as the law is right now, are not fiscal cost issues, they're moral and social ones. I might agree with you on the rightness of them, but they don't save us a dime in taxes.

And that's why they're not really tea party issues to me. They're social and religious ones.

[DJ MacWoW]

You’re a little tattle tale.

You've been here how long? And you still have no idea that you give a courtesy ping when you quote or talk about someone as BOTH little jeremiah and I pinged you? It's FR etiquette. You should know that. Would you rather that people talk about you and NOT ping you? If not, why would you want it done to someone else?

I just really really like a simple, fiscal strategy of fighting the high cost of government first.

Which will do you absolutely no good if MORE social programs are added and funded. Social and fiscal conservatism are part of the same cloth. They cannot be separated.

[HairOfTheDog]

I’ve been here long enough to know a call for help when I see one.

Well... we’ll see.

Who’s adding social programs? Not me!