National Right To Life is going to announce their endorsement of Fred Thompson. This is disappointing on a number of fronts. In the wake of Fred Thompson declining to support the HLA on Meet The Press, count me among the surprised. Despite protests that his pro-life position is restricted because of his federalist ideals, he has shown a complete unwillingness to assert real leadership on life issues.
This endorsement continues a trend of conservative organizations assuming more concern over realpolitik rather than principles. What’s worse is these realpolitik calculations are coming when there are plenty of options. It is not like this endorsement is presented in stark relief to an endorsement of Giuliani. It is rather against an endorsement of Romney, which in my opinion is a wash, or an endorsement of Huckabee for which they declined based on electability considerations. The latter considerations were done in an atmosphere of rising poll numbers for Huckabee and open talk of Huckabee stealing Iowa. To what profit did NRLC see in not waiting until closer to Iowa to offer an endorsement? Even so, what makes Thompson the embodiment of the pro-life message? What a bunch of sell outs.
November 12, 2007 at 9:25 pm
These are the same clowns who support massive subsidies to the drug companies to prevent any negotiation over drug prices with the government.
November 12, 2007 at 9:35 pm
It does seem that nominees are being chosen almost before anyone has an opportunity to choose them (in the primaries, at least). Thus endorsements are coming earlier and earlier, and no one wants to back the wrong horse. Perhaps the experience of the Democrats between 1968 and 1980 caused folks to abandon the idea of a truly open debate prior to the convention.
November 12, 2007 at 9:45 pm
“What a bunch of sell outs.”
Hardly. Robertson’s endorsement, for what very little good I think it will do Guiliani, was a sell out of the pro-life cause.
This endorsement is simply puzzling to me. I am curious to see just what will be said by both the National Right to Life reps tomorrow and by Thompson. Thus far he has run a lack-lustre campaign and his statements on abortion have been disappointing over-all.
Contrary to the predictable comment by Tony above, the National Right to Life committee are not clowns. Over the years I have found them to be fairly shrewd in advancing the pro-life cause politically. The endorsement does strike me as a probable mistake, unless they have information that I am not privy to in regard to Thompson and the other contenders for the endorsement.
November 12, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Out of the “Front runners” it seems to me that McCain is the greater friend to the unborn. Even better are the second tier candidates like Paul and Huckabee. This is quite disenchanting.
November 12, 2007 at 10:42 pm
It’s strange. McCain deserves the nod.
November 12, 2007 at 10:46 pm
So they endorse the actor and not the OB/GYN. Huckabee as well would have made a lot more sense. Well, I’m interested in hearing the reasoning. Perhaps Thompson is not as lukewarm in the cause for life as I thought.
I wonder if they’d support Giuliani if he gets the Republican nomination?
November 12, 2007 at 11:31 pm
McCain supports embryonic stem-cell research. There’s also a lot of bad blood between NRLC and McCain going way back. There’s no way they’d ever endorse him.
November 12, 2007 at 11:33 pm
On a humorous note, Huckabee’s biggest flub was when he conveyed his ignorance of the Mexico City Policy, asking “I just want to make sure that we were not agreeing to . . . a Mexican law”?!?. Disappointing.
Thompson’s responses on the abortion question in last week’s “Meet The Press” were very disappionting. I’m curious how the National Right to Life will address this.
November 12, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Don’t be surprised if the NRTL endorsement of FDT falls through.
There is no greater voice for promoting a Culture of Life in this campaign than Huckabee.
McCain is in favor of federally funding ESCR, and he is not nearly the outspoken advocate of prolife measures that he once was. I can live with McCain, but he’s not nearly my first choice.
MZ, FDT lost me after his performance on MTP.
November 13, 2007 at 12:18 am
Amen re: FDT on MTP and why not Huckabee? I’m shocked and dismayed, but, maybe the NRTLC has info or wisdom I don’t. Here’s hoping…
November 13, 2007 at 12:46 am
The NRLC are some bizarre folk.
November 13, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Does anyone pay attention to NRLC?
November 13, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I think theirs is a strong voice, at least where I come from.