Dear Judie,
p.7

What should I do when a politician is seeking my support, describing 
himself as pro-life, but favors abortion in cases of rape, incest and 
life of the mother?

Joan in California

Dear Joan:

The scenario you describe to me is all too common these days in that 
space in time where partisan politics meets the pro-life movement. The 
common denominator is usually the same too - one man or woman advocates 
abortion on demand, claiming that he or she is "pro-choice" or favors 
"reproductive rights for women" or claims that he or she is "personally 
opposed but the government should not be meddling in the personal 
affairs of the citizenry." That pretty well sums up the pro-abort 
politician, all of whom have one thing in common - he or she will not 
compromise on the legal murder of preborn babies, which is 
euphemistically called "freedom of choice."

Then we have the opponent scurrying around, trying to get the pro-life 
vote, the Christian vote and the conservative vote, doing all three 
even though he or she may be so weak that his or her position consists 
of a laundry list of babies whose lives are expendable. The list could 
include babies conceived in rape or incest; it could include babies who 
are diagnosed with a probable birth defect, or simply babies who are 
perceived as threats to the life or health of the mother. Any or all of 
these candidates for legal murder, listed in an official "position on 
abortion," can garner the support of pro-life Americans and pro-life 
groups too. Why? The standard answer is, "Yes, Candidate Y is weak, but 
he sure is better than Candidate Z. And, after all, something is better 
than nothing!"

Well, excuse me, but enough of that rubbish is enough. Isn't it time 
for pro-life Americans, who claim to be working to protect preborn 
children as persons under the Constitution, to simply do nothing for 
either candidate? Why not? What have we got to lose? Your name doesn't 
appear on that candidate's laundry list of targeted children, nor does 
mine. But somebody's does - somebody created in the image and likeness 
of God - somebody who is small, vulnerable and without a voice - 
somebody who is depending on our consistency to save the day, stop the 
cold-blooded murder and restore the conscience of this once-great 
nation.

We can accomplish this goal only by deciding once and for all that a 
candidate who is running for office and wishes to be described as a 
pro-life candidate must be someone who champions every single preborn 
baby without exception. He or she must be willing to explain why 
exceptions are not necessary. He or she must be willing to take the 
heat that such a position brings. Most important, he or she must be 
fearless in pointing out that a person in the womb, no matter how 
small, no matter how weak, no matter how ill, no matter how vulnerable, 
is always valuable, always unique, always human and in every case 
deserving of protection. A human being is priceless - period.

Remember that, when it comes to politics, we dare not ask or expect a 
politician to uphold a standard we are afraid to support ourselves.

We dare not seek out a pro-life position based on polling data or 
comfort zones or politically correct thinking.

We must dare to be different, we must dare to be truthful, and we must 
dare to stand up for God's children - in this, as in all things, we 
know that in serving God our reward will be great. Nothing else 
matters, and there is no other way that the pro-life movement can 
survive.

Joan, don't support that candidate. Assure that candidate of your 
prayers but not your support, for you are representing the little ones, 
all of them. Abortion is murder, whether the baby who dies is conceived 
during an act of rape, incest or otherwise. God does not make mistakes.

Sincerrely yours in the Lord of Life,

Judie Brown, President, A.L.L.

Copyright 1994 American Life League

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