file: /pub/resources/text/ProLife.News/1992: pln-0218.txt --------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Communications - Special Election '92 Issue Volume 2, No. 18 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This newsletter is intended to provide articles and news information to those interested in Pro-Life Issues. Questions to readers and articles for submissions are strongly encouraged. All submissions should be sent to the editor, Steve (frezza@ee.pitt.edu). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) ELECTION '92 - WHAT IS GOING ON [Editorial] This election seems to be another critical time for America as we struggle with the question of abortions, and restrictions on abortion. The legislative actions have ranges from various State Houses to the White House, and this election will include no less than three abortion/euthanasia referendums. These include Question 6 (Liberal Pro Abortion Law) for Maryland, Proposition 110 (pro-life constitutional amendment for Arizona), Proposition 161 (Legalized physician-assisted suicide) in California. Beyond this, there is the Mandatory Abortion-On-Demand Act (excuse me, "Freedom Of Choice" Act) which the Democratic nominee Clinton has promised to sign into law. Even more serious has been the treatment of the Abortion issue within the political parties themselves; (As Gov. Clinton put it, "Abortion is not an issue in election"). As per the dealings at the Democratic National Convention, the Democratic party has taken a defacto stand that no pro-life democrat will represent the party, despite the strong minority opposition to this stand (as represented by Gov. Casey of Pennsylvania, and the delegates from Minnesota). The direction the American courts will over the next 15-20 years will be strongly influenced by the next president. As usual, a large turnover in the Supreme Court is expected, and whoever wins the presidency will be nominating the judges for these positions. The influences at the Federal court level are also looming: The American Bar Association, which accredits all law schools in the country and makes recommendations for all federal judge appointments has taken a pro-abortion stand; the implications of the ABA move, along with the strong support that Clinton seems to have indicate that the upcomming years will look very bleak for those who desire America to think twice about destroying her unborn children. There are many issues involved in this, as all national elections. Though personally not a strong supporter of "single-issue" voting, the life issues often give indications as to how a candidate responds to other issues. As one fellow pro-lifer put it, `If they (the other candidate) support the destruction of those in the womb, how am I to trust them with decisions that involve other lives?' We should realize that no candidate is perfect and that all have their flaws and weaknesses, both in their personally and in their proposed public policies. Unfortunately, our political system provides for only a very small number of candidates to be voted upon, and if one disagrees with all of them, then it seems best to vote for the candidate that least offends. It is another reality of the system of few candidates that a vote for one candidate (practically speaking) can defacto be a vote for another candidate - hence voting AGAINST a candidate takes on a certain validity. Sometimes it is easier to discern which candidate one opposes the most, rather than which candidate one supports the most. In all, it is critically important to vote, and to consistently encourage others to vote - for our elected officials affect our laws, and as Cardinal Cahal Daly of Ireland put it: "What is legally permissible rapidly comes to be seen as morally acceptable." I'll relinquish the soapbox now. -Your editor, Steve. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) WHERE DO THE CANDIDATES STAND ON ABORTION? George Bush Bill Clinton Roe vs Wade: Steadfastly called for the reversal of Says he has "always been pro-choice" RvW. As he told a rally of pro-lifers and has "never wavered" in his in DC: "The Supreme Court's decision in support for Roe Vs. Wade. "I have Roe vs Wade was wrong and should be over- believed in the rule of Roe Vs Wade turned". Bush appointee Attorney General for 20 years, since I used to teach William Barr said that the Justice de- it in law school." RvW allows abort- partment will continue to urge the Court ion for any reason, even in the late to reverse Roe in future cases. stages of pregnancy. Appointment of Judges: Has sought to appoint judicial conserv- Says that support for RvWade would atives, such as Clarence Thomas, to the be a litmus test for his nominees to courts. Thomas joined three other just- the Supreme Court. Referring to the ices in dissenting from the court's Casey one-vote margin by which the court re- decision upholding Roe. During the Bush/ cently upheld RvW, Clinton said, "As Reagan years, the pro-abortion majority president, I won't make you worry about on the Court has shrunk from 7-2 to 5-4. the `one justice away' on the Supreme Court." Unlimited Abortion: Has vowed he would veto the "Freedom of Has made support for FOCA a key part Choice Act" (FOCA). FOCA goes well beyond of his campaign. "I would support a RvW and forbids any significant limits on federal Freedom of Choice Act to abortion. protect a woman's right to choose." Abortion Without Parental Consent: Will fight proposals to allow minor girls Boasts that he has "fought against" to obtain abortions without parental con- parental consent laws in Arkansas, sent. The President said, "This idea is and says, "I'm opposed to parental crazy." consent, by the way, and i oppose a bill that would do that. Harvesting Tissues of Babies Killed By Abortion: Has consistently refused to use tax Sharply criticizes the President for dollars to pay for research that involves defending this pro-life policy, transplanting tissue taken from aborted which Clinton called "an ugly bow to babies into other persons. th far right." Abortion as Birth Control: Has banned promotion of abortion as a me- Has said he would issue an Executive thod of birth control in federally funded Order repealing this policy (`Gag clinics. (Remember Title XX??) Rule') in his first day in office. Government Funding of Abortion: Has strongly defended the Hyde Amendment, Would repeal the Hyde Amendment. which prohibits the use of federal dol- Moreover, abortion on demand would lars to pay for abortion, except to save be paid for under his national the mother's life. health program. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SINGLE ISSUE VOTING: MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER by Greg Chesmore, American Life League I am not ashamed to call myself a single issue voter. It only makes sense. If we truly believe that over four thousand children are being dismembered or poisoned in their mothers' wombs each day, how can we put any other issue ahead of that when we vote? If four thousand kindergarteners we being taken into the middle of Main Street each day and brutally dismembered, would we be ashamed to vote on only that issue? What is the difference? The preborn children are the same although they are smaller, totally helpless, and are not executed in Main Street, where their deaths could interrupt our daily activity. Instead, the innocent are killed behind closed doors on Main Street by so-called doctors who are paid for their ghastly trade. Those of us who vote on the life issues alone are called "dangerous" by some political scientists and even by some people in our own movement. However, what is dangerous is letting this slaughter continue unabated day after day. What is dangerous is our political inactivity. An Associated Press poll released in June found that fewer than 10% of the American public would vote only for pro-life candidates, yet almost 30% said they wanted abortion illebal in their state. We should not be afraid to step out and proclaim that the lives of innocent preborn children are worth our vote. If abortion is as violent and barbaric as we proclaim, then no candidate who supports the "right" to abortion is worthy of our vote. Let them call us zealots and extremists. The preborn have no one else on this earth except us. Get involved, vote pro-life, and encourage others to do the same. President Bush's vetoes have barely stopped the pro-abortion movement's attempts to spread their deadly actions and messages throughout this country and abroad. Abortion cannot be viewed as just another issue. Instead, it MUST be the only issue. - Greg Waldinger -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I would add that voting pro-life means voting for Bush. I don't care how much you might loathe the Republican Party (I don't, by the way). You have been brainwashed if you call yourself pro-life and are going to vote for Clinton (Hillary and Bill) or Perot. - Greg Waldinger ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) ACROSS THE POND - PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN IRELAND The text of the proposed amendments to article 40.3.3 of the Constitution. The first concerns travel and states "Subsection 3 of this section shall not limit freedom to travel between the State and another state". On the issue of information we will be asked to approve that, "Subsection 3 of this section shall not limit freedom to obtain or make available, in the State, subject to such conditions as may be laid down by law, information relating to services lawfully available in another state". Not everyone was happy about these two amendments but most of the emotion was spent on the third clause. It attempts once again to make abortion illegal in all circumstances. In this case the words are: "It shall be unlawful to terminate the life of an unborn unless such termination is necessary to save the life, as distinct from the health, of the mother where there is an illness or disorder of the mother giving rise to a real and substantive risk to her life, not being a risk of self-destruction". It is probably necessary to remind you of the content of article 40.3.3 which reads, "The State acknowledging the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right". The passion and different views which the above few words have generated has been quite incredible. Every political party wished to have its own stamp on the wording. During the week the Taoiseach attempted to reach some form of consensus with the other parties but failed totally. He was extremely annoyed that the other party leaders voiced their opinions through the media rather than directly to him. Alternative wordings were offered but in the end he believed that none improved on the above format which the Government published a week earlier. None of the various groups taking a stance on abortion was in favour of the Government's wording. Some found it too restrictive and others too liberal. Those who find it too liberal believe that it opens the way for abortion in some circumstances whereas, the Government's intention is to allow medical treatment which may, as a side effect, end the life of the foetus. The pro-life lobby is, therefore, planning to campaign for a "No" vote. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) TALES FROM A CLINTON RALLY One reason why I think Bush went up in the poles this weekend was all the pro-life campaigning that went on. For example in Akron on Sunday [25 October] we put pro-life voting ballots from Right to Life on thousands of cars in church parking lots. We had a team of about 20 dedicated workers. We also joined U. of Akron Students For Life and College Republicans to protest Clinton's visit to Akron. It looked like a Bush rally at first with all of our prolife and Bush signs. Akron Right to Life (ARTL) paid for a plain to fly a banner overhead the rally which said "Abortionists for Bill Clin tax." We also rented a Ryder truck and made a frame to put the billboard sign on which says every third baby dies by choice with each third infant phasing out. We mounted the sign on the truck and parked it in the closest spot to the entrance of the rally as close as possible so everyone saw it except the media. There were quite a few angry people there. Several of us were verbally and physically assailed. One lady had a VIP pass up front and had a "pro-life democrats silent no more" sign. When she was alone a man with a `Gay and Lesbians for Clinton' sign jumped her from behind - dragging her across the ground and destroying her sign when Clinton arrived. There were also a lot of militant homosexuals there. I was surrounded by a group of Sinead O'Connors 'sisters' who took advantage of my peaceful demeener and jumped on me, taking my pro-life/Bush sign which they destroyed. Pray for Bush to win and not let these radicals to be the policy setters for the U.S. and the rest of the world. - Matt Glaros ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote of the Month: "One of the vestiges of Communism [was that] abortion was free, legal and readily available." - Frances Parrow, International Planned Parenthood, 2/17/92 +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Credits: | | 2 - Quoted from a flyer issued by the national Right To Life | | committee, inc.. | | 3 - Excerpted from an American Life League publication "ALL about | | Issues, September-October 1992) written by Greg Chesmore | | 4 - From the October 17, 1992 of the email publication THE IRISH | | EMIGRANT, Issue No.298. Contact irish-net-REQUEST@cs.cornell.edu| |QOM- Many thanks to reader Steve Chaney | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Lists of backissue topics and other on-line informational resources are available from the editor.