(Richard Scotti) – With all the talk these days about the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, the Nevada budget deficit, and the fiscal conservative fight for limited government, let’s not forget the proud pro-life heritage of the Republican Party. We are still the pro-life party, with views more in sync with the majority of Americans, and all federal, state, and local candidates must continue to fight to protect the lives of the unborn.
The Platform of the Clark County Republican Party in 2008 provided, in the “State” planks section: “We support the inalienable right to life of all persons from the moment of conception to their natural death . . . .” (http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/Values.htm#5)
Here in Clark County we are entirely consistent with national Republican sentiment. The 2008 Platform of the Republican National Committee stated: “Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.” (http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/Values.htm#5)
As Precinct Administrator of the The Clark County Republican Party, I administered a survey last May on the important values of the day. The results reflected overwhelming support for social conservative positions. One question presented was: “How important is it for you to be conservative on social issues? (1=Not important at all; 10=Extremely important).
A whopping 71.6% of respondents rated their support of social conservativism at 7 or above; with an astounding 35% right at “10.” Of course this was not a scientific poll, but it was circulated to the entire CCRP membership at the time, as well as the entire database of 2008 Clark County Republican delegates to the County Convention. About 750 people responded, with controls in place to prevent more than one response per computer. As evident by this survey, we remain a staunchly pro-life party.
The abortion issue cannot be ignored by any Republican candidate for office. Yes, we all know that the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) established that a woman has a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution to abort a fetus in the first or second trimesters, and even in the last trimester to protect the life or health of the mother. But even if you do not advocate the reversal of this decision, that does not end the issue.
Abortion is defined and regulated here in Nevada under NRS Chapter 442. Nevada legislators have a direct say on such issues as (1) qualifications of doctors to conduct abortions; (2) the circumstances under which an abortion is conducted; (3) proof of informed consent of the mother; (4) notice to a minor’s parent, (5) records regarding the circumstances and reporting of abortions; and (6) efforts to preserve the life of an infant born alive during an attempted abortion. We fought and succeeded to ban the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. We can and must continue to fight to impose further abortion restrictions.
Nevada practically leads the country in the rate of abortions. The 2006 teenage abortion rate was 19.3 abortions per 1000 women. See “U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends by Race and Ethnicity (January 2010 Guttmacher Institute). But Nevada was the third worst state, with a rate of 46 abortions per 1000 of 18-19 year olds, and 28 abortions per 1000 of 15-19 year olds. Id. Since 1973, with Nevada a major culprit, more than 49 million fetuses have been aborted nationwide. See National Right To Life, “Abortion Statistics in the United States: Statistics and Trends.” (http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/facts/abortionstats.html)
Candidates for Governor, State Senate, and State Assembly, have as significant a role in the abortion fight as a candidate for U.S. Senate or Congress. We must all continue to fight to restrict the occurrence of abortion, to educate the public about the procedure, and to educate mothers about better choices that they have. More importantly, we must continue to fight against the horrible practice, testing the limits of Roe v. Wade, and fighting for that day when Americans will stand up to protect the life of the unborn.
The people of Nevada are fiercely independent. We deeply respect the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, and continually assert our States rights. So most of us see the fallacy in the Federal government mandating for the entire nation that an unborn fetus does not have a fundamental right to life. Most of us agree with the dissent of Supreme Court Justice Thomas (joined by Justice Scalia) in stating: ‘[T]he Court’s abortion jurisprudence . . . has no basis in the Constitution.” See Gonzales v. Carhart, 550 U.S. 124, 169 (2006). The will of Nevadans to continue the fight for life is strong, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
(Mr. Scotti is a former chairman of the Clark County Republican Party)
I read this blog post recently:
“Posted by: dave404 | 01/17/2010 at 03:14 PM: Oh Sandoval was such a little liar with his sanctimonious ‘everything is on the table line ‘ at the H.I.P. breakfast when he was talking about the budget . Oops I forgot, that meant the free for all trough for mining and big box corporations was still sacrosanct. So maybe he wasn’t lying. NAH he was lying the only thing on the table was reiteration of the PARTY of NO talking points. So how is the Party of No Right wing going to reconcile Sandoval’s liberal stances of being pro-choice, pro gay rights. Isn’t Sandoval Catholic ? Will either of the Bishops step in and refuse communion ala Kerry, Pelosi et al? ”
Mike Montandon is CLEARLY Pro-Life and CLEARLY the people’s choice for bringing honesty, family values and a flat-out hard work ethic as our Governor. Is Mr. Scotti supporting Montandon now? (Smart switch) … or is this article setting the stage for Sandoval to make a switch from his clear and public statements of being a Pro-Choice Catholic, supporting abortion and in favor or civil unions (Gay Marriage)?
Although this topic is important, we in Nevada have other issues to deal with first. In this upsoming special session, taxes will be going up on someone. We have a Legislature that just loves to spend other people’s money. Don’t blame the Democrats, Republicans are in on this also. Have we already forgotten the “Back-Room” deal that gave us the BILLION dollar tax hike at the very end of the 2009 session?
We have unemployment and the housing crisis. Not to mention the upcoming hyperinflation of our unconstitutional monetary system.
Complete transparency and accountability in our State Government is the first change we need.
While I agree with the importance of the upcoming legislature. I think that the whole conversation is relevant. Pro life is more than the discussion about our expanded “rights” to kill unborn babies. As Mike Huckabee put it “WE MUST EMBRACE A CULTURE OF LIFE”. This applies to all we do, and it must apply to all we do and consider when we legislate. The sanctity of human life is at the basis of this discussion. As we consider this question and every question that will come before the special session we should consider the thought; “Is this how I would want to be treated?” The sanctity of the relationship between law makers and constituents in every situation should rule the discussions and the voting on issues. Most incumbents will be fighting for their political lives in the next round of elections and their voting records will show that. They will vote, for the most part, for the special interest they are most interested in. The special interest that they think will get them the nessecary votes to win the next election. That “special interest group” SHOULD be the the regular everyday person that pays their taxes and trusts law makers to do the thing that will in the best interest of the whole not the few. Law makers step up and do what is morally correct. If they will do that then they will be able to hold their heads high and look in their constituents eyes with a clear conciense. It was said by one of the founding fathers that the constitution was written for a moral people.
Congress sent us all a strong message when they refused to take on the suggested health insurance they were trying to get us to buy into. The message was: “It isn’t good enough for us!!”. If that is the case then a law should be passed that they would want for themselves. The constitution was written for the “equality” of the men and women that lived under it’s rule and protection.
In this special session let’s hope that the state legislators will not make the mistakes that the US Congress continues to make, that is making rules for us and not for ALL of us. The constitution was not written for the haves and have nots it was written for men and women who are equal. That equality means we share in the results of all decisions made by our lawmakers equally.
I don’t understand why Scotti brought this issue up now, knowing it would hurt the candidate he has chosen to back. We know that Mike Montandon is for states rights, and a real “PRO LIFE” stance that is well considered. The stance he would take is to do what will affect us all equally. Hard choices have to be made and we sit at a cross road. This state will do well to choose a Governor that has proven success in leading. A proven statesman that has the courage to stand against special interest and vote for the sanctity of life.
I agree that every conservative candidate must be a pro-life candidate, to use this as a main issue to get elected is political suicide. The people of Nevada want to know how they are going to feed their families tomorrow and to keep their home.
Abortion is still the top issue for me. It appears that there is a never-ending trend to minimize the importance of being pro-life. We must not become insensitive to this issue. Anyone who is pro-infanticide will not get my vote.
II am horrified! lease change my phone survey answer of 6/16/10. Mike huckabee recording called my hime @ 402-423-8048 in Lincoln NE at 6pm central time
It asked me if I am pro life and I said no. This is incorrect….I am so prolife you wouldn’t believe how strongly feel. Can you please change my answer to “yes”
fyi: I had a teen pregnancy in the 1970s and was offered an abortion by mom but I turned it down at age 15 because I knew even then it was just for convenience.
Then I had cancer at age 18and could not have children…. but behold, another teen mother was prolife and we were asked to be this fetuse’s parents whenshe was 4 months along.
The adoption occurred when our son was 9 days old. He is now 23, married, a strong and moral person, a believer and so, so intelengent.. He is the nicest person one could ever meet. In a week we are moving him and his young wife to Denver where he will attend the Korbell school of international intelegents.
He has been awarded a two year scholorship and hopes to devote his career to combating terrorism and Homeland Security to fight to keep us safe and free in the USA. Please, please change my answer.
Sincerely
Mr. Sandoval is Proud to be Pro-Choice and even brags about it under his “Issues” page on his website @ Briansandoval.com.
Rory Reid is Mormon and strongly Pro-Life.