(Chuck Muth) – As expected, I got a tsunami of responses yesterday on my question about how to deal with the issue of abortion in Nevada. Thank you! Now let’s drill down a bit and refine the discussion. But first, let me further explain why I’m asking… I’m in DC attending the new Campaign Leadership College hosted by the Leadership Institute. It’s fantastic…and that’s coming from someone who has been to these before, has been an instructor at these before, and have been in the “biz” for over 25 years. If you stop learning, you stop being effective. It’s just that simple. And a BIG focus here has been on MESSAGING that wins elections. Because you can’t change public policy without changing public officials. And even though legislators can’t change Nevada’s 24-week abortion law – only a vote of the people can do that – GOP candidates were NOT able to duck the issue in last year’s elections. They need to do more. Democrats and the media won’t let the issue go because they believe it swung a number of close races their way. So the challenge is… How should Republican – and especially conservative – candidates deal with the abortion issue from a POLITICAL, not a moral, standpoint in a “purple” state like Nevada? Your responses will help me develop such messaging for our candidates next year. That’s why I’m asking. So let me refine the question a bit based on some of the responses I received yesterday… A number of you replied stating that life begins at conception, with only a few saying there should be no exceptions, even in cases of rape and incest. And while I respect your beliefs, that’s not what I’m talking about. Here’s why… Since the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last year, a number of states have attempted to change their laws to make abortion more restrictive. And it hasn’t gone well. Consider this report published in The Atlantic ten days ago… “Abortion foes thought Roe v. Wade’s reversal would usher in a more pro-life America by finally clearing the legal obstacles to the eventual abolition of abortion. But in the 16 months since Roe fell, everywhere abortion has been on the ballot – including red states such as Kansas, Ohio, Montana, and Kentucky – voters have instead supported measures that protect abortion rights.” If pro-lifers can’t win tighter restrictions in RED states, how in the world can such increased restrictions pass in a PURPLE state like Nevada? And while standing on principle is great, we have to recognize the political consequences. If you feel a six-week limit is they way to go – like in Florida – but a GOP candidate on the ballot supports a 15-week limit – and you withhold your vote from the 6-week candidate or don’t vote at all… The Democrat candidate who doesn’t support ANY restrictions on abortion – “abortion on demand” – is going to win. So we’d be cutting off our nose to spite our face. In fact, I’ve read from some readers that they feel any candidate who doesn’t support the banning all abortions, with no exceptions, isn’t “pro-life” – including those who support a “heartbeat bill.” That’s not helpful…politically. A GOP consultant and friend – who’s had a lot of success electing candidates all across the country for many years now – wrote yesterday to advise that “two-thirds of Americans think first-trimester is the right place.” Current Nevada law is set at 24-weeks, the SECOND trimester. The FIRST trimester is 12 weeks. Now… Let’s say a Republican running for the state Legislature says his or her position is 15 weeks. That’s better than current law at 24 weeks, but not as good as what you support – say, 12 weeks or less. What will you do? Will you stand on principle, refuse to support the 15-week GOP candidate and refuse to vote for him or her even though they’re running against no-limit Democrat? I know this is a tough decision. But it’s a critical political question because, while Republicans in purple states and districts need to get moderate independent voters at the ballot box, they still can’t win if their base stays home or votes for another candidate. So let’s say you support a six-week restriction like Florida. But realize it’s a losing political position for candidates in a state like Nevada. Wouldn’t it be better to take half a loaf rather than re-elect Nevada Democrats such Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro and Sen. Dallas Harris? I’d say yes, but it doesn’t matter what *I* think. It only matters what YOU think – especially if you personally support either no abortions for any reason at any time or, say, restrictions after 12 weeks (first trimester). If you fall into this category, I REALLY want to hear from you. No judgments. I respect your position whatever it is. I mean, this is a HIGHLY emotional issue. By the way, it was kinda funny yesterday morning after I sent this question out because I brought Melissa Clement – a TOP Nevada pro-life leader in Nevada – with me here to CLC. Obviously, she’s facing the same tough challenge with some of her own supporters, and we’ve been discussing this together all week. Anyway, she’s seated next to me in class. And told me yesterday that about an hour after I sent Muth’s Truths out (I hadn’t told her when I was sending it in advance because I wasn’t sure when I’d get time to write and send it), she started getting emails from HER supporters letting her know I’d asked about this. Which was NOT a good thing. It was a GREAT thing. Because we’re ALL going to have to find a way to build a common-sense messaging strategy and collectively row in the same direction as best as possible even if we don’t agree 100 percent. And, trust me, Democrats are petrified that we might succeed. Because if Republicans neutralize this question as a POLITICAL issue at the ballot box for the independent voters who will be the difference between winning and losing in competitive districts… They have NOTHING else to run on…and we WIN. So lemme hear from you. And again…THANK YOU! 7 Worst Habits of Highly Unelectable People
- Picking the wrong race
- Picking the wrong district
- Picking the wrong issues
- Picking the wrong time
- Picking the wrong consultants
- Picking unnecessary fights with the media
- Picking door-knocking over fundraising
Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com. You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com. His views are his own.
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