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FRONT ROYAL, Va., Aug. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- What does it take for a candidate seeking public office to get the endorsement of a major pro-life organization? Not much, says a report published by Life Decisions International. In fact, a candidate may receive such an endorsement by supporting only a fraction of the pro-life agenda.
The report, titled "Shootout in the Grand Canyon State: Endorsement Raises Questions About Standards and Faithfulness," reviews key endorsements made by pro-life organizations over the past year, including one backing the reelection of Senator John S. McCain III, despite the fact that he is facing a primary challenge by a far more pro-life former member of Congress.
"This is an important work that asks pro-life leaders and activists alike to decide what is necessary for a politician -- or anyone, for that matter -- to be considered 'pro-life,'" said Thomas Strobhar, chairman of Life Decisions International. "Is a candidate 'pro-life' if he opposes Obama Health Care but supports Roe v. Wade? Is a candidate 'pro-life' if he promises to vote to confirm conservative judicial nominations but favors taxpayer funding of abortions? The Pro-Life Movement is facing these kinds of questions every day and the report suggests that pro-life groups have 'cheapened' what it means to be 'pro-life.'"
"Shootout in the Grand Canyon State" examines the current race in Arizona between McCain and former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, Jr. While McCain has voted pro-life some 77 percent of the time during his career, Hayworth has a 100 percent pro-life voting record. (One year, McCain voted pro-life a mere 33 percent of the time.)
"McCain has a gross misunderstanding of Roe v. Wade and abortion in general," the report claims. "He has not grown or learned more about life issues over the past 20 years. He has just learned how to deflect questions and use rhetoric that sounds good but, when dissected, clearly shows 'the emperor has no clothes.'" Nevertheless, McCain received the backing of a key Arizona pro-life organization. (The endorsement angered many of Arizona's current and former pro-life leaders, most of whom publicly declared their support for Hayworth.)
"The report chronicles an incident in which a well-known pro-life leader who is active on the national and international levels coached a pro-abortion candidate on how to 'appear more pro-life' so he could attract the votes of pro-life Americans," Strobhar said. "It also asks how it is possible for prominent pro-life and pro-abortion groups to both claim victory when certain candidates are elected."
"The Pro-Life Movement needs to examine its soul. Are we a movement without standards? Are we willing to back candidates who are a mere .01 percent less pro-abortion than their opponents? The Pro-Life Movement needs to do much better," Strobhar said. "Politicians should have to work for our endorsement, which would make it valuable -- so it actually means something. We owe it to the many pro-life men and women who support this great cause."
Strobhar said that "Shootout in the Grand Canyon State: Endorsement Raises Questions About Standards and Faithfulness" which may be accessed by clicking here (PDF format), "should be read by every pro-life activist and serious thought needs to be given to the important questions it raises."
Life Decisions International (LDI) is dedicated to challenging the Culture of Death, concentrating on exposing and fighting the agenda of Planned Parenthood. LDI's chief project is a boycott of corporations that fund the abortion-committing giant. To learn more about Planned Parenthood, please click here.
