National Catholic Register: "Pro-Lifers & the GOP"

David Freddoso, writing in the March 18-24 issue of the National Catholic Register, notes how much of this early campaign season has been focused on abortion:

WASHINGTON — The Republican candidates for president in 2008 have taken varied positions on abortion and other life issues. But they all seem to agree on one thing — each must somehow reach out to pro-life voters or else lose the GOP nomination.

The power of pro-lifers within the Republican Party has grown steadily ever since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which removed the abortion issue from the political process by forcing legalized abortion with no restrictions on all 50 states. Since that time, the pro-life movement has seized the mainstream of the Republican Party. Ever since the 1980 victory of Ronald Reagan, pro-life voters have held great sway over the party’s nomination process.

“It’s certainly encouraging and interesting that the candidates realize that pro-lifers are strong enough in the early stages of the Republican nomination process that their support is essential,” said Ben Wetmore, president of Students for Life. “The question is whether these candidates will stay true to that after Super Tuesday, after the primaries are over.”

On the contrary, I would argue that the early season hasn't focused enough on abortion, what with the GOP set to anoint a candidate who is closer to Hillary! Clinton on the issue of life than he is to Ronald Reagan.

But what I found to be the most significant passage in the Register story was this one:

A less-known candidate for president, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, told the Register that although he believes abortion should be legal through the first eight weeks of a pregnancy, he has strongly supported the pro-life movement in his state, helping to enact various restrictions — including parental notification and a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, a cloning ban and a bill to ban partial birth abortion.

Gilmore also pointed to the 1998 case of Hugh Finn — not unlike the Terri Schiavo case — in which he went to court to block the removal of a permanently disabled man’s feeding tube.

“I rely on my record,” said Gilmore.

(emphasis added)

Turns out my recollection of Gilmore's pro-life credentials was faulty, and that Billy Valentine and Publius were indeed correct.