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Another three-exception target in the abortion fight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Postcards from Georgia Right to Life hit Hall County on Monday, declaring that Lee Hawkins is “the only pro-life” candidate in the Republican run-off for the Senate District 49 seat.
This will be news to the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, where Mark Musselwhite — Hawkins’ rival — is a deacon.
The postcard also declares Bill Stephens to be the only pro-life candidate in the Republican run-off for secretary of state, which also includes Karen Handel. So once again the narrow fight over when to permit abortions has become a last-minute issue in Republican ranks.
Here’s the deal: Anti-abortion groups long conceded that abortion could be allowed in three cases — rape, incest and when the life of the mother was at stake. Four years ago, Georgia Right to Life adopted a policy which recognized only one exception — the life of the mother. The separate, National Right to Life organization maintains its three-exceptions policy.
In Georgia, the argument has become a matter of who gets to decide what “pro-life.” means.
Musselwhite, like Handel, is a three-exception candidate. “Musselwhite is deeply opposed to — and would ban — 99 percent of all abortions,” said his campaign consultant, Clint Austin. “It’s unfair to say that a candidate who meets National Right to Life standards, who has the same position as George W. Bush, can be cast out as not pro-life.”



DEL.ICIO.US


Comments
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By Will Jones
August 7, 2006 7:30 PM | Link to this
We came here to built a righteous Nation for all nations of the world to become A New Nation without King or Pope: establishing Individual Sovereignty for the first time in human history.
Novus Ordo Seclorem means “The New Secular Order:” The Rule of Reason. The “ancien regime,” Old Sectarian Order, of King and Pope should be dead in the U.S.A..
Any who would “forbid” a woman’s terminating a pregnancy conceived through rape or incest needs to be identified and marked as a fascist pervert.
It is no coincidence that pervert, murderer Adolf Hitler was endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church and two Popes…and shared the sick notion that abortion should be prohibited, even when the pregancy was created by rape or incest: The position of the homosexual pedophile priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church today.
Read Daniel Jonah Goldhagen’s “A Moral Reckoning” to fully understand the Roman Catholic Church’s guilt in the commission of the Holocaust and World War2…to better appreciate why America’s Founding Fathers called themselves Whig. Whig means “anti-Catholic.”
Ireland has finally thrown off the yoke of the RCC.
As America was founded by Protestants and Jews, shouldn’t we too? …particularly after Rome’s giving us Hitler through Vatican-banker Rockefeller-lieutenant Prescott Bush’s finance of the author of “I Paid Hitler,” and the Knight of Malta-led CIA’s assassination of JFK to put us in their slave plantation of Vietnam? …with the help of GHW Bush?
We’ve gotten rid of hypocrite Ralph Reed. Now it’s time to fend off Hawkins and Stephens.
By Republican Dawg
August 7, 2006 8:22 PM | Link to this
Kudos to Georgia Right to Life!! Over the last four years, Georgia voters have finally elected a conservative, Republican senate with back-bone and courage. Georgia Right to Life is one of the few groups that hold weak-kneed candidates accountable for their actions. Political consultants will try to position their puppets in the middle and make excuses all day long. If a politician is wavering before an election, wait until they get to Atlanta and actually need to make a decision!!
I may not agree with Georgia Right to Life all the time, but they made the right call this time. Why would a senate candidate need to justify their own position based on another elected official? Who is going to tell him how to vote if he were to ever get elected? For every issue, Handel has three sides for every issue, depending on what she is running for. Keep their feet to the fire, Georgia Right to Life!
By Debbie
August 7, 2006 8:52 PM | Link to this
I agree with Handel and Musselwhite on abortion. Three exceptions.
I am not in Mark Musselwhite’s district but have friends that do and they are voting Musselwhite.
I am supporting Handel because she is the best choice and a conservative.
I am sick and tired of the downright, dirty and negative campaigns being run by the State Senators.
That shows arrogance that they think they can do whatever they want to and it will not come back to bite them in the butt!
By John Galt
August 7, 2006 9:10 PM | Link to this
Another “pro-family” group trying to leverage their last dying breath of credibility.
Theirs’ is a ridiculous distinction anyway, as rape, incest and life of the mother exceptions arise in less than .001 percent of all abortions annually.
Shame on Georgia Right to Life for making such an inaccurate statement. To assert that these other candidates aren’t pro-life is as dishonest as it is unbelievable.
If they were interested in the truth, Georgia Right to Life’s postcards would have read, “In accordance with Georgia Right to Life’s extreme and irrational standards—which are in direct conflict with our own parent organization—we hereby willfully ignore Lee Hawkins’ multiple contributions to pro-abortion Democrats and endorse Lee Hawkins for Senate 49 because he tells us what we want to hear.”
I’m not surprised at GRTL’s actions. These clowns tried to screw Casey Cagle at the last minute. I hope Dan Becker chokes on his lies.
By formerstephensguy
August 7, 2006 10:28 PM | Link to this
Funny how stephens changed from a 3 exception person in 1998. Amazing how he pandered to GRTL.
Here’s a link: http://www.vote-smart.org/npat.php?old=true&canid=CGA75549&npatformid=107
By Republican Dawg
August 7, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this
Debbie- Sorry about the sour grapes from the Ralph Reed race. The state senators have actually ran credible races this year. Cagle won the Lt. Governor race (he was endorsed by Georgia Right to Life). Stephens and Kemp are in the primary runoff. Not a SINGLE incumbent senator lost reelection. Have you ever thought that our Republican state senators have gone negative because they are tired of defending their voting records from people who have no record and are saying almost anything to get elected?
Too bad Bill Stephens has a distinguished record in the state senate. His opponent is a nice lady, but the Republican party need leaders.
By Philly
August 8, 2006 6:01 AM | Link to this
RD, how many incumbent SS actually had competition in the GOP Primary? November is not here yet so just keep on with your arrogance. Some GOP SS actually have Democratic opposition and I plan to vote against my GOP incumbent SS. I would rather see the Democrats in charge than you bunch of arrogant, egotistical a**holes. You state senators are the ones that will say anything to get elected. It is not written ins tone that the GOP will obtain control of the SS. You guys have p** ALOT of voters off.
I will not vote for Cagle either under any circumstances. If you think that I am the only one that feels that way, then thik again. Cagle won the battle, but he has not won the war. If Hecht wins the Democratic Priamry I will vote for him. If Martin wins, then I will vote for Buckley, the Libertarian candidate.
Debbie is right. All three SS that ran for statewide offices have run an extremely nasty campaigns. They twist facts and tell lies in their campaign ads, yet they expect us to trust them.
First there was Cagle lying about Reed supporting froced abortions and child labor. Do you know how disgusting it is to hear one Republican accuse another one of that? That was over the top and Cagle has proven he is not trustworthy and will lie and twist facts to get what he wants.
Second there is Bill Stephens lying and twisting the facts about Karen being a liberal and supporting gay marriage. You guys in the SS senate are hypocrites about ethics. You slam Reed for it , yet you support Bill Stephens and he has had ethics fines. Karen was Chairman of Fulton County and had large gay constiuents. She did nothing wrong by telling them they would have a seat and the table and
Third there is Brian Kemp. Kemp accuses Gary Black of being a liberal Democrat and voting against Bush in 2004. Kemp blasts Black for voting in the Democratic Primary, then come to find out Kemp voted in the Democratic Primary himself. What a hypocrite!! Kemp even drug out former GOP Chairman Marilyn Gilhuly to make automated phone saying Black voted against Bush in 2004 which was an outright lie. Gary voted in the Democratic Primary to vote for the lesser Democrat to make things easier for Bush in November. How can you vote against someone if they are not on the ballot you vote on? Bush had no GOP opposition. Gary was an active part of the Bush-Cheney Fram Team in 2004 and worked tirelessly for Bush. Gilhuly does not even support Perdue. In fact, she hates Perdue. Kemp did not care. Kemp wrongly accuse Black of being a Democrat, but Kemp uses someone in automated phone calls that does not even support Perdue’s re-election! His campaign is full of hypocrisy. His mailpiece touted the endorsement of Georgia Outdoors but they issued a press release saying they did not endorse Kemp.
By Hunter
August 8, 2006 6:40 AM | Link to this
I get SOoooo tired of hearing about abortion….’regulating’ abortion is NOT a function of our government…if all you demopublicans would stop screwing each other, you wouldnt need an abortion! If you dont like abortion, for God’s sake, DONT HAVE ONE, but SHUT UP about it already!!
Why cant you all holler as loud about the MOST OPPRESSIVE issue, the total dominant control of the electorate by the SLIMY DEMOPUBLICANS! Equal Ballot Access for all candidates from all parties in every election. DAMN the DEMOPUBLICANS !!!
By Debbie
August 8, 2006 7:57 AM | Link to this
The State Senators do have a right to defend their record. But defending your record is not accusing a fellow Republican like Ralph Reed of supporting forced abortions and child labor like Cagle did. Cagle was well aware that Ronald Reagan was against having U.S. Labor laws applied in the Mariannas just like Reed did.
Defending your record is not having a whisper campaign accusing a fellow Republican like Karen Handel of being a lesbian. That came as a big shock to her husband of many years. Nor is defending your record twisting the truth and facts and accuse Karen of being in favor of gay marriage and of being a liberal. Karen just told gays she would listen and they would have a seat at the table. She promised them nothing.
Karen was Chairman of the Fulton County Commission and they is a large gay block there. She never betrayed her Republican principles. Karen worked for Marilyn Quayle. Do you really expect us to believe that the Quayles would have someone working for them that supported gay marriage?
Defending your record is not accusing a fellow Republican of voting against Bush in 2004. That is an outright lie. Defending your record is not slamming Gary Black for voting in the Democratic Primary when you did so yourself as in the case of Brian Kemp. Gary worked hard for Bush in 2004 and he is a strong conservative Republican. Gary was part of the Bush-Cheney Farm Team in 2004. Gary only voted in the Democratic Presidential Primary to vote for the weakest Democratic opponent because Bush had no opposition in the GOP Primary.
Strong leadership can come from places other than the State Senate.
Strong leaderhsip can come from being Chairman of the Fulton County Commission.
Strong leadership can come from being President of the Georgia Agri Business Council and lobbying on behalf of the farming community for 25 years.
By Tony
August 8, 2006 8:10 AM | Link to this
It’s sooo funny to hear Debbie and Philly STILL crying about the Cagle-Reed race. It’s funny that 55% of the Republican voters that voted in the Primary agreed with Cagle but somehow he’s the sleaze. I guess you’re saying 55% of the GOP voters have no ethics and support lies and distortions?
Get over it. Move on. Grow up. This topic is about abortion but yet you somehow make it into some rant about state senators and Cagle’s campaign. I swear I’ve seen 5 year olds more grown up and mature about things than you two.
As for Black, I find it ironic that you don’t see him actively working for Republicans until he’s approached to consider running for office. Suddenly he gets out there and contributes to Norwood and Bush-Cheney and then works for Republicans. Debbie, where are those STRONG GOP credentials? Anything besides suddenly working when you know you’re going to run for office and working when it’s convenient for your resume’?
By Reagan Conservative
August 8, 2006 8:47 AM | Link to this
I agree that the State Senators have run very negative campaigns. It does show arrogance.
The perception is that the GOP State Senators are arrogant. That might not be true, but to voters perception is reality.
We will see who is right tonight. If Debbie and others are right about there being anger out there directed at the State Senators and the negative campaigning, then Handel and Black should win easily. If Republican Dawg and others are right then Stephens and Kemp will win pretty close races.
Tony, Debbie did not even mention Cagle first but then you could care less what the truth is. So you get over it!!
Cagle went overboard with his negative campaign and he will not receive my vote and neither will the two State Senators in the runoff. Cagle will not win in November.
Black has been working with the Agriculture community. Really, Tony, I seriously doubt that you would have much contact with that group. In fact, I think you would rather arrogantly look down on them.
Black has the support of many GOP elected officials and many party officials so it is rather clear he is not some Johnny come lately.
By Reagan Conservative
August 8, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this
As for abortion, I support it in case of the life of the mother and in case of incest.
I do disagree with Georgia Right to Life’s position on this and no longer donate money to them.
By Tony
August 8, 2006 9:57 AM | Link to this
I don’t think these races tonight are going to determine some latent backlash against state senators. Considering David Shafer is heavily pushing Handel and has been from the get-go, I don’t think your theory holds water much less anything else.
Reagan Conservative….let’s just say no one held a gun to Debbie’s head to continue whining about that race. Continued whining really sounds like sour grapes, grudges, bitterness, and just flat out childish behavior. It’s funny how almost every topic on here comes down to griping about Cagle and the state senators but no one mentions the Congressional delegation’s ‘arrogance’ or ‘mafia’ doing the same thing. It’s convenient to devise some cabal or conspiracy when it’s against your candidate but then ignore it when it favors them. Double standard much?
By sinjin
August 8, 2006 8:23 PM | Link to this
John Galt- Woo so original a name.
How exactly has Dan Becker lied? You have no basis for this. When you say ‘GRTL tried to screw Casey Cagle at the last minute’ do elaborate. How exactly was this done? Please back your view with some context if no facts can support you.
Try this…The Cagle campaign used the endorsement of GRTL to fool people into thinking that the organization endorsed him over his opponent in a radio piece aired in the last five days of the campaign. The ad stated “Casey Cagle was endoresed by GRTL because they know he won’t sell out our Georgia values.” GRTL did endorse Cagle on his position on the abortion issue, not for anything else! When they were confronted with this Cagle spokesman Brad Alexander promised to pull the ad in line with GRTL’s request. Alexander never did pull the ads and then lied about it. This can be confirmed by any program director who carried the Cagle ads on their radio stations. Alexander promised to pull the ads, he told GRTL he had called the stations. He did neither. Cagle employs professional liars to speak for him.
So I imagine this is what you mean by GRTL trying to screw Cagle at the last minute.
Thank you Casey Cagle for returning honor and respectability to state government. HA!
Like GRTL or not, they do stand for something most Christians beleive in. If a guy like Cagle, claiming to be Mr. Christian, will manipulate and lie to an organization like GRTL what does that say about he and the people he employs to represent him. Shame on Cagle and liar Brad Alexander
The political insider was fully aware of these facts but failed to tell their readers becase they just wanted Reed to loose at all cost. John Galt you have no right to call anyone at GRTL a liar.