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DEL.ICIO.USAbortion groups split, giving endorsements to Huckabee and Thompson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has picked up endorsement of Georgia Right to Life, the statewide anti-abortion organization.
Again, GRTL is in disagreement with the national organization, which last month endorsed Fred Thompson. But the Georgia group says Huckabee is the best man to stop Rudy Giuliani.
Not Hillary Clinton. Rudy Giuliani.
In the past, the Georgia organization has urged a tougher line than National Right to Life — insisting that political candidates oppose abortion even in cases of rape or incest.
This time, it looks like an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the issue.
Here’s what the national group said when it endorsed Thompson:
“While Fred supports the long-term objective of the Human Life Amendment, the votes are simply not there in Congress, nor were they there when we controlled both houses of Congress. For instance, in the Senate, we are presently at least 25 votes short, with passage in the House even more difficult.
“Fred intends to focus his presidency on those things that can be achieved, or advanced, in the next four to eight years.”
The Georgia group not only noted Huckabee’s support of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but also applauded the candidate for supporting a local legislative priority of Georgia Right to Life — H.R.536, which would establish that human life legally begins at fertilization.
Bryan Lash, the PAC director for the Georgia group, acknowledged the split with their Washington-based umbrella.
“Under normal circumstances we would communicate their presidential endorsement to our 225,000 households,” he said. “Passing a Personhood Amendment here in Georgia is our key issue in achieving our objective to extend the protections of the law to all persons both born and unborn.”
Further, Lash said, “Mr. Huckabee’s recent surge in the polls, we believe, demonstrates that he is the pro-life movement’s best hope in defeating pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani.”
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Comments
By David - Portland, Oregon
December 2, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
Mike Huckabee’s surge is the voice of America saying Washington is not for sale…any more!
By Tom
December 2, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Fred Thompson has the right approach and a far more realistic approach, overturn Roe V Wade and encourage the states to ban abortion. Huckabee is the flavor of the day he won’t achieve a constitutional ban no one will.
By Jason
December 2, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Good for Georgia Right to Life. NRLC is a bunch of sellouts. They never endorse the most pro-life, just the candidate they think they will get the most access to in the White House. They are just power-hungry.
By lane filler
December 2, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Anyone interested in a funny (but it really happened) column about what Huckabee is really like face-to-face should try: http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/02/title_14
By Tony
December 2, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
It is exciting to see that Georgia Right to Life has the guts to endorse the right presidential canidate Mike Huckabee. It shows their team as the real determination to fight for the unborn children and give them a chance to live.
I hope Ohio Right to Life and the other states follow Georgia’s lead example.
Mike Huckabee is committed to life, he talks about it even when not asked by the media. Whereas Fred Thompson only talks about when he is forced by the media to answer a question. Fred doesnt have the determination and fight in him like Mike does to make big changes in this area. Plus Mike has the best chance of making changes as he appeals to both sides and brings unity with outstanding charisma and outstanding public speaking skills.
By lane filler
December 2, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Anyone interested in some telling Thompson video from his first week on the trail in SC and an accompanying column should try: http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/05/fredthompsonforpresidentofwhatthe_
By GAmama
December 2, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
Mike Huckabee is a man of convictions, honesty and humility. He stands on these character traits in the face of all issues. He has my vote and my financial support.
Help further his campaign by making a donation today!
By Jason
December 2, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
Huckabee is the candidate of big government. He is a serial tax hiker and wants even more of a Nanny State than we already have.
By FredHead
December 2, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Mike Huckabee is a man of big government. He in no way resembles a REAGAN Conservative. He’s pro life and that’s about it.
Rush called him a moderate, which is what he is.
http://www.huckabeefacts.org
By Winghunter
December 2, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
The Huckster “honest”?? “committed to a pro-life amendment” which won’t work??
You people obviously don’t have the first clue as to what you’re talking about…doesn’t that embarrass you!?
The Huckster Plays Con Artist Very Well http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/232094841.html
The Dark Side of Mike Huckabee http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/11/13/huckabee/index.html
Wake up and smell what you’re shovelin’!
By kerrhome
December 2, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
Check out the facts: www.huckabeefacts.org
By Katie
December 2, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Abortion issues are not the only nor the main issue in electing a President. Right now Illegal immigration and Terrorism are the main issues. And Huckabee is very weak on both. Thompson is the only candidate that “gets it” on ALL issues and is not only pro life but will protect our country from illegal invasion and terrorism. Huckabee is pro illegal immigration and Thompson is not. So in electing a president if your doing so just on abortion issue alone, then Huckabee is your man. If your electing a president not just for his great abortion stance, and he gets all the other issues too, then Thompson is your man. Plain and simple. Huckabee is just the flavor of the month, and he does NOT “get it”, on all other issues. Period!
By Relieved
December 2, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
It is encouraging to see GARTL do what they think is right, instead of listening to the political elites tell them what to do.
Look, Fred is saying most of the right things, but he has no real record in the Senate and little apparent “want to” on the campaign trail.
Romney is a conservative today… but will he be tomorrow? It is laughable for him to try to cloak himself in the robe of Reaganism. May I remind you of what he said in his campaign for the Senate:
“I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush, I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Is Huckabee perfect… no. Is he consistent, yes. And he carries with him a conservative philosophy.
Good for GRTL for doing the unpopular thing for what they perceive is the right thing.
By Tony
December 2, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this
Mike Huckabee has guts and determination I really admire. He is a great role model for society.
Case in point. Mike Huckabee is the only one who can talk so freely about Jesus in the national debate’s on TV. That takes a lot of guts.
Mike even gave the example to love your neighbor has yourself. Did you see any other canidate have the courage like that to talk so boldly like Mike does? Mike Huckabee has charisma and he is very humble. Mike is the true fighter for life, he cares about everyone.
Take for example when he was Governor of Arkasas for 10 years, he never had his picture framed in the state capital. Instead he had the picture of ordinary Arkansas citizen’s in the picture frame each week. He told his staff we need to never forget who the real boss is. Mike truly represents the people and not just himself and the establishments.
I totally trust Mike Huckabee. For those that cast stones at him should first pull out the logs in their eye first.
Mike has my vote. I encourage you to go see Mike in person and talk to him, you will clearly see how down to earth he is and humble. Dont just take my word, go see him in person for yourself. You will be amazed how he can light up the room with so much charisma and excitement!
By Michael P.
December 3, 2007 5:50 AM | Link to this
Find out more about Mike Huckabee - go to mikehuckabee.com
By Craig
December 3, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
I’d much rather take the GRTL as credible than the NRTL. Anything in DC is up for sale. Simple posturing and maneuvering behind the scenes can get you a NRTL endorsement. The GRTL has proven time and again, it’s not about the ‘best candidate to beat Hillary’. It’s about principles.
Sorry Fred. If you’re firmly against abortion you do what you can to stop it. Being against Federal involvement means dodging the controversy. Just letting the courts overturn Roe just means 50 states have the means to continue abortion in one method or another. It means abortion continues and all Federal involvement is wiped out. Does that mean Partial Birth abortion is back on the market? Take a stand. If your convictions put you against something, fight the cause. Don’t just push it to someone else’s domain and let it be THEIR problem.
By Robert Thompson
December 3, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Here we go with the single issue people again. Huckabee is a populist statist and the Republican version of Hillary. This endorsement sells out everything the people of Georgia stand for in order to get one thing.
By Relieved
December 3, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
Isn’t that the point of Georgia Right to Life? They are by nature “single issue people.” Their focus is not on education or tax reform… but on issues of life.
If you want to think that Huckabee’s rise is due to “single issue people,” then you are free to do so. But I can assure you that he has broader appeal that just the pro-life crowd.
By Jason
December 3, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
Thanks Georgia. I pray that you will pave the way for other state’s RTL. Arkansas has remained neutral as they do not (yet) want to go over the NTRL. However, their main award the Mary Rose Doe Award, was given to Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2006 - http://www.artl.org/about_fundraiser.html
By David Leavins
December 3, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
Great article. I am from Arkansas and have lived here all my life and I am a conservative. I do not call myself a Republican because I feel that the mainline Republican party has left its roots and would rather stay in power than stick to the convictions.
For all of the Huckabee haters that say he is a moderate or a liberal ask any Democrat in Arkansas and they would laugh you out of town.
Gov. Huckabee will answer the question without hesitation and if you dont agree with him on everything he understands. If you look at Gov. Huckabees record it is no worse than Gov. Reagans record in California.
I could go on and on about the moderate (liberals) who have hijacked the Republican party and tried to make conservatives vote their way but as Gov. Huckabee would ask us to please treat others with respect and how we would want to be treated.
I will be voting for Huckabee (I couldnt say that 6 months ago because I was checking all the canidates out) and wether he wins or not only time will tell.
I will say this with all respect. If Mayor Giuliani wins the primary I will not vote for him but I will not vote for a 3rd party. It would take too long to explain this position but the perfect race for the liberal media would be Democrat against Giuliani. They win either way.
By Granny T
December 4, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
Huckabee is a true social conservative and a fiscal conservative with the love and compassion of a pastor’s heart. He knows what it feels like to be a member of the working lower income middle class because he has lived it most of his life. Most of the other candidates have a clue what the average person’s life is like.