By Jonathan Rogers,
NRLC Field Coordinator

So, obviously it's a bit of an understatement to say that we had a pretty good week. And by "bit of an understatement," I mean "huge."

Take a look at our election results page (www.nrlc.org/ElectionResults.html). There you'll see the results of the most important and competitive races involving abortion or abortion-related legislation.

How did we--YOU--do? As of right now, we have results for about 117 races, with a few still to close to call. Pro-lifers won 86--that's a batting average of .735!

Which is incredible. Pro-lifers can now celebrate having a solid pro-life majority in the House of Representatives led by a strong pro-life leader in soon-to-be Speaker John Boehner (R-0hio). In the Senate, not a single pro-life incumbent lost, and we can celebrate the gain of at least six pro-lifers as well. (Two races are still undecided.)

Think back for a moment to how we felt two years ago, with a pro-abortion President and solid pro-abortion majorities in both houses. What a change! We can feel very good about Tuesday's results, even as we begin to look forward to 2012.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves yet. The months and months of hard work that went into achieving such historic gains this week deserves recognition.

Once again, as thousands of volunteers worked tirelessly to provide a voice for the unborn and defenseless, the Right to Life movement proved that it is the greatest grassroots movement in history.

Our grateful staff here in Washington, D.C. is ever mindful that we are only the smallest part of the pro-life movement's efforts. All our best efforts would go for naught without grassroots pro-lifers doing the nitty-gritty work of calling and e-mailing friends and supporters and passing out millions of pieces of literature educating voters on the life issues.

Much ink has been, is being, and will be spilled on how this election cycle was a test of "Tea Party" candidates as a new grassroots movement. Lost in the reportorial shuffle is that a large majority of Republican gains this week were pro-life Republicans. The Tea Party story obscures the larger narrative--that pro-lifers were once again a huge factor in the elections and in all likelihood decided a number of important house races. (It also misses that most Tea Party candidates were pro-life.)

We here at National Right to Life have much to be thankful for this week, starting with the fact that your efforts continue to bear fruit: the election of so many new pro-life Congressmen and Senators. Looking long-term, most importantly, we are so grateful for the support of such a large grassroots body of volunteers who have labored in defense of the unborn and the medically vulnerable.

Once again, our myriad groups of "little platoons" (to use the Edmund Burke wonderfully descriptive phrase) came through when they were most needed. They educated their communities on the life issues, and spoke with a loud voice that was heard in the halls of power.

We thank you all, and are honored to count ourselves as your colleagues.

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