SQUANDERED OPPORTUNITIES?

By Carol Tobias, NRL PAC Director

During his acceptance speech at the Republican convention in Philadelphia, pro-life Texas Governor George W. Bush stated that the Clinton-Gore Administration had squandered many opportunities.

Years from now, will the country look back at the 2000 elections and wonder why pro-lifers squandered a wonderful opportunity to elect someone who could have helped turn the tide so that once again innocent life was respected and protected?

We are facing an election with night and day contrasts and with life and death consequences for millions of unborn children.

Gov. George W. Bush is pro-life, Vice President Al Gore is pro-abortion. It's as clear-cut as that.

Unfortunately, even though the contrast is clear, and even though so much is at stake, not all pro-lifers are ready to cast their ballot for George W. Bush. How can that be?

Some pro-lifers happen to like Al Gore because of his positions on other issues. We need to do everything we can to encourage fellow pro-lifers to put first things first - - the lives of innocent unborn children - - and to help them understand how deadly serious this election is for their future.

Others may be inclined to support a third-party candidate, or not vote at all, because they don't think George W. Bush is really pro-life. To anyone who knows his record or has listened to his pro-life comments, this, of course, is ridiculous.

Repeatedly, George W. Bush has stated his firm support for an amendment to the Constitution with exceptions for life of the mother, rape, and incest. Bush has voiced his strong view that your tax dollars and mine should not pay for abortion. The father of twin daughters himself, Gov. Bush believes parents have a right to know if their minor daughter is pregnant and considering an abortion.

When the U.S. Supreme Court tragically overturned Nebraska's ban on the grotesque partial-birth abortion technique, Bush voiced his support for the ban. Bush has said that he will find a way to ban partial-birth abortions.

Bush also firmly opposed the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA), decision to approve marketing of the abortion pill, RU486 and his campaign immediately stated Bush would sign legislation banning RU486 if Congress passed it.

Bush has stated that he will appoint judges who share his philosophy and will not legislate from the bench. Also very important is that Bush opposes assisted suicide.

Gore opposes an amendment to the Constitution to protect unborn children. Gore supports tax funding of abortion on demand. He doesn't think parents have the right to know if their minor daughter is pregnant and considering an abortion.

Gore applauded the U.S. Supreme Court when it narrowly struck down Nebraska's ban on partial-birth abortions and hailed the FDA's approval of RU486.

Gore has stated unequivocally that a majority of the Court appointed in his administration would support a woman's "right to choose." Gore has also stated that, although he is personally opposed to assisted suicide, that is a decision that should be left up to the patient's family and the doctor. (What about the patient?)

In these final days of the campaign, many of you will be confronted with friends and neighbors who aren't sure whom they want to vote for. They will find various excuses to either support Al Gore or to not support Governor Bush.

For those who are considering a vote for Al Gore, plead with them. If they really care about unborn children, ask them to give Bush a chance. Governor Bush believes unborn children should be welcomed in life and protected in law.

Pro-life Democrats and independents should be encouraged to give him the opportunity to let this philosophy take root so we can restore a culture of life in America.

You may also hear from fellow pro-lifers, or from other candidates, that George W. Bush isn't really pro-life, or that he isn't pro-life enough. This is, as said earlier, totally ridiculous. But in these final weeks, all kinds of

stories about Governor Bush will be floated by those who want to detract from his strong pro-life record.

Ignore all this. We must stress to every pro-lifer how crucial this election is.

Fellow pro-lifers, the next President of the United States will be George W. Bush or Al Gore and it's time to play hardball.

The next president will sign or veto legislation. The next president will make administrative and judicial appointments. As Al Gore has often noted, the next president is likely to appoint three, and perhaps four, Justices to the Supreme Court.

The battle for unborn lives has been waged for almost 30 years, and 40 million unborn children have died in the battle. This election will have consequences for the next 30 years and the lives of probably another 40 million babies are on the line.

George W. Bush is the only pro-life candidate who can win the election. Every pro-life voter must know that a vote for anyone but Governor Bush is a vote for Al Gore and continuing unrestricted abortion on demand.

For the millions of Americans who oppose abortion, now is the time to stand up and be counted. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or independent, now is the time to speak up on behalf of the unborn child who otherwise will have no voice.

Your vote will help to decide whether abortion remains legal for the next 30 or 40 years. One vote could make the difference between life and death for millions of unborn children.

Forty million unborn children have already died in this holocaust. Isn't it time to stop the killing?

Years from now we don't want to wake up in the middle of the night regretting that we squandered this wonderful opportunity.

Paid for by the NRL Political Action Committee. Not Authorized by any candidate.