It’s wishful thinking at best – delusional at worst — to suggest that actions take by National Right to Life Committee in Washington, DC, in choosing an unknown, new group as its Georgia affiliate over Georgia Right to Life will have any effect on GRTL or the 2014 Elections.
As of Tuesday evening, the Governor and Lt. Governor and Attorney General have been endorsed by Georgia Right to Life and every single statewide elected official has been endorsed by GRTL in the past. The new group is not even planning to endorse candidates. As an individual, I support Georgia Right to Life, and will continue to do so. I’ve never been to a National Right to Life event, met their staff, or written them a check and their actions in Washington will not affect mine here in Georgia.
But liberal Republicans who wish to claim moral superiority without having to actually have superior morals will continue to crow about the demise of what is arguably the most successful state Pro-Life organization in the nation.
I was beginning my political career in 1992 when the last statewide Republican would be elected without professing at least some form of Pro-Life bona fides. And during the period since Paul Coverdell’s first election to the United States Senate, Georgia Right to Life has been not just the keeper of the right to life flame, but the only enduring Conservative organization to have a continuous influence on the course of Georgia politics for more than 20 years.
The Christian Coalition is but a shadow of its former self, existing primarily in the form of an email list somewhere and occasional quotes from the nominal head. But not since Sadie Fields split from the national organization in 2006 and renamed the organization she headed the Georgia Christian Alliance has the once proud name of the Christian Coalition held much influence in this state.
Today’s Conservative leadership, arguably represented by the Capitol Coalition of Conservative leaders, is less-centralized, bringing together Georgia Right to Life, the Georgia Republican Assembly, various Tea Party groups, Georgia Conservatives in Action and other like-minded organizations.
But back to Georgia Right to Life. The two state Senate Republicans who are most in danger of losing their reelections apparently still think highly enough of GRTL to have sought the group’s endorsement and the tactical advantages that come with it.
The issue of gun owners’ rights has also seen a similar split, as those who believed that the National Rifle Association was not sufficiently protective of the Second Amendment have formed other groups. And while they may have an edge among some of the most-dedicated activists, the NRA’s political arm still has the tools to make a difference at election time and thus remain the 800-pound gorilla.
Likewise, I believe that Georgia Right to Life still has the most extensive list of Pro-Life donors and voters, as well as the trusted “brand” among Conservative Georgia voters. They remain the gold standard.
I think that within Pro-Life circles, as well as in gun owners’ groups, there is room for a range of opinion, and even multiple organizations trying different paths toward a common goal. But within each movement, we mustn’t let the sniping of liberals on the outside turn the more moderate and more conservative within each issue against one another. In-fighting among the various constituencies of Pro-Life and Pro-Gun activists stand to do their respective movements more damage than those on the outside. It’s not suprising to see those outsiders yelling, “come on, let’s you and them fight.”
While the liberals who have chosen to call themselves Republicans during an unabashedly Conservative period in our state’s political affairs no doubt hope for GRTL’s influence to diminsh, I would remind them that however devoutly they desire that outcome, wishing won’t make it so.
