PrintMarch 7, 2011
The wages of a social issues 'truce'
A Houston district now knows what a politically expedient "truce" on social issues looks like -- a betrayal of a core constituency, the ceding of moral high ground and the dilution of a formerly united and strong voice. Mitch Daniels should get a good look.
Although the Texas House overwhelmingly passed its sonogram law, one Republican was that party's sole dissenter. Sarah Davis, a newly elected Republican from Houston, voted against the law. During her election, Ms. Davis described herself as "a new conservative voice." She was elected over a longtime Democrat incumbent in what was a real achievement for conservatives in her politically diverse district.
Abortion is either murder or it is not. If abortion is murder, justice demands that it be stopped immediately. Science (the stethoscope, the sonogram and the ultrasound) now convincingly shows us that abortion is murder.
To remain neutral towards murder is absurd. Hopefully, most pro-choicers oppose murder, making the pro-life task one of education and, because hearts are hardened, prayer. However, until convinced, most pro-choicers will typically do whatever they can to advance "reproductive rights," hence the Democratic Party's attempt to dramatically increase federal funding of abortion through ObamaCare. This means that unless a "truce" includes pursuit of a pro-abortion agenda, not a vote will be gained from the pro-choice block.
The moral impossibility of being at a truce with murder and the continued relentless pursuit of the pro-abortion agenda make Mitch Daniels' truce concept an exercise in denial and particularly loathsome as it a) enables the advance of the pro-abortion agenda, unobstructed and uneducated, and b) gives cover to Republicans who are either too lazy to think through the issue, unconcerned with justice or pro-choice. Which is Ms. Davis? Undoubtedly, some Houston voters would have liked to have known this about Ms. Davis' "new conservative voice" before her 2010 election.
Although the sonogram law fortunately sailed through the Texas House, today Ms. Davis' supporters are left wondering what they missed and unexpectedly gearing up for a primary contest in her district.
A social issue "truce" is not only immoral; it is political shortsightedness and likely suicide. It will divide and can conquer. We await the results of Ms. Davis' upcoming primary contest and the subsequent election, in which she may or may not have a role.
The Republican Party should take note and stick to its principles, a proven way to lead.
