Nov. 19, 2010
EDITORIAL: Is WV for Life Becoming a Purely Political Organization?
West Virginians for Life, a non-profit organization supporting pro-life causes in West Virginia, has developed into a sophisticated operation over the years. Wanda Franz, the group's longtime driving force and the current President of the National Right to Life organization, has helped advance the pro-life cause in a variety of ways.
However, in recent years, the group has been perceived to be a little too political, "playing the game" in Charleston by giving political cover to those who pay lip service to their cause Critics note that this occurs even at the expense of those candidates whose real commitment to the pro-life cause is well-known.
Some point to the seeming hypocrisy the group displayed in their endorsements in the election earlier this month in West Virginia. On one hand, no one cried foul more than the National Right to LIfe and its affiliate, West Virginians for Life, on the subject of taxpayer-paid abortions in the Obamacare health reform plan.
In fact, this apparently serious concern on behalf of West Virginians for Life constituted one of the main justifications for the group's refusal to endorse longtime pro-life Congressman Nick Joe Rahall, who voted for President Obama's controversial health care reform bill.
And yet, the group was not at all consistent on this point. Governor Joe Manchin received their endorsement during the past election cycle, despite his ardent, repeated support for Obamacare as it made its way through Congress.
Manchin later said that he would seek repeal of the parts of Obamacare that pro-lifers resent. However, that was long after the bill went through with his support. Moreover, this pass given Manchin by West Virginians for Life constituted the first time that a mere promise of future conduct was sufficient for the group to grant clemency on an offense as huge as Obamacare was for them.
Think about it: when was the last time anyone else scooted by West Virginians for Life after publicly supporting a bill that created taxpayer-funded abortions?
Answer: never.
Manchin was in a class all his own, prompting many to ask if Karen Cross and company just make up endorsement policy on the fly. Many pro-life supporters across West Virginia saw in Manchin's special exception the triumph of politics over principle in West Virginians for Life endorsements.
Given Nick Joe Rahall's fate for supporting Obamacare, and the exact opposite treatment given Joe Manchin in his race, it's easy to see why many former West Virginians for Life supporters see it that way.
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EDITORIAL: Is WV for Life Becoming a Purely Political Organization?
West Virginians for Life, a non-profit organization supporting pro-life causes in West Virginia, has developed into a sophisticated operation over the years. Wanda Franz, the group's longtime driving force and the current President of the National Right to Life organization, has helped advance the pro-life cause in a variety of ways.
However, in recent years, the group has been perceived to be a little too political, "playing the game" in Charleston by giving political cover to those who pay lip service to their cause Critics note that this occurs even at the expense of those candidates whose real commitment to the pro-life cause is well-known.
Some point to the seeming hypocrisy the group displayed in their endorsements in the election earlier this month in West Virginia. On one hand, no one cried foul more than the National Right to LIfe and its affiliate, West Virginians for Life, on the subject of taxpayer-paid abortions in the Obamacare health reform plan.
In fact, this apparently serious concern on behalf of West Virginians for Life constituted one of the main justifications for the group's refusal to endorse longtime pro-life Congressman Nick Joe Rahall, who voted for President Obama's controversial health care reform bill.
And yet, the group was not at all consistent on this point. Governor Joe Manchin received their endorsement during the past election cycle, despite his ardent, repeated support for Obamacare as it made its way through Congress.
Manchin later said that he would seek repeal of the parts of Obamacare that pro-lifers resent. However, that was long after the bill went through with his support. Moreover, this pass given Manchin by West Virginians for Life constituted the first time that a mere promise of future conduct was sufficient for the group to grant clemency on an offense as huge as Obamacare was for them.
Think about it: when was the last time anyone else scooted by West Virginians for Life after publicly supporting a bill that created taxpayer-funded abortions?
Answer: never.
Manchin was in a class all his own, prompting many to ask if Karen Cross and company just make up endorsement policy on the fly. Many pro-life supporters across West Virginia saw in Manchin's special exception the triumph of politics over principle in West Virginians for Life endorsements.
Given Nick Joe Rahall's fate for supporting Obamacare, and the exact opposite treatment given Joe Manchin in his race, it's easy to see why many former West Virginians for Life supporters see it that way.
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