Wisconsin pro-life groups issue statements on on Tiller murder

Pro-Life Wisconsin Deplores Killing of Dr. George Tiller

Yesterday morning late-term abortionist George Tiller was shot and killed in Wichita, Kansas. Pro-Life Wisconsin State Director Peggy Hamill made the following statement:

Pro-Life Wisconsin is appalled by the slaying of Dr. George Tiller Sunday morning. As a peaceful, prayerful pro-life organization, working through educational and legislative means to end abortion, we deplore this act of violence – just as we deplore the killing of preborn children in the womb.

Pro-Life Wisconsin prays for the conversion of abortionists and those involved in the abortion movement. Tragically, George Tiller was denied the opportunity to have a conversion of heart and mind unlike many former doctors and nurses who have left the abortion industry and now work to promote life. We pray for the repose of the soul of George Tiller.

Wisconsin Right to Life Strongly Condemns the taking of George Tiller's Life
Monday, June 1, 2009

Yesterday, Dr. George Tiller was shot to death. In reaction to this tragic act of violence, Wisconsin Right to Life Executive Director Barbara Lyons has issued the following statement:

"Wisconsin Right to Life was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Dr. George Tiller, who was shot yesterday. We condemn this terrible act of violence and we extend our prayers to the Tiller family. Wisconsin Right to Life has consistently and publicly condemned such acts of violence and those who carry out those acts. Our organization is dedicated to using only peaceful, legal means in building a culture of life our nation."

A shift in the demand curve in favor of life

Barbara Lyons of Wisconsin Right to Life took a look at the poll numbers showing some consistency in the majority opposition to abortion. She found an even more encouraging trend behind the shift in opinion:

Fueling the pro-life position are women, women, women — especially younger women. The Pew poll showed the most significant change in women 18-29. This substantiates research data from many sources over the past five years showing that the millenials, ages 13-27, hold pro-life positions.

The best news — since most abortions are performed on women 18-34, this shift to a pro-life position for women 18-29 could signify even more decreases in the number of abortions.

Wisconsin Right to Life praises Palin pick

Wisconsin Right to Life reacts to the Palin announcement:

The state’s leading right-to-life organization today is praising Senator John McCain’s selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

“We are elated that Senator McCain has chosen Governor Sarah Palin,” said Susan Armacost, Legislative/PAC Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “She is a dynamic and extremely popular governor. But it is in her private life that Governor Palin has shown extraordinary strength of character.”

Governor Palin is an ardent supporter of the right to life. Her deep respect for life was particularly evident with the recent birth of her fifth child. Palin learned the child she was carrying had Down syndrome. Unphased, Palin never considered abortion, which is the fate of over 90% of children diagnosed in utero with this condition.

McCain himself has been very positive about his right-to-life convictions. In the Saddleback Church interviews, both McCain and Barack Obama were asked when does a child receive human rights. Obama gave an incredibly shocking response when he said it was “above my pay grade.” McCain didn’t hesitate when he responded “at the moment of conception.”

In a radio address this past Saturday, McCain said, “If I am President, advancing the cause of life will not be above my pay grade.” McCain also took Obama to task for his infanticide votes as an Illinois state senator.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have a complete team that right-to-life people can wholeheartedly support,” said Armacost.

Keeping Wisconsin's ban on abortion

In case you missed it, Sue Armacost of Wisconsin Right to Life wrote in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sunday about Wisconsin's law banning abortion and the importance of keeping the law.

In 1973, seven U.S. Supreme Court justices said they were unable to determine when life began, and Roe vs. Wade became the law of the land. This tragic decision foisted upon our nation abortion for any reason, as many times as a woman wants one, throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. Since then, the technology of ultrasound and the advent of in vitro fertilization demonstrate beyond the shadow of a doubt that every unborn child is a unique member of the human family from the time of fertilization.

Several unsuccessful attempts have been made over the years to repeal our abortion ban. For this year’s attempt, pro-abortion groups were able to mobilize only a few dozen people to attend the public hearing, in stark contrast to the 500 individuals who came to defend the lives of unborn children. Abortion proponents were unable to secure enough committee votes for the repeal to move forward. But they will be back in the next legislative session.

For the sake of human rights and decency, Wisconsin must retain our abortion ban and remain a state that believes in the promise of each human life by providing every member of the human family the right to live.

One night stand

Remember when Obama was in trouble with practicing Catholics? Obama adjusted, putting together a National Advisory Council of Catholics to assist his campaign. Of course, they weren't orthodox Catholics. But when fighting a Clinton, any stick will do.

Barbara Lyons wonders whatever happened to Obama's Catholics?

The National Advisory Council was formed to provide Catholic outreach for the Obama campaign. Donahue asked that the group be dissolved and now reports that all reference to this council has magically disappeared from the Obama website. Calls to the campaign to learn the status of the council have not been returned. Seems like Donahue was successful in derailing the phony Obama Catholic train.

De-caf edition of Idiot Politician of the Week

With the introduction of the Friday afternoon cocktail, pinch-hitting for the Jo Egelhoff on Thursdays, and column writing on Tuesdays, we’re moving the Idiot Politician of the Week to Saturdays. Lucky for us, the move snagged us a last-minute entry this week. On any given week, the idiot politicians are thicker than mosquitoes in July. This week we seem to already be in summer re-runs, and we’re only in May.

Badger Blogger has been tracking the idiotic behavior of State Representative Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee). Fields, you may recall, was arrested not that long ago for driving under the influence. What made it ironic was Fields’ participation in the effort to get Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk to run against then-incumbent Peg Lautenschlager in the Democratic Primary for State Attorney General. Fields avoided the “Idiot Politician of the Week” prize by promising to accept the consequences of his actions.

Fast-forward a few weeks, and Fields has suddenly found Alan Eisenberg. Fields entered a plea of “not guilty” and then claimed it was a miscommunication with his attorney. Meanwhile, Fields found himself in sympathy with someone from the Hmong community who was stopped for drunk driving and then decided to resist arrest. As Bruce at Badger Blogger put it so well, Fields decided to side with someone who was seen on video resisting arrest over the police officers that protect his neighborhood. But Fields knows his natural constituency: ethnic drunk drivers.

Speaking of public drinkers, I’d pick on Senator Hillary Clinton for not being able to get coffee from a coffee machine, but until I have my first cup of the day I’m pretty helpless myself. Besides, remember the good old days when you could just get a cup of coffee? When your choices were black, cream, sugar? No, but we are going to pick on the Senator for choosing a product that clearly exploits the poor campesinos in a way that’s harmful to the environment. After being befuddled by a coffee maker, the Senator should have announced loudly, “There’s no Fair-Trade, environmentally friendly, high-tariff coffee option on this machine! I bet this stuff got into the country because of NAFTA, which my opponent secretly supports!”

Back to Wisconsin, State Representative Don Pridemore (R) once again demonstrates a skin thin enough to be translucent. Rather than let the matter drop, the state representative again lashes out at the McBride-Bucher-WRTL-Robinson cabal determined to challenge him in a primary election all because he might be opposed to anonymous political speech. You see, it’s the Democrats driving him to paranoia. Meanwhile, he knows that McBride and her husband have stolen the frozen strawberries and if he’s given just a little more time he can prove it. There’s a duplicate key to his office. He knows that because of the WRTL robocalls to his district. But he’s outsmarted them, you see. Even if they’re anonymously whispering behind his back. And please ignore the ball bearings in his hand.

The runner-up Idiot Politician of the Week is Racine Mayor Gary Becker. Becker found himself the featured speaker at the May 1st rally for illegal aliens sponsored by the dubious Voces De La Frontera. Becker is obviously not nearly as clever as the mayor of Racine’s northern neighbor. Mayor Barrett showed up, shook a few hands, and um, er, had a “previous engagement” to attend rather than be seen supporting calls for general amnesty for every illegal alien. Nope, Becker stuck it out among the sombreros, Mexican flags and Spanish chants. You know, all those great indicators of how even illegal immigrants are assimilating into our culture.

But this week’s Idiot Politician of the Week is Baltimore City Councilman James Kraft. Kraft took the prize when he declared that the choice between paper and plastic at the grocery store is the choice between freedom and The Holocaust. (ht: Fred Dooley)

A broad slate of environmental proposals that would ban plastic bags from city grocery stores and add a 10-cent deposit for all types of bottles purchased in Baltimore came under fire Thursday at a citywide hearing.

The measures, sponsored by City Councilman James Kraft, include banning plastic bags and Styrofoam cups, and adding a 10-cent deposit for plastic and glass bottles of soda and beer — all part of an aggressive green agenda touted by Kraft, solidifying his reputation as the council’s environmental crusader.

Painting the proposed laws in broad strokes, Kraft likened his efforts as similar to confronting the threat of Nazi Germany prior to World War II.

“We don’t want to be criticized by future generations for not doing enough now as were those who dealt with the Germans then,” Kraft said at a hearing in the headquarters of the Living Classrooms in Fells Point.

Perhaps the councilman might consider breathing into a paper bag rather than mandating them at the grocery store. His penchant for hyperventilating may have already led to hypoxia, the resulting brain damage causing him to become our Idiot Politician of the Week. His prize will be delivered after we finish invading Poland.

Life choice

Wisconsin Right to Life has announced their endorsement in the 2008 presidential election.

The Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee today announced its endorsement of Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential race.

Senator McCain has a stellar 100% voting record on protecting unborn children from abortion. He opposes the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand in the United States and he voted to ban the gruesome partial-birth abortion procedure. He opposes taxpayer funding of abortion and supports legislation that would require parental notification prior to a minor's abortion.

Senator McCain opposes human cloning and the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes. He has stated that he would nominate U.S. Supreme Court justices in the mold of Justices Roberts and Scalia.

Both Democratic presidential candidates, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama have 0% right-to-life voting records.

Senator Clinton supports the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and is a co-sponsor of the so-called Freedom of Choice Act that would codify Roe v. Wade and invalidate most federal and state right-to-life laws. She supports the partial-birth abortion procedure and supports taxpayer funding of abortion. Sen. Clinton opposes legislation to require parental notification prior to a minor's abortion. She supports the cloning of human embryos for research purposes.

Senator Obama, like Sen. Clinton, is a co-sponsor of the so-called Freedom of Choice Act and supports taxpayer funding of abortion. He was not yet a U.S. Senator when the partial-birth abortion ban was voted on. Sen. Obama opposes laws requiring parental notification prior to a minor's abortion and supports the cloning of human embryos for research purposes.

"For those of us who believe the sanctity of human life is the bottom line issue in making our voting decisions, the choice could not be clearer" said Susan Armacost, WRTL/PAC Director.

Given the extreme positions of the Democratic candidates, it's not surprising that Wisconsin Right to Life was able to put aside their differences with McCain over campaign finance reform.

McBride clubs Pridemore one more time

Jessica McBride has the last word on State Rep. Don Pridemore's understanding of the First Amendment.

In response to the robocalls, Pridemore whipped out a press release that, in disclosure, mentioned my husband. Flailing at an imaginary electoral strawman, Pridemore raised speculation that my husband is going to run against him and speculated that it couldn’t be a coincidence that Wisconsin Right to Life was putting out robocalls. Huh? My first thought upon seeing it was: Paul’s running? (Just kidding).

The speculation derived from a blogger who admits she was completely making it up. The best line came from Freeman columnist James Wigderson, who opined that he’d like to see my husband in the state Assembly because “after the first meeting he’d probably demand mandatory Breathalyzer checks for his colleagues.“

Good grief, now Pridemore’s really going to be engaged in conspiracy theories. “His wife wrote a column about me!” the next press release will say. It’s called freedom of speech.

Meanwhile, my husband, who has not considered running for state Assembly (but, thanks, Representative Pridemore for the idea), was working on some legal case blissfully unaware of it all.

Pridemore also took off after Wisconsin Right to Life, stating the group should be “ashamed” of itself. Pridemore insisted that he’s 100 percent pro life. That’s not the point. The group’s upset that there’s evidence he’s not 100 percent for free speech. Under fire, he tried to recast his actions as an attempt to assure voters “retain their rights” if Democrats try to appoint judges.

The way to assure voters retain their rights is to vote against Democratic attempts to appoint judges.

He continued: “The Democrats clearly cannot face the simple fact that their bought-and-paid-for WEAC candidate Louis Butler was defeated in this past election.”

That’s true. So why was Pridemore acting upset too?

Pridemore also stated, “I have told Wisconsin Right to Life that I have no intention of going forward with a bill that would require third party advocacy groups to list their donors, yet in today’s press release they insinuate exact (sic) that.”

Actually, it was an earlier press release from Don Pridemore that insinuated exactly that, one it took him a long time to publicly correct.

It announced: “State Representative Don Pridemore has called for interest group and third-party donor records to be made available to the public. ‘I’ve been considering this legislation for quite some time now, but in the wake of the judicial elections on April 1, it has become even more imperative.’”

Why was it so imperative if the bought-and-paid for WEAC candidate lost?

On Friday, Pridemore whipped out yet another press release, insisting that any reference to third-party donors has been removed from draft legislation, which he called “flexible.”

To me the funniest part of the story is that Paul Bucher was completely unaware that all of this was going on.

By the way, what does anyone think the over-under on the Breathalyzer failure rate is?

Giving voice to Life

Another blog is making a splash in the Cheddarsphere from an organization with a national reputation, Wisconsin Right to Life. The new blog is called Life Voice blog, and it's certainly that. I'm honored to be among their recommended links, and I look forward to following their blog closely.

Wisconsin Right to Life is not only a champion of Life causes, but they serve as an important defender of our First Amendment rights as well. This blog will be a "must read" for activists, bloggers, talk radio and even the main stream media.

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm a little behind in reading what they have to say about Eliot Spitzer, Luxembourg, and Jack Kevorkian.

Wisconsin Right to Life endorses Fred Thompson

If the early primaries split and Wisconsin's primary comes into play, this could be important:

The Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee, the state's premier right-to-life PAC, today announced its endorsement of former Senator Fred Thompson for President of the United States.

"The Wisconsin Right to Life PAC is proud to endorse Fred Thompson," said Susan Armacost, WRTL/PAC Director. "Fred Thompson's stellar 100% right to life voting record and his personal commitment to the protection of human life is deeply appreciated by our organization. We strongly believe in his ability to win the presidential election."

In making its endorsement, WRTL/PAC considered the positions of candidates on right-to-life issues, their records on those issues and their ability to win.

Fred Thompson has had an impressive and consistent right-to-life record throughout his eight years in the U. S. Senate. Thompson strongly believes that the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion-on-demand Supreme Court decision was wrongly decided and must be reversed. Thompson consistently opposed the use of taxpayer dollars to promote or pay for abortion in the United States and overseas. He supported all of the many pro-life measures such as parental notice prior to a minor's abortion.

Fred Thompson strongly opposes the type of stem cell research that requires killing human embryos. He supports ethical stem cell research that does not harm or destroy human life and that has produced impressive results in alleviating over 73 diseases and conditions.

The Wisconsin Right to Life PAC endorsement follows the lead of the National Right to Life Committee PAC which endorsed Thompson several weeks ago.

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Thompson gets important pro-life endorsement

Former Senator Fred Thompson received an important endorsement today from the National Right to Life committee.

Fred Thompson, the candidate billing himself as the most consistent conservative in the crowded Republican field, has won the presidential endorsement of the National Right to Life Committee, GOP officials said Monday.

The nod by the prominent anti-abortion group could boost the lackluster campaign of the former Tennessee senator. He has seen his poll numbers drop in recent weeks in Iowa and elsewhere as he has failed to become the consensus candidate of restive social conservatives still searching for someone to embrace.

"It speaks for itself," an upbeat Thompson told reporters while campaigning here — even as he spoke in hypothetical terms and declined to confirm the endorsement. "These are people who supported me in times past. I think it would be a perfectly natural thing to happen. I've had a 100 percent pro-life voting record in the United States Senate. And I think they know that, and that's the way I would govern if I was president."

Here's the video presentation Thompson made to the National Right to Life Committee:


Locally, Sue Armacost of Wisconsin Right to Life had this to say,

“We truly value Fred Thompson’s strong commitment to the protection of human life. We are the Wisconsin affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. In light of our parent organization’s endorsement of Fred Thompson, the Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee (PAC)is now discussing the presidential race and will announce its endorsement decision in the near future.”

The endorsement by the National Right to Life Committee has to be seen as a huge blow to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's efforts to reach out to social conservatives, and it follows another blow from Pat Robertson's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani. National Right to Life's endorsement of Thompson despite Thompson's support for campaign finance reform can only be interpreted as their continued mistrust of Romney's conversions.

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A life saved

Congratulations to Attorney Rick Esenberg and Wisconsin Right to Life. They intervened in a case of a La Crosse woman whose court-appointed guardian was trying to end her life-saving care.

The court case involving a guardian seeking to withdraw life-sustaining treatment for a La Crosse woman is over for now.

In a surprise move Friday in La Crosse County Circuit Court, attorneys for the guardian withdrew a request to stop life-sustaining treatment. They asked La Crosse County Circuit Judge Scott Horne to dismiss the case without prejudice, leaving the door open to refile the case at a future date.

Charles Barr, a Milwaukee attorney for the guardian, told the judge he had received a medical opinion about the woman recently “that convinced us not to proceed at this time.”

Had Wisconsin Right to Life and Rick Esenberg not intervened, would Barr and the guardian have received the medical opinion in time to save her life?

In Wisconsin, a guardian has no authority to withdraw life-sustaining treatment unless the patient is in a persistent vegetative state or has expressed wishes through a conversation or advance directive. Attorneys for the woman said she is not in a persistent vegetative state and doesn’t have an advance directive.

Making decisions at the end of someone's life can be extremely difficult, but the error should be on the side of life.

However in this case, "Marilyn" was not terminally ill and is not in a persistent vegetative state. She is suffering from dementia after several strokes, a dementia that causes her to tear out her feeding tubes. The Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center keeps her sedated to prevent her from doing that. It is the life-saving choice, and one preferable to euthanasia by starving a woman to death.

Condemning Paul Hill Days

Wisconsin Right to Life issued the following press release right before Independence Day,

Wisconsin Right to Life has learned that four groups, who wrongly call themselves "pro-life, will be in Milwaukee from July 26-29 to honor Paul Hill, a terribly misguided individual who was executed in Florida for murdering abortionist John Britton in 1994.

The three day event is being called "Paul Hill Days" and will include an "reinactment of 7-29-1994," (referring to an reinactment of the murder of Britton by Hill thirteen years ago on that date.)

"It is terrifying that a 'reinactment' of the murder will take place in our state. It should be condemned by pro-life people of good will everywhere," said Barbara Lyons, Executive Director for Wisconsin Right to Life. "Wisconsin Right to Life has consistently spoken out against violent individuals like Paul Hill who inappropriately use the name of the pro-life movement in carrying out their deplorable acts."

The organizations sponsoring "Paul Hill Days" are "Paul Hill Memorial," "Children Need Heros," "Street Preach," and Pro-Life Virginia.

The pro-life movement is guided by the belief that each and every human life has intrinsic value and that the efforts to protect human life should be carried out in a peaceful, legal, non-violent manner.

Somehow I don't imagine those organizations will be cheerfully greeted by the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau, nor should they.

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Time Warp

I didn't mean to confuse the Spring City Chronicle by making sure my column ran as scheduled. I even turned it in a day early just to be sure.

I take on the expanding role of government in our health care and explain why the government is so interested in what we eat, drink and smoke.

You’ll be happy to learn that your health is now a matter of public policy. The government is already involved in purchasing health care for the poor, the elderly and even the children. If your health isn’t already costing the county, state and feds money, someday it will. The best the government can hope for is you to drop dead jogging before you collect any health benefits.

By the way, did you ever see a jogger smile?

The government already has a vested interest in what you eat and drink. No wonder some activists are just itching for a lawsuit against fast food restaurants just like they went after tobacco.

Here in Wisconsin, the incentive to interfere with your fine dining choices could get a lot worse.

Last week I looked at the Supreme Court's decision on the Wisconsin Right to Life challenge to McCain-Feingold and how it raised the blood pressure of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

The WDC also said the court’s decision was "a step backward" to when "special interests were deemed free to keep the public in the dark" about funding of political speech.

Yes, it was a step backwards to a long tradition of anonymous political speech, from the anonymous writings of this country’s founding fathers to the anonymous political speech by bloggers of both the left and the right currently thriving on the Internet. One cannot help but wonder that had the WDC been around at the time of the Federalist Papers whether they would have had a bonfire.

Mike McCabe, the communications director for the WDC, once wrote, "Hiding behind the First Amendment in order to withhold essential information from the public is an act of desecration." Wisconsin Right to Life should be commended for not hiding when our First Amendment rights are under attack with such religious zeal, and we are freer today because of their efforts.

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Differing views on "morning after pill" mandate

Our friend Dad29 has been following the debate over the mandatory provision of the "morning after pill" at hospitals for victims of rape. He reports that this legislation will not be opposed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Dad29 lists some objections to the USCCB's position,

Should a woman have been impregnanted by the rape, a pregnancy test would likely not detect it within the first couple of days after the rape, thus taking the morning after pill in such a scenario would cause an abortion even though the pregnancy test had shown no pregnancy.

Dr. John Shea M.D., who has for some years specialized in researching and reporting on life issues, is the medical consultant to LifeSiteNews.com. He notes that since the administration of abortifacient drugs may place an innocent human life at stake, surety is required that the woman in question is not yet pregnant. That absolute certainty cannot be provided by science, he says. He compares the doubt about whether the woman is already pregnant to the classic example of the hunter's doubt about whether a movement behind a bush is caused by deer or a human being. "You can't shoot unless you're certain it's a deer," he says.

Famed Catholic moral theologian Msgr. William Smith, who teaches at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, concurs. "It's wrong to say, you can use anything that has abortifacient properties. Emergency contraception is double talk ... it's what I call 'verbal engineering'. Catholic hospitals are not free to prescribe or provide anything with abortifacient properties without contradicting their witness."

I checked with Wisconsin Right to Life and received a nice note back from Sue Armacost, Legislative/PAC director for Wisconsin Right to Life,

Regarding SB 129, we wanted to see what the WI Bishops would do on this bill and take our lead from them. After all, it is the Catholic hospitals that would be the ones to have a conscience concern. The bishops are not going to take a position on the bill and neither will Wisconsin Right to Life.

Currently, all Catholic hospitals in WI provide emergency contraceptives to rape victims but only after it is determined that a pregnancy has not occurred. If a pregnancy has occurred, they will not provide emergency contraceptives. The bill, SB 129, does not mandate that emergency contraceptives be provided to a woman if, after testing, it is determined that she is pregnant. Thus, the Catholic hospitals can operate as they currently are. If we were going to have an objection to the bill, it would have been based on violating a hospital's conscience concerns. But that does not appear to be the case with the bill.

Pro-Life Wisconsin is taking a harder line, calling the bill "bad medicine".

“Forcing doctors to immediately provide medication to patients based solely upon their request is simply bad medicine,” said Matt Sande, director of legislation for Pro-Life Wisconsin. “In the case of emergency contraception, such a policy could contradict a physician’s medical judgment as EC could be medically contraindicated for the patient.”

Pro-Life Wisconsin’s primary opposition to SB 129 is based on the abortion-causing action of so-called “emergency contraception.” EC can work in three ways: to suppress ovulation; to inhibit the mobility of sperm, and to alter the lining of the uterus so that a newly conceived child is unable to implant in the womb, thus starving and dying. This last action is pre-implantation chemical abortion.

“There is no truthful person educated in medicine that would deny the possibility that ‘emergency contraception’ may prevent the embryo from implanting in the womb,” said Amy K. Schueckler M.D., a licensed obstetrician and gynecologist from Green Bay. “The clearest analogy is a barefoot toddler clad only in a diaper who wanders outside in the subzero winter snow and is not allowed into a warm home. The child will die. That is the effect of EC on the uterus. The embryonic child will die,” said Schueckler.

Wisconsin law protects the right of hospitals to refuse to participate in morally objectionable practices such as abortion and sterilization. The proposed legislation appears to be in conflict with Wisconsin Statutes 253.09(1) because of the abortion causing effect of so-called emergency contraceptive drugs, as well as with the Wisconsin Constitution which expressly protects the rights of conscience. Under Article 1, Section 18 of the state constitution “any control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience” shall not be permitted. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution further guarantees the right to freely exercise one’s religion convictions.

“Forcing all hospitals to administer ‘emergency contraception’ violates the religious liberty provision of the First Amendment,” said Schueckler. “I urge the Committee to uphold the constitutional rights of medical professionals and reject Senate Bill 129.”

Check the endorsement

An interesting question before tomorrow's primary is why the Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund (PLWVF) PAC endorsed attorney Joe Sommers over Annette Ziegler. Despite the ravings of one blogger, the answer is really quite simple, and was easily found out with a phone call to Pro-Life Wisconsin's Legislative Affairs Director Matt Sande. The simple answer is that Annette Ziegler apparently did not seek PLWVF's endorsement, and did not respond when the PLWVF attempted to ask the candidate about her views. Joe Sommers, on the other hand, was a known quantity to Pro-Life Wisconsin, is outspokenly pro-life, was responsive to the PLWVF's board, and lives by a pro-life philosophy.

Ziegler's campaign manager Mark Graul did speak with Matt Sande last week, and Sande said he was assured Ziegler is a strict constructionist. However, Sande pointed out the Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund would be unable to continue the process to determine if they should endorse Ziegler without being able to question the candidate. Sande said, "the door is always open."

A couple of other tidbits.

This is the second statewide race in a row for Republican campaign manager Mark Graul where the candidate did not seek the Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund endorsement. Last election cycle it was former Congressman Mark Green's campaign for governor. (Mark Graul did not return my call.)

The Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund did receive a response from Linda Clifford, who declined to state her views on abortion saying it would be "inappropriate." No word why the other interest groups would be more appropriate.

Update! I forgot I wanted to add WVCY's interviews with the three candidates can be found at their website.

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