An Inconvenient Truce
An Inconvenient Truce
In most parts of the country, sitting politicians aren’t enjoying much popularity these days. Hoosier Governor Mitch Daniels (R) has been one exception. Some 590 miles away from the eye of Washington’s storm, the Indiana leader is about as beloved as an elected official can be in this climate. His approval rating is consistently above 60%, prompting whispers that he might be "the man" for Republicans in 2012. Unfortunately, comments he made this week raise serious questions about his level of commitment to fundamental issues like life–leading many of us to wonder if he has the ability to lead a unified conservative movement. Tucked in the back of an 11-page expose with The Weekly Standard, Gov. Daniels made a surprising departure from his pro-family record during a conversation with Andrew Ferguson. When asked about the next president, the Governor said, "’[That person] would have to call a truce on the so-called social issues’ until the economic crisis is resolved. ‘We’re going to just have to agree to get along for a little while.’" As taken aback as some of us were, we wanted to give the Governor time to clarify what we believe are very harmful statements to the pro-family movement. At an event in Washington on Tuesday, John McCormack caught up with the Governor and gave him that opportunity.
"I asked Daniels," McCormack writes, "if [he] meant the next president shouldn’t push issues like stopping taxpayer-funding of abortion in ObamaCare or reinstating the Mexico City Policy banning federal funds to overseas groups that perform abortions. Daniels replied that we face a ‘genuine national emergency’ regarding the budget and that ‘maybe these things could be set aside for a while.’ But, [he said], ‘this doesn’t mean anybody abandons their position at all. Everybody just stands down for a little while, while we try to save the republic.’ To clarify whether Daniels simply wants to de-emphasize these issues or actually not act on them, I asked if, as president, he would issue an executive order to reinstate Reagan’s ‘Mexico City Policy’ his first week in office. (Obama revoked the policy during his first week in office.) Daniels replied, ‘I don’t know.’"
That’s astonishing. Not only is he noncommittal about his role as a pro-life leader, but the Governor wouldn’t even agree to a modest step like banning taxpayer-funded promotion of abortion overseas–which President Bush did on his first day in office with 65% of the country’s support. Let’s face it. These aren’t fringe issues that stretch moderate America. They’re mainstream ideals that an overwhelming majority of the nation espouses. I support the Governor 100% on the call for fiscal responsibility, but nothing is more fiscally responsible than ending the taxpayer funding of abortion and abortion promotion. More than 70% of our nation agrees that killing innocent unborn children with federal dollars is wrong. Yet stopping government-funded murder isn’t a "genuine national emergency?"
We cannot "save the republic," in Gov. Daniels’ words, by destroying the next generation. Regardless of what the Establishment believes, fiscal and social conservatism have never been mutually exclusive. Without life, there is no pursuit of happiness. Thank goodness the Founding Fathers were not timid in their leadership; they understood that "truce" was nothing more than surrender.
Military Bill Leads to Marriage Minefield
What does the military have to do with marriage? Let me put it this way–Americans shouldn’t wait to find out. As FRC has said from the beginning, this push to repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" is one of the final pieces to the Left’s ultimate prize: recreating society in their image. Yesterday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sent an alert to supporters explaining how the Defense Authorization battle "is about more than just the military. The outcome of this fight will have huge implications for the broader struggle for equality for years to come."
Last year, John Berry, the highest-ranking homosexual on Obama’s team, wasn’t the least bit shy about the President’s strategy. "First, we will seek the passage of hate crimes legislation." (Check.) "We will seek the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes all of the LGBT community." (In process.) "We shall repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’" (In process.) "And we shall repeal the Defense of Marriage Act… before the sun sets on this administration."
Once private businesses are forced to hire cross dressers and homosexuals, the military is next. If private employers can’t discriminate, liberals will argue, then neither should our troops. And once the military falls, the Defense of Marriage Act will be utterly defenseless. The administration will be free to impose its radical views of the family on our entire counrty. Make no mistake. These are calculated moves meant to hollow out the law.
If the country doesn’t engage now, Americans won’t know what hit them. Sign FRC’s petition on "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and urge your friends and family to do the same. When you’re finished, call your Senators and ask them to hold the line on the military’s policy–or else marriage is next. Then, mark your calendars for FRC Action’s upcoming webcast on "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" on June 22. More details to come.
