A recent story has accused Maria Cino, a candidate for chair of the Republican national committee, of being pro-choice, so the candidate has sent a letter to the RNC to burnish her pro-life credentials:
Dear RNC Member:
Yesterday, a false story was planted about my personal views on the issue of life. I feel compelled to clear the matter up with you directly rather than let the unfounded conclusion it draws go unanswered.
I am a life-long Catholic who strongly believes and supports the teachings of the Church. I believe in upholding the culture of Life, and therefore I strongly oppose legal abortion. Further, I have studied the questionnaire of the National Right to Life Committee, and am in 100 percent agreement with their policy objectives. All of the elected officials I have worked for directly are ardent pro-lifers and I was proud to assist them in defending the rights of the unborn.
My critics point out my contributions to a very small group of candidates and a single political action committee whose views on abortion are different from my own, but who were Republican nonetheless. I have committed my life to winning elections across the country, even in areas where the Democrats have traditionally been strong. I remain committed to competing in states be they red or blue. The claims being made about my pro-life beliefs also fail to point out that I have helped elect a huge number of pro-life candidates to office at all levels — including the White House, which directly led to the addition of two pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.
I have given more personal donations than any other candidate running for RNC Chairman, and all my donations were aimed at making our party the majority party and our pro-life platform, which I fully support, into the basis for legislation and policy.
My critics also fail to note that I helped start ViewPAC, which aims to elect Republican women in general elections, particularly women in urban areas where Republican candidates have not traditionally fared well. Mine is a record of party-building, pure and simple.
This inaccurate story also included criticism of my work for Pfizer, one of the world’s largest businesses and job-creators. Let me say it simply: I never lobbied for Obamacare, don’t support it and any claims to the contrary are totally false. As Chairman I will work closely with Congressional Republicans to ensure Obamacare is never implemented.
I understand this is an important campaign and there is a lot at stake. I welcome a vigorous, all-out debate. Our new Chairman will have to speak for and provide leadership for our party on many important issues. I don’t expect us to agree about everything, but I do commit to bold leadership that builds on what unifies us in victory, in the best interests of our party and our nation.
If you have any questions about my pro-life views or experience, please contact me directly and I will answer you immediately and fully. I’m proud of my beliefs and my record and would be happy to discuss them with you.
Merry Christmas,
Maria
I am actually for Cino to replace Steele, but this long explanation raises questions with me. Why is all that necessary? I scanned the message for the words: "I am pro-life", and I didn't find them. Phrases like "I believe in upholding the culture of life" just don't work for me.
Those are frankly; weasel words.
The statement hurts more than it helps. Please Maria, if you are pro life, say so. Say so directly. If not, say so. Of course, if you are not, you will lose, but be true to yourself.
Say it clearly, please. Just say it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Say it clearly, please. Just say it."
It was perfectly clear to me. She's essentially saying that she's against abortion, but that unlike all manner of other conservatives, she isn't stupid enough to think it can or should be made illegal. I thought she handled it rather tactfully. I wouldn't have. Not with this economy. Not with this president in the White House. It's time for grown ups.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo, stating one's core beliefs is now "stupid"?
Oh Please. That wasnt tactful, it was cowardly. Watch this:
I am pro-life. Anyone with a brain can make a difference between one's personal and political views. It does not hurt to say straight up what YOU believe. In fact, it can work to garner trust and respect even among those who disagree.
I was for Cino before, and I still am, because she is the best of those running. However, that statement does not compel me to crawl over broken glass in my support.
I don't want tactics, I want truth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Oh Please. That wasnt tactful, it was cowardly."
You're right. I'd have said something like abortion is a moral abomination, but that the choice resides in an individual's conscience. And that people who persist in seeking an outright ban or to apply a litmus test as to whether or not someone advocates for that are morons engaged in an exercise in futility which runs counter to all other current efforts to curtail big government and maximize freedom. COURAGE!
But, you know, there's no accounting for people who are so tone deaf and morally self-indulgent that they fail to understand why Republicans enjoyed a quick resurgence which the party itself didn't merit. You may be fine rolling the dice with business as usual and hoping we eek out a 1% margin of victory in '12 over a leftist and his cesspool of minions, but I find it rather infantile to risk dying on a hill which isn't even real. Abortion will never be outlawed. Moral suasion - which is what you so mindlessly characterize as a "cowardly" position devoid of conviction - is really the only arrow you have in your quiver. So you might want to contemplate a more rational dividing line as to who your allies are.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAbe, you completely missed my point.
I agree with you that Abortion will never be outlawed, in fact, I agree it should not be a litmus test, and that leading with that issue is a loser.
All I was pointing out, is that Cino, BECAUSE SHE WAS CHALLENGED on the issue, should have issued a clear statement.
THEN, she could have gone on to state the differences between her core values, and her political judgment on the subject. When challenged, one should be direct, and to the point. Not a litmus test, just courage.
At that point, position clear, and consistency in history behind her, she could articulate why abortion is not the political issue to focus on.
Relax, my brother, we are on the same page here.
Merry Christmas.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse