Every election cycle, interest groups across the spectrum make recommendations about which candidates they believe will best work to achieve certain policy ends in elected office.
The Pro-Life community is no different. Each primary election season, the Texas Right to Life Political Action Committee vets candidates and invests in certain races. These races encompass the Texas House and Senate, statewide offices, judicial elections, Congressional seats, and even various local races.
While some accuse Pro-Lifers of being too narrow in their focus, relying on Pro-Life principles as the priority in selecting a candidate is not actually being a “single-issue” voter. The community that places Pro-Life values as their guiding principle in vetting candidates is no more a “single-issue” voter than one that places the state of the economy at the top of their candidate “must-haves” list.
The economy, as an issue, includes various taxes, trading policies, and government spending. The same is true for the Pro-Life cause. Pro-Lifers believe in the sanctity of human Life from the moment of conception until natural death. Such belief means the Pro-Life movement addresses not only abortion, but also euthanasia, assisted suicide, cloning, stem cell research, genetic engineering, frozen embryos, adoption, and much, much more.
To earn the Texas Right to Life political seal of approval, each candidate must first complete a straightforward issues survey, and then members of our PAC panel conduct an interview. The personal meeting opens windows into the candidates’ hearts and minds and reveals the underpinnings of their political beliefs—key factors in shaping one’s Pro-Life values.
Such respect for the value of others, without requiring an achieved age, an achieved mental or physical level of development, or a particular “status” in society, is a respect for humanity and the individual that will no doubt shape a policymaker’s view of civil rights, economic rights, and security. How can we trust legislators to lower property taxes or increase penalties for violent crimes if they do not fundamentally believe each life is valuable? We can’t.
Life is of the utmost importance. Our country was based upon the principles of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Life is the first and foremost of these rights, for without the Right to Life, one cannot enjoy any other rights. The Right to Life is the most basic and most essential of rights. To best support strong, protective legislative measures, the convictions of the men and women who hold public office is an essential ingredient.
Although other issues are also significant to Texas and our nation, Life surpasses all. When you step into the voting booth in the following weeks, remember this, and please vote for Life!
Early Voting: Feb. 16th – 26th
Election Day: March 1st