After announcing that he would not seek reelection, and now committing to an advisor role with US Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Texas GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri leaves another position in the Texas political world up for grabs.
Much of the political scene in Texas has changed in the last few months. From an entirely new Executive Branch to what is being called the most conservative legislature in recent history, everyone is trying to settle into new routines.
And Texas’ dominant party is no exception. Yet, as Munisteri resigns, some vying to replace him have already insinuated that the party need not focus on the “social issues” that, in their eyes, appear contentious.
For the person responsible for leading the supposedly Pro-Life state party, such a view is, simply, unacceptable.
The Republican Party of Texas (RPT) has been firm in retaining a strong Pro-Life stance. Since the RPT is the only party in Texas that affirms the protection of Life, single-issue voters who hold strong Pro-Life convictions look to the RPT to stand firm on protecting unborn Texans, as well as the sick and elderly.
The party’s platform clearly states that the protection of innocent human Life is a priority, not only to Texans, but also the dominating party. Pro-Life Texans have come to count on the “R” behind a name on the ballot to mean that candidate will take a strong position on Life – and if candidates truly believe in the platform on which they campaign, they should.
Two full pages in the RPT platform are reserved to address the sanctity of human Life. The platform supports Life from fertilization to natural death, advocating for protections on preborn children who feel pain to the elderly, the sick, and hospitalized patients whose medical treatments are being threatened.
Those in the Republican Party who would suggest Pro-Life issues should not be a priority to the state need to look no further than the total flop that was the Wendy Davis campaign. Her utter failure to win over Texans hung largely on her extreme views on abortion and her support of legislation that promoted killing babies after the 5th month of pregnancy.
Unsurprisingly, Texans overwhelmingly rejected Davis. And we were right to do so.
Texans continue to prove that the Life issue is a winning one. Electing a GOP chairman who would avoid one of the main focus points of the majority of Texans means the Party does not fully stand as a representation of the values of Texas.
But if the RPT thinks moving away from advocating a Pro-Life stance is a way to be more open, they may find themselves suffering from Wendy Davis syndrome and a runaway electorate.
Perhaps, as this race progresses, potential Chairman candidates will become wiser in casually dismissing protection of the most vulnerable among us – a stance that draws together the vast majority of Republicans, and a clear contrast to the other side of the ticket.