By John Connolly
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 14, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) -The National Right to Life Committee on Tuesday announced its endorsement of Fred Thompson in the heated Republican primary race, calling him the ‘best positioned’ candidate to beat the pro-abortion Rudy Guliani. In response, some pro-life leaders are repeating past concerns about particular aspects of Thompson’s otherwise exemplary pro-life record.
“Our endorsement is a testament to Senator Thompson’s longstanding pro-life record, his commitment to protecting unborn children and our belief in his ability to win,” said Wanda Franz, president of National Right to Life.
“While there are various polls, and some are up-and-down, the overwhelming consensus has been that he is best-positioned to top pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination,” said the committee’s executive director David N. O’Steen.
“I’m deeply appreciative for the past support by the National Right to Life Committee-PAC in my Senate campaigns, and today I am blessed and grateful to have received their endorsement for president of the United States,” said Thompson in a statement following the endorsement. “In supporting me, those who have worked tirelessly to defend life are supporting a consistent conservative who has stood with them yesterday, who stands with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow.”
Thompson has often called upon his voting record as testimony to his commitment to the pro-life movement. “My record is clear,” he said in a previous interview. “One hundred percent pro-life voting record over eight years at the national level. The proof is in the pudding there. Go back and look at all that record. My whole career I have said Roe versus Wade was wrongfully decided. I’ve been pro-life all my career and always will be.”
Despite Thompson’s pro-life voting record, the endorsement has caused a flurry of controversy from those who fear Thompson is more committed to federalism than the pro-life movement. The fears are not entirely unfounded, as Thompson refuses to endorse a constitutional amendment protecting unborn life, and is against criminalizing abortion on the federal level. He has also been reluctant to make any statement about the government’s role in the Terri Schiavo case, choosing rather to deflect questions concerning it.
Regarding the internationally publicized controversy over the slow killing of Terri Schiavo Thompson stated, “I can’t pass judgment on it. I know that good people were doing what they thought was best. That’s going back in history. I don’t remember the details of it.”
Terri Schiavo died a slow, painful and very public death as a result of forced dehydration by a court mandate in 2005. After her feeding tube was removed and hydration denied, Congress passed a bill to allow for a federal court review, which President Bush signed into law. A federal appeals court and the Supreme Court upheld the decision, condemning Schiavo to death.
Bobby Schindler, Schiavo’s brother, has reservations about Thompson in light of his ambiguous stance on euthanasia.
“I’m troubled about things he’s said publicly,” Schindler told LifeSiteNews. “He needs to clarify his position on starving and dehydrating a disabled woman, something that has led to public confusion.”
Schindler wrote a letter to all the presidential candidates, reminding them of the importance of human life and asking them to dispel the public confusion surrounding the perception of the case.
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Fred Thompson Says Life Begins at Conception But Opposes Criminalizing Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/nov/07110508.html
Abortion Advocates Accuse Fred Thompson of Lobbying for Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jul/07070906.html
Fred Thompson Declares Pro-life Stance Before National Right to Life Committee
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/07061903.html