More on Fred's Natl Right to Life nod
Posted: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 2:22 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum and Andy Merten
Several issues could have stood in the way of the National Right to Life Committee endorsement Thompson received today: his refusal to agree with the 2004 Republican Party platform on abortion, his opinion on the Terri Schiavo case, and his vote on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. But Executive Director David O'Steen said today that those issues did not compare to his overall pro-life view.
On Meet the Press two Sundays ago, Thompson said he would not agree to the 2004 Republican Party Platform on abortion, which called for "a human life amendment to the Constitution ... to make it clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children." O'Steen said Thompson's answer was adequate: "The question he was asked -- if I remember correctly, within a word or two -- was, quote, 'Could you support that platform promising a human life amendment banning all abortions.' That's not what the platform says, and no one here can promise a human life amendment."
VIDEO: MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell talks with NBC's Adam Aigner about the National Right to Life Committee endorsing Fred Thompson for president.
"What he said was he was going to concentrate on what he could affect," O'Steen continued. "And that's what we want him to do. And what he can affect is to see that judges are appointed that will interpret the constitution according to its actual text."
Also on Meet the Press, Thompson said cases like the Terri Schiavo case should be a family matter and government should not be allowed to interfere. When asked about this, O'Steen said Thompson believes otherwise. "He believes that in cases where the patient wants treatment, the families want treatment, it should certainly be provided. He also believes -- and we have talked with him -- that in cases where the family is divided, he believes that the benefit of the doubt should be given to life." O'Steen later admitted these comments were made to his organization as points of clarification, and Thompson has yet to state these opinions publicly.
On McCain-Feingold, O'Steen said they disagreed with the bill because it put limitations on what they could do during political races. O'Steen made it clear Thompson's initial support of the bill was not a factor though, because "it simply cannot be compared to the life issue."
In the past week, two other pro-life endorsements were made -- Pat Robertson for Giuliani and Sam Brownback for McCain. O'Steen was asked about a splinter of the pro-life vote, to which he said this endorsement carries more weight because it is from a national organization and not an individual. "Well, I think it's time for the pro-life vote to begin uniting behind one pro-life candidate who can win this nomination, and that's Fred Thompson," he replied. "But with all due respect to these gentlemen, we certainly appreciate the pro-life record of Sen. Brownback, these are individual endorsements by individuals. And this isn't an endorsement by David O'Steen -- yes I support Fred Thompson -- but this is an endorsement by an organization representing groups throughout the country and three thousand chapters. And it just can't be compared to individual endorsements."
O'Steen also laid out why other pro-life Republicans did not get the endorsement. After examining the three factors of record, electability, and issue positions, O'Steen said Thompson came out on top. Regarding Huckabee, O'Steen said he has "a strong pro-life record" but electability stood in the way. O'Steen also contrasted McCain and Thompson.
"Sen. McCain is certainly a person whose votes on abortion we appreciate. There is a distinction between his position and Sen. Thompson's on the question of the kind of embryonic stem-cell research that requires the killing of human embryos. Sen. Thompson's got a strong position, and he in fact sent a message to our convention in June that he strongly opposed the kind of embryonic stem-cell research that requires killing human embryos. But he strongly supports the kind of stem-cell research that harms no one and is producing cures today. But everyone was considered. But when we looked at those three factors -- the whole record, the position on the life issues, and electability -- it wasn't close."
Romney's campaign issued a statement about the endorsement yesterday, saying the governor "has a great deal of respect for all of those who advocate tirelessly in the name of protecting and defending the sanctity of life." Today, O'Steen said one factor that Romney disqualified Romney is the lack of a consistent "pro-life record." He said Thompson is not "a person who's commitment and beliefs were in doubt."
O'Steen also called Giuliani a pro-abortion candidate, and said since Thompson runs second to him in most polls, the former Tennessee senator stands the best chance of beating him. "I think it's obvious, as a pro-abortion candidate, that he certainly couldn't stand up to Fred Thompson in our estimation."
While Thompson was not in attendance for the endorsement, he did email a statement. "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," the statement reads. "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."
