The list of conservatives that are publicly vowing to never, ever vote for John McCain is impressive. It includes Anne Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and now James Dobson. But, beloved though these conservative fighters are by folks like me, they are forgetting how "clear and present danger" a Democrat President will be on the priority issue of abortion.Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have pledged to consider only devoted pro-abortionists for Supreme Court vacancies. That's a given. And with at least two vacancies coming up in the next presidential term being almost a certainty, a Democrat victory would protect Roe for another two generations and further solidify its already tenacious hold on American culture.
Mike Huckabee, commenting on the anti-McCain conservatives in an interview yesterday with CNN, said, "They're not conservative. If they say that, then that just proves something: They're more about themselves than they are the cause, because there's no way that a true conservative would vote for Hillary Clinton."
I part company with Governor Huckabee on a few issues...but not that one. As the one viable Republican candidate who has really proven his worth as a pro-lifer (in speeches, media interviews and, most important, in practice), Huckabee understands the centrality of the sacredness of life among the other political concerns. So do Senators Sam Brownback, Tom Coburn, John Kyl, John Thune, and many other dedicated pro-life political leaders who are endorsing John McCain for President.
Me? I'm still holding out hope for a brokered convention where one of the above fellows could scoop up the nomination; announce Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice-President; Chris Smith as the Secretary of State; Jack Kemp as Secretary of the Treasury; and...well, you get the idea.
But, if that dream doesn't play out and I have to live in the real world, one where John McCain is the person standing when the balloons are released; then my commitment as a Christian pro-life activist requires my most fervent prayers and efforts to defeat at the polls next November the person representing the most immediate and comprehensive danger to the cause of life.
And that person will be the head of the Democrat ticket.
So, c'mon, Ann and Rush and Sean and Dr. Dobson. Let's feel free to criticize John McCain for his blunders (and, yes, they are many) and let's do what we can to require him to fill his cabinet with more consistent conservatives. But, goodness gracious, let's not help win the Oval Office, the State Department and the all-important Supreme Court for those who will not only deny all restrictions and regulations of abortion here at home but will promote it as "health services and population control" around the world.
