2010 Could Be A Good Year For Life

Here in Lake County, we have an opportunity to make some improvements in government.

In the aftermath of the Republican primary, some genuinely pro-life candidates have been nominated in important races. As people who place importance on issues like abortion, euthanasia, embryo-destructive stem cell research, defense of marriage, and the other life issues, it's now up to us, over the next eight months, to come out and support pro-life candidates for every possible office. Here are three examples:

After the closest primary in Illinois history, by a margin of less than 200 votes out of about three quarters of a million votes cast, the Republicans have nominated State Senator Bill Brady for Governor.

It was a gubernatorial race that featured seven candidates, six of whom were, at least to some extent, pro-life. The exception dropped out of the race about a month in advance, and Brady, the only one endorsed by both the Illinois Federation for Right to Life and also Illinois Citizens for Life, came out the winner.

Brady was also the only candidate from outside the Chicagoland area. He was able to use this fact to dominate the race in downstate areas, while his five opponents divided up Cook and the collar counties.

But this means that Brady now has the important challenge of reaching out to voters in Cook and the collar counties, and securing their -- our -- support. And presently he has little money with which to do this. Brady, quite frankly, did very poorly in Lake County, and Republican and conservative voters need to unify behind his candidacy. For pro-lifers and social conservatives, this should present little problem. Brady is unabashedly one of us, and I think very few of those who (like me) supported different candidates in the primary should have any difficulty supporting him. But we must take the initiative in reaching out to our friends and neighbors, and even the folks in line at the grocery store, and telling them about Bill Brady.

And you can meet and hear Brady when he comes to Lake County for our event on April 10th.

Another pro-life winner in the GOP primary was 8th district congressional candidate Joe Walsh. Winner over a third of the vote in a six-way race, Walsh is enthusiastically pro-life. So much so, in fact, that the local media has already taken out after him. But don't be distracted. Melissa Bean, having run and won three times as a fiscal conservative and a "social moderate" has proved herself to be liberal on both fronts, voting for bailouts, takeovers, and healthcare, and opposing the Stupak amendment, which removed abortion funding from the House version of the President's healthcare bill. Joe Walsh in Congress would be a friend and ally of pro-lifers, someone who would fight against the pro-abortion forces in both parties.. Walsh will also be speaking at our April 10th event.

In the 59th state House District, attorney Dan Sugrue polled over 60% in a three-way primary to win the GOP nomination to that seat. Sugrue, too will be targeted for his pro-life positions, and will need the support of pro-life Lake County people. The 59th District is currently reprsented by Democrat Carol Sente, who was appointed to take the place of Kathy Ryg after Ryg resigned last August to take a job with a children's advocacy group. Ryg was another FOCA supporter, and pro-lifers held a prayer vigil at her office in 2009. There's no reason to suppose that Sente doesn't have the same pro-abortion stance. Dan is a friend of mine, and will be a good improvement in Springfield. You can hear Dan speak at our April 10th event, as well.