On a day that the President nominates a Supreme Court justice with deep abortion ties, most pro-life groups in the nation have come out expressing concern, or outright opposition. Arizona Right to Life, on the other hand, sends out a lengthy "e-lert," part asking for funds to stay in existence, part touting the legislative successes of other groups, and part self-promotion, but completely silent on the new nominee to the Supreme Court. Huh?
Arizona Right to Life, it seems, continues to have less than adequate leadership at the top. In the last few years, several experienced Board members have left because of the lack of leadership shown by AZRTL's President. And in recent weeks, two of the organization's most talented employees have resigned under duress.
Arizona Right to Life is the state's oldest and largest pro-life organization, and flourished for three decades under some exceptional leaders. When it's well lead, the organization does some amazing work. In the last three years, however, it has lost and never replaced its Executive Director, and no longer has a lobbying arm - all because of the tight grip on power in the organization by its President. Instead, the organization has a heavily micro-managed staff with little discretion to move the organization forward. It still does good work, of course, but it's ability to function as it should, as evidenced by the e-lert, is hampered.
While some great people remain at AZRTL, and hope to right the ship, it still appears that the captain may be the problem.
In trying to research the Pro-Life commitments of all the Congressional candidates challenging Giffords, I find almost nothing. I've sometimes let my vote be influenced by high Right to Life ratings (or low NARAL ratings), but this year I'm not finding much except a few candidates' own statements. Do you have suggestions for Arizona Congressional District 8?
Posted by: Marylka Pattison | 05 July 2010 at 02:32 PM