LIGHTHOUSE BLOG

Arizona Right to Life Endorses....McCain? Huh?

Despite my prediction days ago that Arizona Right to Life PAC would endorse the far more pro-life JD Hayworth over John McCain, sadly AZRTL PAC did not. 

As a former Chairman of the PAC, I can only wonder if some untoward influences came into play that lead to this misguided endorsement.  For instance, one of the members of the PAC is a member of a law firm that represented McCain in legal matters. And at least one member of the PAC has personal ties to the McCain campaign.  Further, the Senator has also been a long time financial contributor to AZRTL, generosity that's always appreciated, but was appropriately discounted in 2008 when I was Chairman and the PAC endorsed Mike Huckabee.  

In its press release, AZRTL PAC states, "Under the AZRTL PAC criteria for endorsing candidates, if the incumbent candidate and the challenger both have a pro-life voting record, AzRTL PAC will endorse the incumbent over the challenger."  That language never existed in any document I ever saw as Chairman, and is ridiculous on its face as any incumbent could be found to be pro-life on some issue.  Would AZRTL PAC endorse an incumbent with a 2% NLRC rating?  I hope not. It's the level of their commitment, and the consistency of the candidate's positions that count, not their mere incumbency. After all, we're working to save lives here, and each one should matter. Moreover in 2008, like now, John McCain had an inferior pro-life record to a more committed opponent. The PAC did the right thing then in endorsing the stronger pro-life candidate, why not now?

Ironically, the press release from AZRTL PAC states, " Those who serve in public office have a duty to use their office to protect and defend innocent human life and ensure that laws are passed to protect the defenseless in our society."  Yet John McCain has made many questionable statements about Roe v. Wade, and supports embryonic stem cell research.  McCain has a 75% approval ranking for National Right to Life Committee.  JD Hayworth, on the other hand, has a 100% ranking, and by any objective standard, deserved the endorsement from Arizona's oldest and largest pro-life organization.   

Arizona Right to Life has had troubles over the last few months with several key people resigning.  It is my understanding as well that a member of the PAC resigned after being unable to convince other PAC members to endorse Hayworth. (In the interest of full disclosure, she does work for the Hayworth campaign, but has for many years questioned McCain's pro-life commitment, and was instrumental in endorsing Huckabee over McCain in 2008.)  In addition, I'm being told that other key supporters of the organization, including former Board members, are distancing themselves from the organization as a result.

I'm a fan of AZRTL, and I hope the organization gets its act together, but this endorsement is a black mark on the 30 plus year legacy of pro-life leadership. The pro-life citizens of Arizona might just be better served by a new organization, unadulterated by political ties and financial donations from the people it may endorse.

AZ Legislature To Consider Shutting Off Power & Water to CA Over Boycott

Facing barely audible boycott harassment from California, but nonetheless annoyed by the hypocrisy, the Arizona Legislature is considering cutting off all Arizona water, as well as nuclear power, that is sold to California.

"If they want to boycott us over following federal law and trying to protect Arizona citizens, then we think the courteous thing to do would be to help them to not be hypocrites," said one legislator.

Another said, "We're going to sell the power to Mexico instead.  They [Mexican government] are a more friendly government, are more financially solvent than California, and frankly, we like their people much better, as their share more of our conservative values," said another, who preferred she not be identified.

Another said, "California is a beautiful state, and we love to visit the ocean, but the reality is they need us more than we need them, so we'll shut off the power and water for a while, and then see how they feel about following federal law and border control."

The Arizona Governor's Office has not commented yet on the proposed legislation, but the Governor is said to be in support of it.  The California's governor is said to be packing for Austria.

Editor's Note:  This was parody folks, but it would be hilarious if Arizona shut down California for a little while to make them practice what they preach.

Arizona Right to Life PAC Likely to Endorse JD Hayworth

The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee met this week and will soon be making an endorsement in the US Senate race between JD Hayworth and John McCain.  McCain, a long financial supporter of AZRTL, is pro-life, but has made problematic statements concerning the overturn of Roe, and is for embryonic stem cell research.  He has a 75% favorable rating from the National Right to Life Committee.  

JD Hayworth, on the other hand, has an impeccable pro-life record.   Hayworth received a 100% rating from NRLC, and stands above McCain on several key life issues.

Since Hayworth is the stronger pro-life candidate, it is safe to assume that the Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee will endorse him.  After all, the AZRTL PAC has ignored McCain's financial contributions in the past in favor of other candidates. In 2008, for instance, AZRTL PAC, under different leadership, endorsed Mike Huckabee over Arizona's own McCain, as Huckabee had a much better pro-life record.

While I've been recently critical of some of the happenings at AZRTL, the decision to endorse Hayworth, I'm sure, is something on which every pro-lifer can agree.

Ed Winkler Takes Trip to Review Border Security

Congressional Candidate Looking for Answers to Immigration Issues

www.WinklerForCongress.com

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (May 7, 2010) – Arizona Congressional Candidate Ed Winkler is traveling to the Arizona/Mexico border May 7-8 to conduct a fact-finding mission in the area and meet with Cochise County officials, border patrol officers, members of the local law enforcement, and area residents and ranchers. Winkler is traveling the area to experience first-hand what the situation is like in what has been deemed one of the most dangerous areas of Arizona.

“We rely on the media on a daily basis to bring us the latest information about events surrounding our state and country border,” said Winkler. “I believe there is no better way to understand the situation than to experience it first-hand. This trip will allow me to more effectively answer questions our campaign receives regarding border conditions and why the Arizona legislature and Governor had no choice but to pass Arizona’s new Immigration Bill, SB1070.”

Winkler will be traveling with Col. Chuck Schluter of Cave Creek. Any media that are interested in contacting Winkler about his trip during his time in Cochise County can call him at (602) 999-8184.

Candidate Ed Winkler is running to replace Congressman John Shadegg’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District which consists of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem and New River, Ariz. Fiscal responsibility, enforcing immigration law and a strong foreign policy are top priorities for Winkler’s campaign.

ABOUT ED WINKLER: Ed Winkler was elected to the Paradise Valley Town Council in 1998 and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. In 2006, he was elected as mayor of Paradise Valley. Winkler, a small business owner, also had a career with IBM for 30 years. He has lived in Paradise Valley since 1982 with his wife, Karen. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Arizona Right to Life...Where are you???

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.

New Blog Lists Arizona Boycotters

The media uproar is seemingly unstoppable, but when you look closely, the reality is more of a tempest in a tea-pot, as evidenced by BoycottBacklash.com, a blog created by an American citizen fed up with the misinformation as well as hypocrisy of some of the boycotters.  In fact, looking at the list, several of the organizations are race based themselves, meaning their memberships include only one race.  The law, of course, has nothing to do with race.  The list also reads like a liberal who's who.  Also on the list are several unions, which have always disliked Arizona's Right to Work laws.

I hope people look at the list and boycott these people, organizations, and cities who boycott us!  After all, the law mimics a federal law created in 1946 to do the same thing.  If the feds have not abdicated their responsibility to control the border, Arizona would not have needed to act.  This is about border control, national security and economic stability.  It's NEVER been about race.  A hat tip to that blog for pointing this out!