Christian Worldview Today

A YEAR OF PROGRESS STOPPED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE

 

The January 28^th edition of World Magazine trumpeted a year of success across America for the pro-life movement.  The tea party led conservative takeover of the United States Congress in 2010 overshadowed an even more significant political event that same year.  Across the country state legislature after state legislature moved from left to right as conservatives gained legislative majorities.  Election week 2010 began with 60 state legislature chambers controlled by Democrats and just 36 controlled by Republicans.  When the dust settled after the 2010 mid-term Republicans had taken control of 19 legislatures for a total of 55 compared to just 38 under Democrat control.  The last time Republicans controlled this many state house chambers Herbert Hoover was president. 

 

How historic were conservative state house wins in 2010?  Consider the fact that the state of Alabama switched from Democrat to Republican control for the first time since reconstruction.  In Minnesota Republicans won the Senate for the first time ever.  From sea to shining sea state houses changed from blue to red in a historic election that will have a profound effect on the political landscape in America for years to come.  It was the night conservatism swept the country like a flood!

 

The problem is, someone forgot to open the floodgates in South Carolina.  In state after state pro-life legislation was brought up for a vote, passed into law, and signed by the governor.  In the 12 months since the conservative landslide 65 new laws protecting the unborn have passed in 27 states.  In 27 states, Pro-life laws were strengthened, the lives of babies are being saved, and more women are being exposed to the truth about abortion. 

 

During the same time period the South Carolina House of Representatives passed three strong pro-life bills by substantial majorities and sent them to the Senate. The Senate stalled all three bills and now all three are in danger of becoming the victim of Senate inaction.  South Carolina’s legislative calendar is based on a two-year cycle. 

Bills that pass one chamber in the first year of the cycle must pass the other chamber before the end of the second year in the cycle.  Two of the three pro-life bills passed by the House are mired in the mud of the South Carolina Senate’s arcane rules.  One of the bills, the Freedom of Conscience Act, failed to pass the Medical Affairs Committee by a seven to seven tie.  That vote sent the bill from the full committee back to the sub-committee where it will likely die at the end of this legislative session.  There are eight Republicans and seven Democrats on the committee.  So how could there be a seven to seven tie?  It’s what happens when one Republican votes with the Democrats (Sen. Raymond Cleary of Georgetown) and one conservative Republican doesn’t attend the meeting. 

 

So now, people working in the health care industry in South Carolina who don’t want to sell out their pro-life principles and be forced to participate in abortions will have no recourse.  All because one Republican decided to join the Democrats and one decided, for some reason, not so show up. 

The other two bills also face uphill battles if they are going to pass before they become victims of the senate graveyard.  S102, the bill that would prevent South Carolina from using taxpayer dollars to perform abortions under Obamacare, made it to the Senate floor but will have to be set for special order (the calling up of a bill that has been sent to the bottom of the stack) to have a chance to pass. So far, that bill has not been called up and therefore languishes in the Senate. 

 

The final bill is the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.  It simply states that if a baby survives an abortion it cannot be left to die even if the obvious intent of the mother was to end the child’s life.  That is a bill that should have passed both chambers of the legislature without opposition since it deals with preventing infanticide.  But at this writing the bill is stuck in a committee in the Senate. 

 

The National Republican Party platform affirms the dignity of all human life.  It reads in part, “We assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental, individual right to life which cannot be infringed.”  There can be no doubt as to the meaning of this statement.  So I am left with one, simple and somewhat troubling question.  How can three pro-life bills face extinction at the end of this legislative session in a state where Republicans have a 76 to 46 advantage in the House and a 27 to 19 advantage in the Senate and where they hold every statewide constitutional office, including the Governor?

 

Nationwide, is has been a year of progress for conservatives.  In South Carolina it has been a year of politics as usual. 

 

WHY RICK SANTORUM SHOULD BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

 

“Game on.”  Those two words, spoken by Rick Santorum as he addressed a room full of  Iowa supporters on the night of his stunning come from behind near victory, shook the establishment Republicans right down to their socks.  In a moment, the coronation of Mitt Romney as the undefeatable choice to unseat President Obama was put on hold.  A premature victory pronouncement was snatched from mouth of the mainstream media as Iowans realized they didn’t have to bow to the inevitable.  They really could make a choice and the choice they made was to turn their collective backs on the pundits and the political prognosticators and pick Rick.

 

For months, polls reflected a strong resonance with Santorum as a man, his morals and his message.   So why couldn’t he slog his way out of single digits and into the top tier of the Republican field?  Over and over the answer was “I like Santorum but he just can’t win.”  Then Bob Vander Plaats decided to step out of the shadows of the evangelical community and endorse Santorum.  Like some kind of political energizer bunny, Vander Plaat’s endorsement keeps going and going and going.  It brought others off the bench and into the game, as people were encouraged to suit up and follow his example. 

 

What began as “game on” for conservatives could quickly become “game over” if South Carolina repeats the mistake of 2008.  For those who need a refresher course, Mike Huckabee came out of nowhere in Iowa winning a great victory.  He lost in New Hampshire, setting up a must win situation for him in a state that was made for his conservative message and evangelical values.  But there were at least four candidates on the ballot with conservative credentials and the conservative vote was split just enough to give John McCain the victory and ultimately,  Barak Obama the keys the White House.

 

It’s beginning to feel like déjà vu all over again.  The surge Santorum received in Iowa will likely be blunted by a Romney win in New Hampshire.  Once again, South Carolina will decide whether the Republican Party will return to its roots in Reagan or if we will turn to another moderate who offers “pale pastels over bold colors.”  If conservatives unite we can give the Tea Party patriots who stormed into Washington in 2010 a Chief Executive who will stand with them in their fight to reign in an out of control government. 

 

Rick Santorum should be president for three basic but important reasons.  First, his policies are sound.  His economic recovery plan includes a reduction of federal non-defense discretionary spending to 2008 levels by enacting across the board spending cuts.  He has called for and pledged to sign into law the repeal of ObamaCare and to replace it with market based healthcare innovation and competitive, market based solutions that will leave healthcare choices where they belong.... between doctors and their patients.  Santorum has called for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution and a capping of government spending to 18% of GDP.  Just this past week the debt to GDP ratio crossed 100%.  Without these bold economic moves within a very few years America will be reduced from a world economic leader to a third world economic shell. 

 

Santorum has proposed reforming Social Security and putting it on a path to sustainability by a host of measures including moving back the retirement age for younger workers, offering voluntary alternatives for retirement funding, and making sure Social Security payroll taxes are dedicated to Social Security.  His plan to restore America’s place as the undisputed leader in manufacturing includes reducing the corporate income tax on manufacturers from 35% to 0%.  The tax on repatriated taxable corporate income will drop from 35% to 0% for companies that invest those repatriated funds in domestic business expansion. 

 

Rick Santorum has promised to secure the border, enforce immigration laws, support states that are trying to deal with illegal immigration, and to make sure those who hire illegal workers are punished.  He would defund Planned Parenthood while supporting adoption programs and defend the Defense of Marriage Act and a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as an institution that is solely between a man and a woman. 

 

On foreign policy Santorum has promised to stand by Israel, stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and to restore the role of American leadership and respect in the world.

 

The second reason to support Santorum is the stability of his personal life.  His commitment to his wife and family as a husband and father reveals a man of character who is willing to keep his word.  You can’t be pro-family when your family is in disarray.  Show me a man who is willing to lead in the home and I will show you a man who is a leader in the world. 

 

Finally, Santorum deserves our support because of his passion for God.  He has had his faith tested in the crucible of personal trial and in the pressure cooker of public attacks against him because of his strong stands on moral issues.  His personal relationship with Jesus Christ has in the past and continues in the present to sustain and strengthen him. The book of James says, “Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2). 

 

All of the candidates for the Republican nomination have their strengths.  But only one can be the standard-bearer of true conservatism.  As Gary Bauer said in his endorsement of Santorum the next Ronald Reagan has been right in front of us.  We need to unite behind him and lift him to victory.