The Progressive Republican
California Republican League The California Republican League’s Newsletter
888 Robb Road Special Post Election Issue www.republicanleague.org Fall 2008
Palo Alto CA 94306
by Mark Herrick consistent rules in politics, but there captured California’s electoral votes
THE DENIAL State President, CRL
It is said that insanity is doing the
is one rule in California politics that
is consistent and unbending. The
rule is that a pro-life Candidate can’t
since 1992, and that was George
HW Bush who had earlier switched
his views on abortion. The last
CONTINUES:
same thing over and over again win statewide in California. It’s as pro-life governor in California was
and expecting a different result. certain as gravity. Ronald Reagan and he was elected
Republicans keep running pro-life the year I was born. On the subject
candidates state wide in California, The last U.S. Senator from of California Governors, pro-choice
The California losing every time, and run them
again expecting a different result.
California who was pro-life was
George Murphy — and he was
Arnold Schwarzenegger trounced
Gray Davis just eight months after
GOP and Abortion
Right now, after the 2008 debacle, appointed in 1965 and lost his only pro-life Bill Simon lost to him.
Republicans are doing all this election in 1970. That means a pro- When Bill Simon ran against Gray
analysis and soul searching to figure life U.S. Senator from California Davis, Gray Davis had the lowest
out how to start winning elections has not been elected in my life approval ratings of any Governor
again. One solution is as plain as time. I am forty two years old. Two in the history of California. He
2008 Membership Order Form the nose on my face, and therefore, generations of Californians have had the same chances at reelection
does not need any more analysis been born and reached adulthood as Herbert Hoover did in 1932.
Name: or debate. The solution is: don’t without being represented by a pro- Yet somehow bill Simon found
run pro-life candidates statewide in life U.S. Senator. The last time a a way to lose to Gray Davis. Do
Address: California. pro-life candidate won state wide in you think his position on abortion
California (besides U.S. Senator that had something to do with it? And
City: State:
However, one man clearly didn’t includes the Governor, Lieutenant like I said, just eight months later,
Zip:
get the memo. Chuck Devore just Governor, Secretary of State, pro-choice Arnold Schwarzenegger
Phone: Fax: announced his candidacy for the Controller, Treasurer, Attorney trounced Gray Davis. Seeing a
U.S. Senate. Chuck Devore won’t General, Insurance Commissioner, trend here?
Email Address: win. He might win the primary and the Superintendent of Public
Please include your email address above as email will but he will never be a U.S. Senator Instruction) was in 1994. That was You may wonder how a political
be the primary means of communication among the CRL from California. I can say that with Dan Lungren. rule such as the one I am claiming
membership.
absolute certainty. Why? Chuck could exist. You just need to look at
Devore is pro-life. That disqualifies The only other Republican to win in the views of the average California
$40 for an individual member $65 for a
him as a viable candidate in 1994 was Chuck Quakenbush and voter. The most recent PPIC poll
couple other amount ___________
California. Now I don’t want he was pro-choice. And of course, (January of 2007) showed that
Pay by Check or Credit Card. If credit card use form anyone to misunderstand me here; Dan Lungren had the advantage of 71% of California voters support
below: being pro-choice does not guarantee incumbency that year. When Mr. Roe v. Wade. In 2002, 71% of
you are going to win, but you have Lungren ran for Governor four voters said they considered
Credit card type (circle one): to be pro-choice to have a chance years later he was trounced by Gray themselves pro-choice. That
Visa Mastercard JCB Diner’s Club at winning. In addition, I am only Davis. So the record for pro-life number represents almost ¾
Carte Blanche American Express Discover
talking about California. In other state wide candidates in the last of the California electorate. I
Credit Card Number: states, the exact opposite might fourteen years is one in twenty four. can’t think of any other current
even be true. But in California, And the one pro-life candidate that hot political issue where ¾
Expiration Date: a pro-life candidate cannot get did win in that fourteen year period, of the California electorate
elected statewide. You may ask was an incumbent, and was trounced supports one side. Can you?
Print your name exactly as it appears on the credit how I could possibly make such a four years later by Gray Davis;
card: bold statement with such certainty. who you have to admit, was not If you are still not convinced,
If you are paying by credit card, please ensure the address
Especially when the political winds the most charismatic or formidable look at propositions seventy
you provide matches the address and telephone number are always changing and anything candidate. In the last ten years the three, eighty five, and most
on file with your credit card company. can happen in politics. Look at pro-life candidates have had a zero recently; proposition four.
President-elect Obama. rate of success. That means they are Three times the pro-life
Mail to: zero and sixteen. activists in this state have
California Republican League Who could have thought he could tried to pass a proposition that
888 Robb Road have become president just six years If you need more convincing, a pro- would just require a minor to
Palo Alto, CA 94306
ago. So it is true - there are very few life candidate for President has not notify their parents before they
Continued on Next Page...
2 The Progressive Republican, Fall 2008
have an abortion. This proposition elect candidates all the time that Constitution, have a right General. She is very controversial
was rejected not once, but thrice disagree with them on some to abortions, but they have a right because she refused to pursue the
by the voters of this state. important issues. For example, to late term abortions and minors death penalty for a man that shot
Jerry Brown is against the death have a right to have an abortion and killed a cop in San Francisco.
Think about what that means is penalty, and sixty seven percent without telling their parents. Normally such a woman wouldn’t
going on in the California voters’ of Californians support the The only way these California have a chance of winning the
mind. They are fine with the fact death penalty (that is over two Supreme Court decisions could office of California Attorney
that a doctor can’t even give a thirds), and yet two years ago the be overturned would be by a General. However, if she wins the
minor an aspirin without getting California voters elected Jerry proposition, and this proposition Democrat primary, and we run a
their parent’s consent and yet Brown to the office of Attorney would have to be passed by the pro-life candidate against her, like
the California electorate insisted General. You may ask how could same electorate that has voted that we did with Gerry Brown, she will
three times that a female minor a man that has a reputation as minors have a right to an abortion win.
be able to get an abortion not only being so liberal, and disagrees without parental consent three
without her parent’s consent, but with two thirds of the electorate on times. In politics you have to respect
she doesn’t even have to notify one of the most important issues the wish of the voters or face
them. Californians are so pro- for an attorney general: the death So if pro-life candidates can’t get oblivion. The electorate in
choice they have given the right penalty; win the office of Attorney elected statewide in California, California has made it very clear
of an abortion to a minor when General? The answer is he ran and even if they could there is what their position on abortion is
they haven’t given them the right against a pro-life Republican. nothing they could do to affect the and will only vote for candidates
to vote, drive a car, have a beer or It seems no matter how bad a abortion issue in this state, why that support their position. I don’t
choose to buy a cigarette. And yet candidate the Democrats put up, even run a pro-life candidate? To know how they could make their
somehow, Chuck Devore, expects that candidate will win if he or make a statement? Well while you position on this issue any clearer.
this same firmly pro-choice she faces a pro-life Republican. are making your statement, you Californians are fiscally
electorate to elect candidates that This is how we get so many are insuring Democrat victories. conservative and generally
think abortion should be illegal in extreme liberals representing Every time the Republicans run support most Republican
the first trimester. such a conservative state; these a pro-life candidate state wide, principles. When we put up pro-
ultra liberal Democrats slip into we are just handing that office to choice candidates for state wide
You may think, well why can’t a an otherwise unobtainable office the Democrats. Democrats pray office, they don’t always win
pro-life candidate just focus on because we make the mistake of that their opponent will be pro- but often our candidates win by
different issues? Unfortunately, a putting up unelectable candidates life. Gray Davis even went so a landslide. Wilson, Poizner,
candidate’s opponents also has a against them. The last time Jerry far as to insure that his opponent and Schwarzenegger won all of
say on which issues are discussed. Brown ran state wide he lost, but in his reelection was pro-life their state wide elections by huge
And if the Republicans run a of course when he lost, he ran (Simon) by running television margins. But when we put up
pro-life candidate statewide you against a pro-choice Republican; ads against pro-choice Riordan pro-life candidates we always get
can bet your bottom dollar their Pete Wilson. in the Republican Party primary beaten.
opponent will discuss abortion. to help pro-life Simon win. And
It’s the Democrat’s trump card. Therefore, it seems Californians California Republicans, in our Having discussions about how
When Matt Fong, who thought will elect candidates that differ infinite wisdom, let Davis choose Republicans can win statewide in
abortion should be legal in with them on many issues, as his opponent. And what happened California, without addressing the
the first trimester, ran against long as the candidate is with – one of the most unpopular abortion issue, is like discussing
Barbara Boxer in 1998, Boxer them on most of the other issues incumbents in California history how you can get your car to win
ran commercial after commercial and the opposing candidate does won because we let Gray Davis the Indy 500 when it doesn’t have
showing that he was pro-life when not appeal to them. However, choose a pro-life candidate as his wheels. You have to insure you
it came to late term abortions and the exception to this rule is the opponent. have wheels on the car first, or
parental consent. She ran those abortion issue. Californians will all other considerations are moot.
commercials repeatedly against not elect a pro-life candidate state When we nominate pro-life The same goes for California
Matt Fong and beat him handily. wide no matter how much they candidates we allow extremely statewide candidates. Unless they
When it looked as though Tom agree with that candidate on other liberal Democrats to get elected. are pro-choice, no matter whom
McClintock might beat Steve issues, and who that candidate is Boxer has reaped the benefit of you run, and what their positions
Westly for the position as state running against. our inability to run a pro-choice are on other issues, how much
controller in 2002, at the end of candidate against her multiple money they have and how well
the race, Steve Westly started The tragic comedy about running times. She is one of the most they run their campaign, they are
running television ads pointing out pro-life candidates statewide liberal Senators in the U.S. like that Indy car with no wheels;
that McClintock was pro-life. He in California is that, if elected, Senate, but she keeps returning victory is impossible.
pointed out the one weakness that they could do absolutely nothing because we run pro-life candidates .
he new would work, and of course, about abortion in California. The against her. Think about what
he beat McClintock. The irony U.S. Supreme Court has held this means for the future. Gerry
here is that the State Controller that abortion is a right under the Brown is thinking about running
has absolutely no influence over US Constitution. Even if the for Governor in 2010. This is a
the abortion issue, but California Supreme Court changed its mind, goal he will achieve, if he wins
voters didn’t seem to care. and overturned Roe v. Wade, that the Democrat primary and we
would leave the decision whether run a pro-life candidate against
On most issues you can’t get such abortion was legal to the states. him. If he runs for Governor,
consistency from the California And the California Supreme Court San Francisco District Attorney
electorate as you get from them on has ruled not only that women in Kamela D. Harris is thinking about
the abortion issue. Californians California, under the California running to replace him as Attorney