Friday, August 6, 2010

"Pro-Life" Means More Than it Used To (press release)

Colorado Right to Life does not issue endorsements of candidates, but we do separate the "wheat from the chaff" in terms of who is really pro-life, and who is simply using the issue as a prop to get elected.

Both Republican candidates for Governor, and both Republican candidates for U.S. Senate have endorsed Amendment 62, the Personhood Amendment. However, Jane Norton's website says she still supports rape and incest exceptions which would allow an innocent person -- the unborn child -- to be killed.

Personhood is the new definition of "pro-life" in Colorado politics. CRTL believes life begins at the very beginning -- when the sperm reacts with the ovum to create DNA for a new, individual Person with a Right to Life.

We're also greatly concerned about the 3rd Congressional District, where both candidates "say" they're pro-life, but only one candidate -- Bob McConnell -- responded to CRTL's candidate survey. Only one candidate went on record as supporting the Personhood Amendment. And only one candidate seems at all serious about defending the life of the unborn child. "Scott Tipton may think abortion is just an election issue," says Leslie Hanks, VP of CRTL and co-sponsor of Amendment 62, "but it's not. It's a heart issue, and it's a matter of life and death, and we're glad one candidate understands that."

Similar contrasts exist in other legislative races.

The 6th State Senate District (Montrose, Durango, Pagosa Springs) offers a contrast between a 100% pro-life candidate named Dean Boehler and pro-abortion Rep. Ellen Roberts. "Ellen Roberts is the most pro-abortion Republican in the entire legislature!" Hanks said. "Every time she had the option to vote for or against abortion, she voted for it." That's five different pieces of legislation, as shown by CRTL's Legislative Scorecard (2007-2008). Pro-abortion NARAL has rated Ellen Roberts 100%.

In the 2nd State Senate District (Canon City, south Pueblo, Walsenburg, Las Animas) Kevin Grantham is 100% pro-life while his opponent has said on the radio he's "pro-choice."

In Grand Junction's House District 54, Ray Scott is a 100% pro-life conservative running against Bob Hislop. Scott supports the Personhood Amendment, while Hislop does not.

In Douglas County's House District 44, Chris Holbert is 100% pro-life, and has taken the life issue very seriously, attending CRTL's legislative events. David Casiano has also endorsed Personhood and supports CRTL's positions on life issues. But their opponent, Polly Lawrence does not support Personhood, and will only say she is "Personally pro-life" (which is the same thing Bill Ritter and John Kerry said and means "officially pro-abortion").

"The Right to Life isn't just on the ballot in November," Hanks says. "It's on the ballot Tuesday, too, when only some Republicans support the little guy -- the really little guy."

coloradorighttolife.blogspot.com/2010/08/full-list-of-pro-life-candidates.html

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Full List of Pro-Life Candidates (Colorado 2010 - August Update)

This blog has been superseded by new information (which is why the links are gray). Fully updated information as of mid-October 2010 is available by clicking here.

You may still look up our detailed comments on candidates in the following places:

Governor & Senate Candidates (plus key State Senate races)

Pro-life vs. pro-abortion candidates in 3 Congressional Primaries (candidates are lying!)

Legislative Candidates' detailed comments (today's post contains updates and supersedes the old information)

We have received NEW candidate surveys in the past few days, which are listed here. Pro-life candidates' names are listed in bold.

This is a simplified list of all candidates who Colorado Right to Life considers "pro-life". To be on this list, a candidate must meet the following qualifications:
1) They must support Personhood - Amendment 62 - and be on record supporting an actual Right to Life which should be guaranteed under the law.
2) They must officially support NO ABORTIONS for any reason (other than to save the "life of the mother" which is a matter we've discussed before -- we support doing whatever is necessary to save the life of the mother, which NEVER requires trying to kill an unborn child in the womb -- candidates who support "life of the mother exceptions" are misunderstanding this, but we just need to talk through it with them).

This list includes only valid pro-life candidates for Governor, US Senate/Congress, State House and State Senate, and occasionally candidates who are NOT pro-life whose position we want to make clear (their names will not be bolded). We're sorry if the non-inclusion of a favorite candidate offends you. Candidates who are NOT on this list are either missing because they have made statements which violate either of our two criteria or because they have not responded to the CRTL Candidate Survey -- call them, e-mail them, ask them to answer, and they will be included.

Colorado Governor

Dan Maes (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
Scott McInnis (R) supports Personhood (his claims of having a pro-life record in Congress are NOT true), and says he is pro-life with no exceptions (we'll hold him to that).
Tom Tancredo (Constitution) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

U.S. Senate

Ken Buck (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
Jane Norton (R) says she supports Personhood, but her website supports abortions for rape or incest which violate the concept of Personhood -- she is NOT 100% pro-life.

Congressional District 1

Steve Barton (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
(Mark Fallon, his Republican opponent, is not overtly pro-life: Denver Post: "Fallon, a practicing Catholic with traditional religious beliefs, says he would remain neutral on social issues like a woman's right to an abortion and gay rights")

Congressional District 2

No candidates are 100% pro-life -- Bob Brancato opposes most abortions, Stephen Bailey supports all abortions.

Congressional District 3

Bob McConnell (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
Scott Tipton (R) won't go on record, and claims to be pro-life but is NOT considered truly pro-life.
John Hargis (write-in) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

Congressional District 4

Cory Gardner (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

Congressional District 5

Doug Lamborn (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

Congressional District 6

Mike Coffman (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

Congressional District 7

No candidates are confirmed 100% pro-life. Lang Sias hasn't responded to repeated attempts to get a response to our surveys, though he says he's pro-life. Ryan Frazier falsely claims to be pro-life while he's told newspapers he doesn't think the government should interfere.

State Senate District 1

Greg Brophy (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

State Senate District 2

Kevin Grantham (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
(his Republican opponent is pro-abortion)

State Senate District 3

Vera Ortegon (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
Alexander Mugatu (R) supports Personhood, but also supports some abortion exceptions so he cannot be considered fully pro-life.

State Senate District 5

No pro-life candidates (pro-life Wayne Wolf doesn't appear to be on the ballot any longer)

State Senate District 6

Dean Boehler (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
(his Republican opponent supports abortion)

State Senate District 7

Steve King (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
(King did support "emergency contraception" in a previous legislative session -- we take this as his promise he will not do so again)

State Senate District 9

Kent Lambert (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

State Senate District 11

Owen Hill (R) hasn't responded to our survey but we believe he is 100% pro-life.

State Senate District 13

Scott Renfroe (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions (in fact he's the only Colorado legislator to have carried the equivalent of Personhood legislation).

State Senate District 15

Kevin Lundberg (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

State Senate District 16

Tim Leonard (R) is unclear in his support of Personhood, and though he has been 100% pro-life in the past he hasn't responded to our survey.

State Senate District 20

No pro-life candidates that we're aware of.

State Senate District 22

Mike Kopp (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

State Senate District 24

No pro-life candidates that we're aware of.

State Senate District 30

Ted Harvey (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

State Senate District 31

Doug Smith (R) is a new candidate we've not had time to contact. We have no reason to believe he's pro-life except that he appears to have supported pro-life candidates in the past. If you know Doug and can get him in touch with us, please do so.
Clifton Powell (Constitution) is another candidate we've not been able to contact. His party is considered 100% pro-life. If you know him please have him contact us.

State Senate District 32

Tyler Kolden (R) is a new candidate we've not been able to reach. No reason to believe either way so far.

State Senate District 33

Lisa Ringle (R) is a new candidate we've not been able to reach. No reason to believe either way so far.

State Senate District 34

No pro-life candidates.


NOTE ABOUT CANDIDATES: Senate Districts 31-34 and House Districts 1-9 are City of Denver districts, and even pro-life candidates from these districts often don't want to be on record. We would prefer if they would be public about their beliefs, but it is typical candidate behavior to avoid controversy. The same goes for Boulder Districts (Senate 16 and House 10-14).

State House District 1

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 2

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 3

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 4

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 5

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 6

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 7

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 8

No pro-life candidates we're aware of.

State House District 9

C.J. Garbo (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.
(his Republican opponent does not appear to be pro-life)

State House District 10

We believe some of the Boulder Republicans are pro-life - please contact them.

State House District 11

We believe some of the Boulder Republicans are pro-life - please contact them.

State House District 12

We believe some of the Boulder Republicans are pro-life - please contact them.

State House District 13

We believe some of the Boulder Republicans are pro-life - please contact them.

State House District 14

Janak Joshi (R) says he is pro-life but we've not received his survey.

State House District 15

Mark Waller (R) says he is pro-life and is willing to talk with CRTL - haven't had an opportunity to talk with him yet.

State House District 16

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 17

Mark Barker (R) supports Personhood, pro-life without exceptions.

State House District 18

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 19

Marsha Looper (R) may support Personhood, and considers herself pro-life. Have not received survey responses to evaluate her positions. Please ask her to contact us.

State House District 20

Amy Stephens (R) may support Personhood, and considers herself pro-life. Have not received survey responses to evaluate her positions. Please ask her to contact us.

State House District 21

No reason to believe candidates are pro-life (Bob Gardner supported "emergency contraception" -- abortifacients -- in the legislature)

State House District 22

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 23

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 24

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 25

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 26

Candidates would not return surveys. No reason to believe they're pro-life.

State House District 27

Libby Szabo (R) has not returned surveys, but we believe she is 100% pro-life.

State House District 28

Jim Kerr (R) has not returned his survey, but he did sign the Personhood petition, and may be fully pro-life. Please have him contact us.

State House District 29

Candidates have not returned surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 30

Candidates have not returned surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 31

Tom Janich (R) is responding to the survey now -- we'll update this when we see his responses.

State House District 32

Kaarl Hoopes (R) supports Personhood, and is pro-life with no exceptions.

State House District 33

If you know Don Beezley (R) please have him respond to the survey. We hear he's pro-life but need confirmation.

State House District 34

Brian Vande Krol (R) supports Personhood, which we assume means he has no exceptions. We'd like to confirm this. If you know him please have him contact us. We haven't received his survey.

State House District 35

Edgar Antillon (R) says he's pro-life but we never recieved his survey. We cannot confirm.

State House District 36

No pro-life candidates.

State House District 37

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life. Spencer Swalm supported "emergency contraception" (abortifacients) in the legislature.

State House District 38

Kathleen Conti (R) supports Personhood, and is pro-life without exception.

State House District 39

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they're pro-life.

State House District 40

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 41

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they're pro-life.

State House District 42

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they're pro-life.

State House District 43

Frank McNulty (R) supports Personhood, and is pro-life with no exceptions.

State House District 44

Chris Holbert (R) supports Personhood, and is pro-life with no exceptions.
David Casiano (R) recently responded that he supports Personhood, and is pro-life without exceptions.
Polly Lawrence (R) responded to our survey, indicating she is "personally pro-life" (which means she's professionally pro-abortion) -- she refused to support Personhood.

State House District 45

Candidates did not respond to our survey. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 46

Steven Rodriguez (R) supports Personhood, and is pro-life with no exceptions.

State House District 47

Candidates have not responded to our survey. No reason to believe they're strongly pro-life.

State House District 48

Glenn Vaad (R) signed the Personhood petition this year, which implies that he is pro-life without exception. We have not received a survey response from him though, to confirm this. He did support "emergency contraception" in the legislature, and if he would respond to our survey we could confirm his promise not to do so again.

State House District 49

B.J. Nikkel (R) supports Personhood, and we have reason to believe she is pro-life with no exceptions. We've not received her survey, so we cannot confirm this for certain.

State House District 50

Candidates have not responded to our survey. We have no reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 51

Candidates have not responded to our survey. We have no reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 52

Candidates have not responded to our survey. We have no reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 53

Candidates have not responded to our survey. We have no reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 54

Ray Scott (R) supports Personhood, and is 100% pro-life with no exceptions.
(Ray's Republican opponent is pro-abortion)

State House District 55

Candidates have not responded to our survey. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 56

Candidates have not responded to our survey. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 57

Randy Baumgardner (R) supports Personhood, pro-life with no exceptions.

State House District 58

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 59

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 60

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life. Tom Massey supported "emergency contraception" (abortifacients) in the legislature.

State House District 61

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 62

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 63

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 64

Candidates have not responded to surveys. No reason to believe they are pro-life.

State House District 65

Jerry Sonnenberg (R) supports Personhood, and he is pro-life with no exceptions.