As you would expect, when President-elect Donald Trump announced that he had chosen Reince Priebus to fill the all-important role of chief of staff, I asked the pro-lifers who would know Priebus best: Wisconsin Right to Life. Here’s what Heather Weininger, Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life, told NRL News:
“Reince Priebus is a true friend to all of us in the pro-life movement. Even from his earliest days in Wisconsin politics, Reince has always been, and always will be, on the side of those who are the most vulnerable.
“While his behind-the-scenes pro-life efforts too often go unnoticed, his influence in Republican politics has markedly increased the strength of his party’s pro-life position. Reince, as chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, stayed firm and true to his state party’s pro-life platform. Then, as the head of the Republican National Committee, Reince worked hard to ensure his party’s national platform became the most pro-life it has ever been in the history of the Republican party.
“Reince has never shied away from his firm belief in the right to life. We are thrilled that we will have a Wisconsinite working in the White House to fight for the most basic and fundamental human right, life.”
For me, three items about the Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman stand out, beginning with the joint statement Priebus and RNC Co-Chair Sharon Day released June 27, the day Supreme Court issued its awful Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt ruling:
The next president will likely appoint multiple justices to the Supreme Court, that could determine its course for decades to come. We must always fight to protect life and today’s disappointing decision is another reminder of what’s at stake in this election and why we can’t afford to let Hillary Clinton win.
The second was around the time of the 2014 March for Life which is held annually in Washington, DC. Priebus delayed the start of the party’s annual meeting so he and other members could attend the March which begins on the Mall.
“I saw that there was a real interest among a significant portion of our members to attend and support the Rally for Life,” Mr. Priebus said in an email statement.“This is a core principle of our party. It was natural for me to support our members and our principles.” Priebus also “decided that the RNC will charter a bus to and from the march for those among the RNC’s 168 members who wish to attend,” according to the Washington Times’ Ralph Hallow.
The third was back in April 2012 when Priebus appeared on MSNBC. Correspondent/anchor Thomas Roberts made no bones about where he was coming from—there was a “war on women” because there were “90 different anti-abortion laws coming across the state legislatures, spiking in the country after the Republicans take back state legislatures and governorships [in 2010]. How do you say it’s a fiction?”
Here’s what Priebus said in response:
“You and I are never going to be on the same page as long as you believe that if you’re pro-life, you’re anti-women. And you and I are never going to be on same page because I happen to believe that life begins at conception and you don’t. So, since you don’t believe that…”
Roberts then interrupted him but Priebus finished his point.
“I don’t buy that because I don’t buy your argument. I happen to believe that you can be pro-women and pro-life. You don’t. That’s the problem, Thomas.”
Terrific choice, Mr. President-Elect.
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