Jim Clymer, Chairman of the Constitution Party National Committee, in his article last week commented that Chris Hansen was running for Governor of Nevada under the IAP ticket. Further, Chairman Clymer stated that Mr. Hansen would not receive any endorsement or support from the CP because of his less than 100% commitment to the pro-life plank in the National Platform.

I wish I could have been in the room to hear all the nice things the god-fearing (small "g" intentional) Mr. Hansen had to say upon reading Mr. Clymer's letter! Based on the tone of his retort I would say that, like others from the Nevada party whom I've heard take my Lord's name in vain (and why don't you swear by the name of Joseph Smith rather than Jesus Christ? Maybe that would have more meaning for you...) I'm sure the epithets were flying from the mouth as he furiously put his words to electronic ink.

You can read the full text here but basically Chris Hansen said that unless he receives the endorsement and support of the CP for his campaign then there is no reason for the IAP to remain affiliated and he would do everything he could to bring a vote of self-disaffiliation of the Independent American Party from the Constitution Party.

Well, praise God and may he be more successful than "The 41" were in Tampa! I wonder if Bill Shearer will travel to Nevada to remind Chris that the IAP is not a church and that any vote for disaffiliation would require a petition signed by a majority of the registered representatives from a majority of each County in Nevada before a vote could be put on the agenda?! Oh wait, never mind... National can't dictate how state affiliates conduct their internal affairs.

You know, it was pointed out to me recently that the name "Independent American" is a bit misleading for a political party since voters in Nevada register based on Party affiliation. Some might see "Independent" and think, yeah I'm not Rep or Dem, and "American", well of course I am, and check that box without ever intending to "join" a political party.

In Wisconsin we don't count registered voters when we tout our numbers, only those who have actually joined the CPoW by sending in a membership application and the appropriate dues for the year. So while the CPoW has 105 voting members, and had 80+ in attendance at the last State Convention, our numbers are far more impressive than the IAP who claims the 150 at their Convention was greater than the 130 at the Nevada Republican Convention. You see, there are about 475,000 registered "Republicans" in Nevada and nearly 40,000 registered as "Independent American". So out of 40,000 registered the IAP only had 150 in attendance while in Wisconsin we had far more than half of our members attend our last Convention. I wonder exactly how many dues paying members the IAP has anyway, but I digress...

Mr. Hansen also stated that there were many others in the Constitution Party who, he claims, have personal exceptions to abortion, specifically the "life of the mother" claim.

Well, that statement is what got my me in an uproar and is the reason for this post instead of something insightful like why we invaded Iraq...

You see, I don't believe there is an exception for the "life of the mother" because I don't believe that very rare circumstance can ever be considered an abortion. In every single case I've read about, and one in which I am acutely aware, the mother was happy about her pregnancy and wanted the child but complications during pregnancy created a life or death situation where heroic measures taken by medical professionals to save BOTH lives failed and in the end the child died.

I do not believe that is an abortion - rather, that was a baby who died after a failed premature delivery to save its life AND the life of the mother. And I feel WE, those of us on the pro-life side, need to make a point of expressing this loud and clear so that silly little "argument" can be taken off the table once and for all!

I guess when it comes right down to it Mr. Hansen would probably consider me to be pro-choice! I believe that a woman should choose to be responsible with her body before she gets pregnant. I believe people should choose to abstain from procreative activity until after wedding vows have been exchanged. I believe men and women have an equal say in how they choose to deal with family planning, after they are married. And I believe that once God Almighty chooses to use the vehicle a couple have provided to create another life in His image, that the parents should choose to do everything they can to bring that life into the world. What happens to an unwanted or unplanned baby after it is born is another choice the parents should make together, unless one of them isn't around (irresponsible, abandonment, in jail for rape or incest, etc.), and then the choice of adoption is available.

But that's not the world we live in today. Being pro-choice is more appropriately labeled pro-death because abortion is their only choice and I find it funny that everyone who is pro-choice has already been born!

There are no exceptions to a principled stand on abortion. There is no exception for a baby who dies during a complicated pregnancy or delivery - that's just not an abortion so how can it be an exception?

God still decides when a life should be created. If not, then what would the world be like if a pregnancy was the result of every single sexual encounter - ever? Just because two people, willing or not, engage in coitus does not mean the woman will get pregnant, never has. Look how many couples try and can't?

I only know two women who were raped. One was a coworker and it happened years before we met when she was in the Navy. The other was a neighborhood girl and she was molested by her older brothers and eventually her father. I feel great anger towards those who committed these cowardly, hideous crimes and great sympathy for the pain these women endure from the memories they relive on occasion. Fortunately neither got pregnant but if they had, is the child guilty of anything? The memory of the horrible act will not go away regardless of the outcome so why punish the innocent for the crime of the father?

Fetal deformity can be caused by many things but I know a couple that have a beautiful little girl who is a joy to be around. She brings a smile to my face every time I see her. She is mentally and physically handicapped and will never be able to live a "normal" life, but she is a gift from God and I thank Him every time I see her. The parents have made a commitment to their daughter and, while I can't "really" know what it is or will be like for them, I can image the love that swells up in the heart of the father every time his little girl smiles at him. Should he be denied that gift because his daughter won't have the same "quality of life" that another child will?

How can anyone honestly say they are "pro-life" with exceptions? Except for what? Rape? Incest? Fetal deformity or "quality of life"? NONE of these are acceptable reasons to kill a baby - EVER! People don't create life, God does. Once in history God created life out of nothing. Following that He choses to created life in the womb. But He creates it every single time.

I've been truly blessed. My wife has been pregnant four times and we have four children. I know it doesn't always work out that way, that's why I say I've been blessed. More appropriately, my wife has been blessed. Her life has hung in the balance more than once due to her pregnancies and my first born, who is now six, was seven weeks premature. But God...

I love that - but God... It doesn't matter what we humans screw up in life, and we can screw things up pretty royally, "but God" can make all the difference. He has in my life through the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. Let's give our children the same opportunity, without exception.

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