be quiet and take your medicine

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 11, 2007

Add the Wall Street Journal editorial page to the list of conservative voices informing pro-lifer Republicans that they shouldn't insist on a presidential candidate who opposes the slaughter of unborn babies.

Sure, Rudy Giuliani has been maladroit in his handling of the abortion issue, the editorial concedes. Still:

Mr. Giuliani has his strengths and weaknesses, but he shouldn't be disqualified for the nomination because of his views on a single issue that a President can't do much to change other than through the courts.

Since the courts have hijacked the abortion issue, the Journal argues, legislation to protect children is effectively blocked, and only court appointments matter. And since Giuliani says he's appoint strict-constructionist judges-- whatever that means to him-- pro-lifers should be satisifed.

If Mr. Giuliani means what he says, then in practical policy terms as President he could do as much to promote anti-abortion goals as any of the other GOP candidates.

Thus with a blithe sentence the Journal dismisses the executive functions of the government: the executive orders, the federal funding, the military policies, the foreign-aid programs, the UN debates-- all of which are under White House control, and all wrapped up in the abortion issue. It almost makes you wonder whether the Journal is paying attention to the argument. Then you read on...

As a resurgent Democratic Party advances all manner of misguided proposals for the economy, taxes, national security, health care, energy and the environment, voters need Republicans to revive their own reform agenda. An abortion fight will make the party seem irrelevant to the main voter concerns, or captive to its litmus test interests.

The truth is that most American voters don't care very much about capital-gains taxes. But don't expect the Journal to accept a Republican candidate who fails that litmus test.