What the Condi Rice rumors tell pro-lifers

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Jul 13, 2012

Condoleeza Rice? The rumors that Mitt Romney will pick the former Secretary of State as his running mate are cropping up too frequently to be coincidental. Something is afoot.

Let’s assume that the rumor has been floated as a trial balloon? What does it tell us, that after promising to select a pro-life running mate, Romney is now considering—or someone(s) in the Romney campaign wants us to think he is considering—a woman who describes herself as “mildly” pro-choice?

It tells us something that politically savvy pro-lifers realized long ago: Many Republicans take us for granted.

Let’s be honest. Hardball campaign operatives figure that pro-lifers will vote for Romney even if he betrays his promise to them, simply because they have no other viable choice. They will vote for Romney because he isn’t Barack Obama. They will vote for Romney because they have nowhere else to go.

For 30 years or more, Republican strategists have been making the same calculations. They court pro-life support in their fundraising campaigns and especially during the primary season. But as the general election nears, they edge away, confident that the pro-lifers will support them anyway.

And GOP candidates will keep taking pro-lifers for granted, until they are punished at the polls for doing so.