Letter: Senator Hughes has a 100% pro-life voting record

As featured in the Columbus Dispatch

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Recently Faith2Action paid for ads in newspapers accusing Ohio senators, including Senator Jim Hughes, of being a “RINO” for not blindly supporting HB 125, the so-called “heartbeat bill.” According to the group, anything less than unwavering support means that Senators are neither pro-life nor a “true” member of their respective political party.  This accusation is as flawed as the legislative strategy pursued by this group. 

The RINO campaign is just the most recent of ongoing attacks by a group who claims to be pro-life directed towards pro-life legislators. They previously ran ads against these legislators stating that they have not lived up to their campaign promises, yet these same state senators have passed more pro-life measures this General Assembly than at any time in our state’s history. 

The very obvious facts are these: Senator Hughes has a 100% pro-life voting record and is endorsed yet again in 2012 by the Ohio Right to Life PAC.  Further, all 23 republican members of the Ohio Senate are 100% pro-life and endorsed by Ohio Right to Life PAC. 

What is less obvious is the end game of Faith2Action.  Senator Hughes is a pro-life legislator running UNOPPOSED for re-election. If they attack his pro-life commitment and threaten to “vote him out of office,” what is the alternative?  This strategy does nothing more than confuse pro-life voters and keep them away from the polls.  The end result?  The re-election of President Obama, the most pro-abortion president in our nation’s history.  I would call into question not the pro-life commitment of senators like Jim Hughes, but the strategy and political acuity of any so-called “pro-life” campaign against them. 

Stephanie Ranade Krider 

Ohio Right to Life 

Columbus