Caffeinated Thoughts

SBA List Endorses Sarah Steelman for U.S Senate

Posted: 07 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Washington, DC ─ Today the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, a national pro-life political action committee, announced its endorsement of Sarah Steelman for U.S. Senate in Missouri.

"There could not be a more clear contrast between an authentic advocate for women like Sarah Steelman and EMILY's List darling Senator Claire McCaskill," said Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "Having voted for everything from Obamacare to taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, Senator McCaskill has failed miserably at representing the best interests of women."

"Missouri women and families are hungry for a pro-life leader like Sarah Steelman," continued Dannenfelser. "The SBA List Candidate Fund is proud to endorse her and we look forward to adding another pro-life woman to the U.S. Senate."

Sarah Steelman represented Missouri's 16^th District as a state senator from 1998 until 2004. During her time in the state senate, Steelman had a 100 percent pro-life voting record and helped overturn former Governor Mel Carnahan's veto of the Infant Protection Act. From 2004 to 2008, Steelman served as Missouri's State Treasurer where she was responsible for more than $19 billion in annual revenue.

Since her election in 2007, Senator Claire McCaskill has voted against every pro-life bill in the U.S. Senate, earning a 0 percent rating with the National Right to Life Committee. Senator McCaskill has been endorsed by EMILY's List.

Sarah Steelman will face Congressman Todd Akin (MO-02) and John Brunner in the Republican primary on August 7.

During the 2010 election cycle, SBA List spent $11 million and was involved in 90 races, 62 of which resulted in victories. Successes included: defeating 15 of 20 so-called “pro-life” Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care reform bill, increasing the number of pro-life women in the House by 70 percent, filling the void of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate and increasing the number of pro-life women governors from one to four.

Bachmann Breaks FAMiLY Leader Vow Made Before God, Endorses Romney. Will Santorum Follow Suit?

Posted: 07 May 2012 06:12 AM PDT

Back in July, I challenged Christians and other Republicans to ask Michelle Bachmann and Rick Santorum whether they would actually keep the FAMiLY Leader vow they made before God not to endorse or support any GOP candidates who did not make the vow, such as Mitt Romney. Here is the vow that citizens were then asked to sign:

The Vow of Civic, Religious, Lay, Business, and Social Leaders:
We the undersigned do hereby solemnly vow that no U.S. Presidential primary candidate – nor any primary candidate for the U. S. House, Senate, Governor, state or municipal office – will, in his or her public capacity, benefit from any substantial form of aid, support, endorsement, contribution, independent expenditure, or affirmation from any of us without first affirming this Marriage Vow. Furthermore, to uphold and advance the natural Institution of Marriage, we ourselves also hereby vow our own fidelity to this Declaration and especially, to our spouses. (emphasis mine).

Michelle Bachmann has now broken the vow she took by endorsing Romney. Oh how politics tempts Godly people! We make foolish vows, and then for the sake of politics break them without thinking twice.

Will Rick Santorum follow suit, even though he wrote an article defending his sacred vow? I have written*:

In recent election cycles, Republican candidates have been asked to sign an increasing number of pledges to keep their campaign promises in certain areas. Rick Santorum defended this practice in a USA Today editorial
, after he vowed before God that he would keep the 14 points of a pledge developed by the Iowa-based FAMiLY Leader.
At a time when voters have grown skeptical about politicians and candidates who run on a certain platform only to backtrack once elected, signing a pledge is a good way to strengthen our political promises….the pledges we see today are oaths to voters.
This is the problem. The oath that Santorum took, was not made to just voters, it was made before God. Santorum went on to say:
To me, in a time when our nation's problems are so vast and so deep, a candidate should be able to meet that serious responsibility with something more than just promises…. I know I speak for my fellow candidates who have signed these pledges in saying it is an honor to be able to do so, because that is what a pledge is: an oath to honor our word. It shouldn't be a lot to ask for in a candidate.”

I will assume the good folks at the FAMiLY Leader will not violate their own vow and endorse Mitt Romney.