South Dakota has no leader in the pro life effort.

At least, it would appear, not in Washington DC.

John Thune, Mike Rounds, Kristi Noem… what are you doing to protect the unborn?

When given the opportunity earlier this year, NONE of them stepped forward to insist on the presentation and passage of a bill that would have ended abortion after 5 months… 5 MONTHS!  The Pain Capable Child Protection Act had 184 co-sponsors in the House.  Rep. Kristis Noem was not one of them.

PLEASE, Kristi, will you explain this?  Pro lifers want to believe in you… will you PLEASE explain what you did to advance and insist on the passage of this bill?  Will you PLEASE tell us why you were not speaking out in public and LEADING on this issue?  PLEASE tell us what we are missing here.  I will happily publish your response without any editing.

Senator Thune and Senator Rounds, I am ashamed of both of you on this issue.  What, in the name of God, will it take for you to step up and LEAD on the pro life issue?  When the US Senate had the opportunity to present this bill, I heard no public statement from you challenging the Senate to do the right thing.  Your silence was deafening!  If either of you care to explain your inaction on this significant legislation, I will be happy to publish it without editing.  I am not holding my breath.

Please, do not insult us with the rhetoric that you are speaking out “in caucus”.  This is an issue where Congress needs to be called to PUBLIC account.  YOU should be challenging them PUBLICLY.

This article is not simply an effort to “beat up” on our Congressional delegation.  There have been times when each of them have ‘voted’ in favor of protecting life. But why are they not LEADING on this issue?  The answer may be found in the closed-door caucus meetings and political strategy sessions.

The Washington Post explained it this way:

“… leaders abruptly dropped plans late Wednesday to vote on an anti-abortion bill amid a revolt by female GOP lawmakers concerned that the legislation’s restrictive language would once again spoil the party’s chances of broadening its appeal to women and younger voters.”

That sounds disgustingly like the State “pro life” Republican Leadership when I brought forward a pro life bill in the State House.  I was vilified and nearly crucified by the entire (Republican) leadership in the House.  One of the arguments against my bill was that they wanted to “wait” until next year so it would ‘bring out the base’ in an election year.  Pardon my indignation!

I understand the pressure applied in closed-door caucus meetings… I have been there.  What I don’t understand is why any of these “pro life” office-holders would bow to the pressure on this issue.  Where are their priorities?  South Dakota pro life voters WANT to believe in these three people, but what are we to think?  What are we to do?  John Thune, Mike Rounds and Kristi Noem, we deserve to hear from you on this issue.

We are waiting…

***Gordon Howie is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***

     “It’s not about right or left, it’s about Right or Wrong.”

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