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Reflections on NRLC 2015: Part One

Jul 13, 2015

By Dave Andrusko

NRLC2015thankyoureGiven the jam-packed schedule that makes the annual NRLC Convention so enjoyable and extraordinary, there were many fewer posts than usual last week. A small price to pay to hear the tremendous speakers who graced us with their presence and geared us up for the 2016 presidential election.

Speaking of which Wisconsin pro-life Governor Scott Walker made his candidacy official today, joining 14 other Republicans running to be pro-abortion President Barack Obama’s successor. All but one are strongly pro-life. [1] Pro-Life Ohio Gov. John Kasich will announce next week.

I’ve attended NRLC conventions since 1981 in Omaha, Nebraska. I have never been a part of one that was not a delight in every sense. But this year’s three-day education fest in New Orleans has to rank near the very top. If you weren’t there, you’d naturally ask why. What made it especially enjoyable?

I could list a dozen different reasons, but there are just three. And before I forget, you can go to livestream.com/righttolife/events/4164801 where you can view the general sessions!!

#1. The attendance was not only huge, the people who came to the New Orleans packed the workshops. You expect that in the general sessions, the Prayer Breakfast, and the closing Banquet. But in my workshop–like all the other ones–the room was filled with people, young and old, male and female. I’m fumbling for the just the right word and I’ll settle on keenly attentive. Their eyes were fixed on the speakers and the follow-up questions were so thoughtful it was obvious they had latched onto every word.

Contestants in the National Right to Life Oratory Contest

Contestants in the National Right to Life Oratory Contest

#2. The hospitality and generosity of our host–Louisiana Right to Life. They went out of their way to make our stay memorable. Thursday night’s Mardi Gras-style “Festival of Life: A Taste of Louisiana”– complete with costumes, beads, jazz band, and a colorful entry by pro-life Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal who delivered a great speech–is one that I’m guessing no one will ever forget. But everything, including the fabulous food and the wonderful conversations that took place in the hallways between workshops, make you appreciate that Louisiana had set a high bar for future NRLC conventions.

#3. Chemistry. It helped (obviously) that we had speaker after speaker who delivered powerful messages of love and hope and anticipation for brighter days ahead. Four presidential contenders (in addition to Gov. Jindal the night before) addressed the convention at the Friday morning Presidential forum– Dr. Ben Carson, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Rick Santorum and Gov. Rick Perry–and two others delivered video remarks–Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Jeb Bush. Here are snippets from their comments:

Gov. Jeb Bush: “When we devalue life, whether it’s at the beginning of life or at the end, we devalue our society, we devalue our culture. This is a value…that is hugely important: that we need to protect innocent life in every aspect.”

Dr. Ben Carson: “It is up to us the people, to stand up for what we believe in, and what I believe in is life, and using the talent that God has provided to give life.”

Sen. Ted Cruz: “There is no more precious, more fundamental right than the right to life. Our founders had the foreknowledge to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in that order. Without life, there is no liberty. Without life, there is no pursuit of happiness.”

Gov. Bobby Jindal: “We can’t declare victory until every life, the unborn, as well as the elderly, the disabled; every human life is welcomed and celebrated in our country, in our culture.”

Gov. Rick Perry: “As long as Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, the only way to stop abortion is one pregnancy at a time, one woman at a time, one heart at time. …We leave here as an army…of love, of compassion, of tolerance, of healing.”

Sen. Marco Rubio: “The goal of reclaiming the American dream, which is, itself, about defending the potential of every human being; this goal can never be complete if we do not succeed in defending the basic right of every human life to exist.”

Sen. Rick Santorum: “I do not believe life begins at conception. I know life begins at conception. This is not a matter of debate. This is not a matter of faith. It’s not a matter of belief.”

We’ll talk more tomorrow. In addition, Derrick Jones, NRLC’s Communications Director, will fill you in on the media coverage in detail. (Hint: there was a lot and much of it very fair.)

[1] They include Gov. Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Ted Cruz, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov. George Pataki, Sen. Rand Paul, Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Rick Santorum, and businessman Donald Trump. For all the candidates’ positions on late abortions, including the Democrats’, see www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2015/06/2016-presidential-candidates-on-late-abortion-do-you-know-where-they-stand/#.VaP8zl9Viko

Categories: NRLC
Tags: NRLC 2015