Just days before the election, a major political party in the state has blocked us on X (formerly known as Twitter). Why? We released a recent survey of Granite Staters conducted by a top 10 polling firm that revealed a majority of NH voters (60-64%) across all parties and demographics support protecting preborn children at 15 weeks of pregnancy, a full nine weeks before NH’s current law.
In today’s contentious political climate, the fact that we were blocked by a political party and attacked by some of their candidates who are angry at us for sharing polling data that clearly supports more protections for preborn life may not surprise you.
But what if that party was none other than the NH GOP? After all, their platform clearly asserts the sanctity of life from “conception to natural death.” Ironically, Democrats, because they know the truth, haven’t uttered a word of protest. You might well ask, as we did, just what is going on?
Cornerstone has been an integral part of the cultural and political fabric of our state for nearly three decades. As believers, our stance on life has always been rooted in our deep Christian faith. It is sacred, and every human life should be cherished and protected from conception. While the political winds push us here and there, our faith has been a constant shield and beacon. And there was a time when we and the state Republican party were closely aligned in our beliefs and efforts to protect the preborn. Today, while we remain firmly rooted in our Christian principles, the state GOP is increasingly distancing itself, not only from us, but its own platform.
Given that, has the recent pushback caused me to re-evaluate our own stance on life? No. While I don’t take negative feedback lightly and always take the opportunity to try and understand the source and rationale behind it, our beliefs and convictions have not changed. In fact, our resolve has only been strengthened.
What never ceases to surprise me in these times, though, is how many self-described pro-life candidates and Republicans are so willing to eviscerate their own stated principles and stance on the question of life. Now, the very thought seems to send many running for cover while they lob what ammunition they have our way rather than at the true enemies of life.
Why would Republicans engage in their own self-destruction on the question of abortion? From my spirited conversations with many on that side, I can only ascribe it to what I think are misguided and cynical attempts to win elections. Time and time again, political consultants have urged Republicans to put their head in the sand when it comes to defending abortion restrictions, ceding the framing of the abortion debate to Democrats. It not only hasn’t worked, but I would argue conservative weakness has had the opposite effect by letting Democrats define the issues and arguments. Yet here we are again.
The Republican candidate for governor has led the way in moving sharply and inexplicably to the pro-abortion camp as election day nears. Her abortion stance in the most recent gubernatorial debate makes that very clear. And at least two NH Senate candidates, Denise Ricciardi and Dan Innis, have, through apparently coordinated identical mailers, mirrored that stance by claiming their support for abortion for any reason in the first six months while pledging not to support any more protections for preborn children. It’s an understatement to say that we were taken by surprise, especially given their positions previously shared with us.
We understand polls are tricky. How specifically the issue is framed makes a difference in arriving at accurate results. For far too long, we’ve been relying on polls that haven’t drilled down to specific views or haven’t addressed NH abortion law. This most recent poll does both. For example, the poll included examining under what circumstances voters would support abortion (for any reason or by exception) and whether 15 weeks actually enjoys greater support than our current law. By contrast, the UMass Lowell / YouGov poll that has been misleadingly used as a comparison asked respondents about supporting a national 15-week ban and did not give them the opportunity to consider any exceptions such as life and health of the mother or fatal fetal anomalies.
If Republican candidates support their own platform and are personally committed to the sanctity of life, our polling results should have been not only cause for celebration, but a prime opportunity to reframe the debate with the “any time, any reason” Democrats. Why wouldn’t Republicans embrace this opportunity to use these poll results to shed light on radical Democrat policy and to help inform public opinion and build consensus around laws that will actually protect more preborn children? What saddens me is that, rather than seize on this opportunity, the GOP and some key candidates chose to turn their backs on the polling data and the messenger.
Over six years ago, we wrote a piece titled “The Challenge of Being Non-Partisan in Partisan Times,” asserting that, as a Christian organization, we are principled, not partisan. Despite calls to fall in line with the political calculus of elections, it remains true today. Perhaps it’s time for a certain party to stop ceding its own ground and start framing the debate. After all, not only are truth and compassion on our side, precious lives are at stake.
