Gayle Atteberry, Executive Director, ORTL Once again it is election time and the ORTL is coming out with their endorsements. In the governor's race they have endorsed Kevin Mannix. Mannix deserves recognition for his defense of pre-born life. He has been hit hard for it in past elections yet stood his ground. However, once again the ORTL is giving a false impression. There is more than one pro-life candidate and the other pro-life candidate may be stronger in his beliefs than Mannix. For Jason Atkinson the issue became deeply personal with the premature birth of his little boy. Born at 24 weeks and only one tiny pound the Atkinson family's world stopped cold and centered around what many would claim was an incomplete person. Atkinson knows first hand what it is to pray daily for a tiny human no bigger than the human hand. Atkinson won't talk about it much in political terms unless he is darned near forced to. It's personal, it's emotional and it's uncomfortable risking the appearance of using one's own little boy for politics. But, there is no doubt where Atkinson is coming from on this issue. His stand on abortion is reflected in the face of a little boy named Perry (after his grandfather). Jason Atkinson won't get the appropriate public recognition from the ORTL. One thing is for sure. Any endorsements from the ORTL stopped meaning anything a long time ago. That's unfair to both Mannix and Atkinson. Three alternative pro-life groups have organized as a result of ORTL's failure to truthfully inform about the candidates and what abortion-spending is passed by legislators. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit. -- Matthew 12:33 "[I]t pleased God to deliver, on Mount Sinai, a compendium of this holy law and to write it with His own hand on durable tables of stone. This law, which is commonly called the Ten Commandments or Decalogue....was incorporated in the judicial law." -- William Findley, Revolutionary soldier, U.S. Congressman. The law...dictated by God Himself is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this." --William Blackstone, 1765, Blackstone's "Commentaries." (Source: The Christian History of the Constitution of America, page 142, Compiled by Verna M. Hall - 7th printing, 1993.)

Monday, April 10, 2006 Oregon's Christian Conservatives Set Up and Sold Out. Part I News and commentary The Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) Compromising On Your Behalf (whether you like it or not) The Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) just came out with their endorsements in the 2006 governor’s race. They’ve endorsed Kevin Mannix. But, what does this mean? According to their standards, is he pro-life? Is He the right candidate for pro-lifers? Does it even mean he is pro-life at all? No. It does not. The ORTL gives endorsements to pro-abortion candidates without letting the public know that the endorsements are given in spite of the candidate's stance. Oregon Conservative first learned the ORTL endorses pro-abortion candidates during the 2002 elections when the ORTL endorsed Democrat, and senatorial incumbent, Joan Dukes instead of conservative Republican Don Fell. Dukes had kept a pro-life bill from getting out of committee. She had never been a pro-life champion. She also had a 100% favorable rating from the pro-same-sex civil rights groups in Oregon. Fell, by contrast, had spearheaded crisis pregnancy centers in Pennsylvania, Washington and Astoria, Oregon. There was no question as to who was the most pro-life. When Gayle Atteberry, Director of the ORTL, was challenged on the superior pro-life background of Fell, she insisted Dukes was pro-life, but those familiar with both candidates were in disbelief that Atteberry would make such a claim. She defended her position by saying that when both candidates "are pro-life" their policy is to always endorse the incumbent, period. Nothing is said during the ORTL recruitment dinners about such a policy regarding incumbent endorsements. Neither their web site, nor literature, has ever mentioned such a policy. When The Oregon Conservative pointed out how liberal Dukes was, especially on homosexual issues, Atteberry insisted that only one issue, abortion, ever affected ORTL endorsement decisions. When the Oregon Conservative again challenged her over the differences in the pro-life backgrounds of the candidates, Atteberry firmly stated that Joan Dukes was "a very nice person" and deserved the endorsement. Nice? What has that to do with being a good pro-life candidate? When the ORTL endorsed the outspokenly pro-abortion, congressional candidate, Goli Ameri, it wasn’t because she was the incumbent. There were three primary Republican candidates:  Ameri and Tim Phillips who were both pro-abortion. But, Christain conservative Jason Meshell was strongly pro-life. Once again, people who were already familiar with the candidates were stunned. Unlike two other organizations, the ORTL makes their endorsements without revealing pertinent information or the voting records of a candidate. Increasingly candidates' records have conflicted with the ORTL endorsement policies. Who would suspect that an organization which continually professes the strongest pro-life sentiments and (professedly) engages in public battles-for-life would endorse pro-abortion candidates? Note that Ameri was the most forceful in her stance for the 'right to choose.' Obviously, then the ORTL cannot be counted on to choose the least pro-abortion of two pro-abortion candidates. But, the worst and most consistently blatant deception by the ORTL is the willful selling of Senator Gordon Smith as one who is pro-life yet he has voted for millions to go for abortions around the world. And once again, as with Joan Dukes, Smith has been a major sponsor of pro-homosexual legislation. Does this matter to the to the ORTL? ORTL recruitment dinners feature the pro-abortion Senator in a gentle, soft-spoken video portrayal of Smith as a defender of the unborn. Smith is actually used as a primary fundraiser for the ORTL. These Smith recruitment videos have continued to be used long after Smith’s pro-abortion votes on CEDAW and the Mexico City Policy. --(Reinstated with huge flaws in December 2007). Absolutely nothing ORTL says gives a hint that his voting record has been contrary to protecting the unborn. The ORTL has enabled Smith to earn the simultaneous support of both pro-abortion and pro-life organizations and voters. In 2000 Gayle Atteberry wrote a gushy article about Senator Smith for the ORTL web site. She called Senator Smith a “Profile In Courage” (page finally taken down) following a dramatic and well-thought-out testimony given by Smith before the Senate against assisted suicide. But, around the same time, the pro-abortion Republican organization declared on their web site, “We have a friend in Gordon Smith.” They knew better than to get tunnel-vision over Smith's senate testimony. Nevertheless, in spite of all of the above and Smith's continual moves to the left, Atteberry, and the ORTL, have continued to treat him as a pro-life hero. Smith has since come out in favor of using embryonic stem cells in research as well. But, never, at a recruitment dinner, will you hear anyone at the ORTL be encouraged to take action against Senator Smith. Can We Trust Anyone? The fallout from the ORTL's failure to be consistent on their endorsements has led to the formation of three other pro-life groups in Oregon. All three of these groups are rabid sticklers for holding legislators accountable for every single dollar they vote to spend on abortion. How has the ORTL responded? With great dislike! Nor do compromisers within the Republican Party like them. Unlike the ORTL’s Gayle Atteberry, they do not concern themselves with keeping friendly relationships with legislators. Friendships are based upon how a legislator votes:   that's it! This no-nonsense approach has angered ORTL leaders who have, in the past refrained from exposing the voting records of some of their befriended legislators. The above three new pro-life groups have been a thorn in the side to legislators who sometimes vote correctly, but sometimes not. The 'sometimes' or 'almost always' pro-life tactic of some Republican legislators has been enough to keep them off the hook with the ORTL. But, not all pro-lifers are happy with the "be-happy-you-got-at-least-a-little-something" treatment from legislators. Some Republicans argue that the left has gained strength incrementally. Thus, conservatives will have to settle for regaining strength incrementally as well by cutting legislators some slack. However, those who have become aware of ORTL tactics feel deceived and insist that misinforming donors/members is simply dishonest. Voters want truthful information. Legislators shouldn't have access to protection via the very organizations which they are depended upon to let the voter know what is really going on. Is it reasonable to expect Oregon Conservatives to have faith in voter information that is sometimes honest and sometimes not? Once again it is election time and the ORTL is coming out with their endorsements. In the governor's race they have endorsed Kevin Mannix. Mannix deserves recognition for his defense of pre-born life. He has been hit hard for it in past elections yet stood his ground. However, once again the ORTL is giving a false impression. There is more than one pro-life candidate and the other pro-life candidate may be stronger in his beliefs than Mannix. For Jason Atkinson the issue became deeply personal with the premature birth of his little boy. Born at 24 weeks and only one tiny pound the Atkinson family's world stopped cold and centered around what many would claim was an incomplete person. Atkinson knows first hand what it is to pray daily for a tiny human no bigger than the human hand. Atkinson won't talk about it much in political terms unless he is darned near forced to. It's personal, it's emotional and it's uncomfortable risking the appearance of using one's own little boy for politics. But, there is no doubt where Atkinson is coming from on this issue. His stand on abortion is reflected in the face of a little boy named Perry (after his grandfather). One can bet Jason Atkinson won't get the appropriate public recognition from the ORTL. One thing is for sure. Any endorsements from the ORTL stopped meaning anything a long time ago. In lieu of providing the facts about the candidates the ORTL wants voters to merely accept their chosen candidate. The reasoning behind their choices is convoluted and the public isn't privy to it. That's unfair to both Mannix and Atkinson. They endorsed Mannix in the last race. Perhaps that is to be construed as the same as an incumbent. But, given the reasoning they've given for past actions they might just as well endorse Governor Kulongoski. Mannix and Atkinson deserve solid recognition for their stands on abortion by a credible pro-life source. Neither one ever had a hope of getting that from the ORTL. It is time for Oregon Conservatives to hold the ORTL accountable. Honest representations of candidate backgrounds should be demanded. If the ORTL continues to refuse to change their policies, donors should cease from giving, and the voter guides should be ignored. The ORTL should be contacted and told why. In the meantime, voters are best served when they consider the information of other pro-life organizations. Even the National Right to Life has published information about Senator Smith that is at odds with the ORTL endorsements. How many more pro-abortion-candidates should the ORTL be allowed to endorse before losing their reputation as a pro-life endorsing organization? All such organizations should be met with sufficient scrutiny. Voter information should include a legislator's entire and true voting record on abortion. Questions asked candidates should be pointed and phrased to elicit defined points of view and clear commitments from the candidates. It is time for Oregon Conservatives to insist upon truthful information from such single-issue organizations. Organizations who refuse should be rejected. The ORTL isn’t the only organization to mislead Christian conservatives, especially when it comes to the hawking of Senator Gordon Smith. [Friday:   Oregon Conservatives Set Up and Sold Out, Part II] The list of the below sites is not to be construed as an automatic endorsement of any of the organizations or groups. They are for information purposes. ** -- Other pro-life Groups Replacing ORTL ** -- Brownlow on ORTL Fraud -- photo of ORTL endorsement flyer for Ameri. **ORTL Endorses Joan Dukes Instead of Don Fell. **1 -- Smith-Graham Gay Bill ** Mexico City Abortion ** Smith Abortion 7-11-03 ** Pro-Abortion GOP, "We Have a Friend In Gordon Smith." ** Gayle Atteberry Hall of Shame **2 -- Smith was THE major force in getting sexual orientation hate crimes passed as a federal crime.   (See paragraphs in blue at link) **3 -- Smith Quote, Hate Crimes Bill Passes. ** -- Smith Tax Bills ** SB1702 Domestic Partnership Tax Bill ** Smith Homosexuals Praise ** Smith Homo Marriage, Focus on the Family ** Smith Trying to Oust Conservative Atkinson ** Smith at Dorchester 2004 on Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions. ** Smith, Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2003. ** Smith/Hillary HIV Bill Kelly Clark Rape ** Quick Facts: The Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act of 2003. ** Smith Shakeup of ORGOP to Get Rid of Conservative Leadership (Atkinson) ** Smith Veiled Threat to Perry Atkinson to Hurt Son Jason's Career? ** Media/Smith Pitch, "Pro-Gay Conservative" not an oxymoron.                               Webmaster