Candidate Blasts Pro-Lifers at Indiana Tea Party Event, Loses Endorsement
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 26, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Indiana Right to Life has withdrawn its endorsement of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Behney after he attacked pro-life advocates at a tea party rally. The conservative activist lost support from the pro-life group’s PAC after speaking to an Indianapolis Tea Party event for candidates.
At the event, Behney made the wild accusation that top pro-life leaders are more concerned about themselves than stopping abortions.
"One of the things I’m most disappointed about in running for the United States Senate – I’ve met many people here – I’ve met many of these leaders – pro-life leaders – here in our state," Behney said. "And I’m convinced as sure as I’m standing here that they are more concerned with their egos and with their jobs than with saving lives."
Behney didn’t give any examples of pro-life groups or leaders to back up his accusations.
Mike Fichter, the chairman of the Indiana Right to Life PAC took exception to Behney’s statement.
"Mr. Behney’s comment reveals an uninformed and cynical view of what drives Indiana’s pro-life leaders to invest their lives in the most selfless of causes by speaking on behalf of unborn children," he told LifeNews.com.
"Indiana’s pro-life leaders are mostly volunteers who give sacrificially of their time and money so that children they will never meet might be given a chance at life. This is the heartbeat of Indiana’s pro-life movement," the IRTL leader added.
Fichter said he has never met Behney and is not aware of Behney ever meeting with any member of the Indiana Right to Life board of directors or any president of one of Indiana Right to Life’s 38 county affiliates.
"An error of perception and judgment of this magnitude, and concerning allies in the fight for the unborn, has caused us to lose confidence in him and his reliability, so much so that we cannot recommend him to voters," says Fichter.
Fichter said the Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee is encouraging pro-life voters to thoroughly review the survey responses and voting records of its remaining endorsed candidates for the U.S. Senate Republican primary race before casting their votes primary election day.
Behney is seeking the GOP nomination for Senate against pro-life former U.S. senator Dan Coats, pro-life former congressman John Hostettler, pro-life former state legislator Marlin Stutzman and Republican bank branch manager Don Bates.
The winner will face Democratic candidate Brad Ellsworth, who says he is pro-life but voted for the pro-abortion health care bill.
Related web sites:
Indiana Right to Life – https://www.protectinglife.com
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