Massachusetts Pro-Life Group Reviews Endorsement of Cahill for Governor
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 26, 2010
Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) — Massachusetts Citizens for Life is reevaluating its endorsement of the gubernatorial campaign of independent candidate Tim Cahill. After issuing an endorsement last week, MCFL has learned Cahill may not be fully pro-life and it is seeking more information before promoting his candidacy.
Madeline McComish, the chair of the MCFL State Political Action Committee, told LifeNews.com last week that Cahill was her group’s choice over pro-abortion Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick or Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker.
But, according to Fox News, even though Cahill supports a number of limits on abortions, he reportedly has an official position on abortion itself that is supportive of keeping it legal.
McComish told Fox News that MCFL will not reconsider the endorsement but wants Cahill to "clarify" his position before turning the endorsement into active support for him.
"It’s contingent on his reaffirming these issues," she said.
She also spoke with the Boston Globe newspaper about the endorsement.
“He came in and the PAC interviewed him and I was impressed with him,’’ she added. “And I do believe, based on my meeting with him, that he is pro-life. Otherwise we would not have endorsed him.’’
Cahill spokeswoman Amy Birmingham told Fox News that Cahill’s stance is similar to that of new Sen. Scott Brown, who backs a number of abortion limits but still supports abortion itself.
Last week, as LifeNews.com reported, McComish said "Tim Cahill will be an outstanding advocate for the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly. He will bring commonsense solutions to protecting their rights and their lives."
"Cahill holds pro-life positions on all aspects of the issue, from abortion funding to informed consent, to partial birth abortion and parental consent," McComish added.
She also labeled "very important" what she called his "opposition to physician assisted suicide, which is currently being proposed in the state legislature."
Fox News indicates the endorsement was based on the candidate questionnaire — which had Cahill supporting pro-life bills such as banning partial-birth abortion, an unborn victims bill, banning sex selection abortion, and requiring abortion centers to let women see an ultrasound before the abortion.
However, the blog Red Mass Group has an old copy of Cahill’s web site in which he said: "I believe in and support a (woman’s) right to choose. I also believe that abortion should be safe, legal and rare."
Cahill’s campaign manager, Adam Meldrum, told the Globe: “We understand that they’re relevant, and we want to make sure his positions are very clear. After meeting with MCFL, we realized his statement didn’t encompass what we wanted to get across and we’re looking to do that better now.’’
Cahill has been increasingly taking conservative positions and selected as his running mate former state Representative Paul Loscocco who is reportedly pro-life.
Last week, the MCFL PAC chair also said the issue of abortion and health care is one that separates Cahill from his opponents.
"Currently pro-life people across the state are collecting signatures to repeal Obamacare. They welcome Tim Cahill’s pledge to opt out of the abortion funding in Obamacare," she said. "People remember that Cahill was the first to point out that Romneycare in Massachusetts will go bankrupt in four years, thus subjecting everyone in the state to rationing and denial of care."
"The other gubernatorial candidates have publicly stated their support for the pro-choice position. In other words, they support abortion and take anti-life positions on the other life issues," she added.
MCFL said last week it would contact pro-life people across the state and mobilize more than 100,000 activists in Massachusetts in support of Cahill.
The endorsement is causing some controversy within pro-life circles in Massachusetts as MCFL and other pro-life advocates split on strategy.
MCFL, as it did when it endorsed Brown, appears to be taking the approach that, in a strongly pro-abortion state like Massachusetts, pro-life voters sometimes have to settle for candidates who will help stop some abortions. But other pro-life advocates say candidates who don’t at least take an official pro-life position on abortion are not worthy of support.
The latest polling data from the Boston Globe shows Patrick with a lead and the support of 38 percent of Massachusetts voters, Baker has the backing of 31 percent and Cahill the support of 9 percent.
A Rasmussen Reports survey had everyone at higher numbers with Patrick at 41 percent, Baker with 34 and Cahill with 16 percent. Both polls were taken in late June.
Related web sites:
MCFL PAC – https://MCFLStatePAC.intuitwebsites.com
MCFL – https://www.masscitizensforlife.org
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