The Jackson Citizen Patriot - Right To Life Backs Walberg

Right To Life Backs Walberg

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
By Brian Wheeler
Jackson Citizen Patriot
bwheeler@citpat.com -- 768-4928

Congressional candidate Tim Walberg has earned the backing of Right to Life of Michigan, an expected but still-powerful boost to his campaign against U.S. Rep. John "Joe" Schwarz.
Walberg, R-Tipton, touted the endorsement Monday as important to his hopes of rallying the Republican base in August's primary.

Schwarz, of Battle Creek, was elected in 2004, but just 28 percent of voters backed him in a six-person Republican primary.

"We can go back to the fact that 72 percent of people voted for someone other than Joe Schwarz. I think that speaks to where this district stands," said Walberg, a former state representative who ran against Schwarz in 2004.

Right to Life's endorsement coincided with the 33rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion. The anti-abortion group has backed Schwarz in past campaigns, but its political action director said he wasn't considered this year because of his votes.

Schwarz personally opposes abortion but has supported it as a rare option. Matt Marsden, his chief of staff, noted Schwarz has voted to ban abortions on overseas military bases, for parental notification and to intervene in last year's battle over brain-dead Terri Schiavo.

He also has pushed for stem-cell research, which some abortion opponents criticize.
"He's personally opposed to abortion, but he doesn't think his personal views should be imposed on the district," Marsden said. "It's not a decision that should be made by a bunch of middle-aged men in Washington."

The impact of Right to Life's support is debatable. Two years ago it backed Jackson state representative Clark Bisbee in the congressional contest. He finished fourth in the primary.

Walberg hopes the endorsement will highlight differences between him and Schwarz. He maintains his opponent supports "abortion on demand."

"You can't be both ways on this issue," Walberg said. "Either you support life at all costs and you battle for it, or you don't."

http://www.walbergforcongress.com/news/jan24.htm