New Childers Ad For April 22nd Special Election "Pro-Gun and Pro-Life"

"I'm Travis Childers and this is where I stand. I've worked to create jobs across North Mississippi. I'll oppose any free trade deal that costs us jobs. I'm for cracking down on special interests that increase the cost of healthcare and I'm against the out of control spending in Washington. I'm pro-gun and pro-life. I'm Travis Childers and I approve this message because I'll do in Washington what I've done in Mississippi; work hard and work with both parties to create jobs."

This looks good to me, but I'd like to see some clear contrasts drawn between him and Davis. Though they do differ on a couple of these things voters won't (i believe) automatically get this.

The Sunday Funny #6

In a recent debate Rudy was asked what his biggest mistake and a few come to mind.

While Republicans in this state fall all over him it's worth taking a moment to study his actual record.

It's funny because he's being taken seriously.

John Eaves's New Ad: "Values"

I like it, though saying he is "pro-gun" didn't really fit to me, but good overall.

I really want ads that are humorous (think Dilbert) and engaging and hope the campaigns head more in that direction.

Phil; You Really Shouldn't Have

Chairwoman of Mississippi Right to Life on their endorsement:

“Phil Bryant needs to get over the sour grapes and stop his attacks on the pro-life movement in Mississippi. The endorsement of our PAC for Charlie Ross is because Charlie Ross deserves our endorsement.

Charlie Ross has been a pro-life champion in the Mississippi State Senate for the last decade. Phil Bryant has not. The Lt. Governor serves as the leader of the State Senate. It is difficult to lead a legislative body that you have never even served in.

Charlie Ross has been leading his campaign with the pro-life message. Phil Bryant has not. Ross has run pro-life radio ads while Bryant failed to mention the unborn in direct media questioning about abortion.

Charlie Ross has an excellent pro-life agenda proposed for the future of our state. Phil Bryant does not. Ross has a specific plan to protect life, Bryant has proposed nothing. Actions speak louder than words.

Phil Bryant was never offered the endorsement in March, nor was it ever made available to him for a price. The Mississippi Right to Life PAC endorsement has never and will never be for sale. Charlie Ross is clearly the best pro-life candidate for the office of Lt. Governor and deserves pro-lifer’s support!”

John Windsor Wins Support of MSRTL

From a Windsor press release:

John Windsor’s candidacy for Secretary of State has received the recommendation of the Mississippi Right to Life State PAC.

“As a Christian, I believe that life is sacred and that we have a duty to protect life, especially the lives of those who are most vulnerable – the unborn, children, the elderly, and the infirmed,” John Windsor said in response to the recommendation. “As a former public school teacher, I tried to shape young minds in a positive way, and as an Assistant Attorney General, I worked to protect vulnerable children. I am proud of this recommendation from MSRTL and honored to receive it.”

John Windsor is a Democratic Candidate for Secretary of State.

Mississippi Right To Life Responds To Bryant's (indirect) Attacks

After the questioning of the MSRTL PAC endorsement of Ross on message boards and through newspaper opinion columnists, the Mississippi Right To Life responded with this in a press release:

The Phil Bryant campaign continues it efforts to publicly and privately discredit Mississippi Right to Life PAC’s endorsement of Charlie Ross. The MSRTL PAC’s endorsement of Charlie Ross for Lt. Governor stands firm!

Calls and e-mails from Bryant staffers were sent to Right to Life before the endorsement was made public in an effort to intimidate and stop the endorsement. One such e-mail even included a threatening line stating that the Bryant campaign “lawyers” were needing a list of all of the MSRTL board members.

Since the endorsement was made public, the Bryant campaign has continued it’s efforts. PAC Chairperson Barbara Whitehead stated, “MSRTL PAC will not stand idly by and allow paid staffers of Phil Bryant to question the integrity of our organization. Our endorsement process was fair and beyond reproach.”

MSRTL PAC’s endorsement of Charlie Ross was based on exhaustive criteria including: past voting records, candidate questionnaires, candidates public statements, phone and in-person screenings, past involvement in the pro-life movement and candidates willingness to work with the pro-life movement in the future. Additionally all of the voting members of the board that were affiliated with a particular campaign personally did not cast a vote on that particular race. There was not one vote cast against Charlie Ross’s endorsement, although one member of the board did recuse himself.

“The Right to Life endorsement of Charlie Ross was based on criteria that are completely fair,” Whitehead stated. She continued, “Charlie Ross is the best person to serve as Lt. Governor when it comes to Right to Life issues and we continue our call for all pro-life Democrats, Independents and Republicans to vote for Charlie Ross on Aug. 7th.”

Charlie Ross Right-To-Life Endorsement Video

Charlie Ross Gets Right-to-Life Endorsement

Their Press Release:

Right to Life Endorses Ross for Lt. Governor
MSRTL PAC cites commitment, dedication and experience in endorsement


(Vicksburg) The Mississippi Right to Life State Political Action Committee (PAC) today endorsed Charlie Ross for Lt. Governor in the August 7th Primary election.

Citing Senator Charlie Ross’s long standing pro-life views, MSRTL PAC Chair Barbara Whitehead stated, “We are urging all pro-life Democrats, Independents and Republicans to vote for Charlie Ross for Lt. Governor. Charlie has been a committed and dedicated pro-life leader for a decade in the Mississippi State Senate and we need him to carry on his pro-life work as Lt. Governor.”

The Lt. Governor presides over the Mississippi State Senate and has great control of what legislation will be addressed by that legislative body. Whitehead stated, “Of the three candidates running for Lt. Governor, it is only Charlie Ross who has served in the Senate, knows the Senate and can walk in on day one and be a leader in the Senate for the pro-life cause.” Whitehead added, “Charlie has been in the tough fights in the State Senate and understands what it takes to get things done.”

In making the endorsement, the voting members of the PAC gave careful consideration to the following criteria: past voting records, candidate questionnaires, candidates public statements, phone and in-person screenings, past involvement in the pro-life movement and candidates willingness to work with the pro-life movement in the future. “With this set of criteria,” Whitehead stated, “the choice for us was clear: we need Charlie Ross for Lt. Governor.”

The Mississippi Right to Life State PAC is the political arm of the pro-life movement in Mississippi with over 50,000 supporting families. Mississippi Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee based in Washington, DC.

I wonder if this decision had anything to do with uncertainty over Bryant's past support foragainst abortion rights.

Phil Bryant is ForAgainst Abortion

There is a divide among Southern Republicans that hasn't really made it into the public eye yet in Mississippi. It is highlighted in Thomas Frank's book What's the Matter with Kansas? The divide is between the so called "Country Club Republicans" who care more about economic issues and are more libertarian on social issues and "Religious Conservatives" who tend to be moderate on economic issues, but are very conservative on hotbutton issues like abortion and homosexuality.

I believe that Phil Bryant is closer to the first variety and doesn't particulary care about the issues Christian Conservatives often focus on.

Former Rankin County Republican Executive Committeeman John Goodman wrote in his blog that in 1990 he witnessed Phil Bryant speak in favor of a woman's "right to choose."

I saw Phil Bryant walk up and down encouraging his supporters to strip the pro-life plank. He yammered about a woman's "right to choose." I remember Tom Hamby, one of the RCREC members who supported the pro-life plank, getting up and
saying, "For God's sake, don't do this. This is the buckle of the Bible Belt."Phil Bryant went all-out to ensure no pro-life plank would ever be in the RCREC
party platform.

Goodman states that Bryant adopted the pro-life postion in an election year ploy the following year in 1991 when he defeated incumbent State Rep. Frances Savage.

Bryant was told if he wanted to get elected, he would have to run as a pro-lifer. Otherwise, Savage was going to defeat him. The Christian Right didn't care much for her, but they weren't going to vote for Bryant if he was pro-abortion (The thinking was: Why have a Republican pro-aborter in the State House?). So he became a gung-ho pro-lifer.

Also I noticed that in his Meridian Star interview he was asked the question:

The Star: Charlie Ross, in an interview with The Star, talked a lot about abortion and the rights of Mississippians to have guns. What are some of your platform issues and do you see those as important to the state?

He avoided the question saying that people aren't worried about guns and failed to even mention abortion in his response.

Phil Bryant appears to be gliding along, hoping no one will notice anything but his name.