Yes, it was a rough day for the pro-life community and conservatives in general. South Dakota rejected a law banning most abortions, Arizona became the first state to defeat an amendment protecting marriage and voters in Missouri appear to have approved a measure backing stem cell research. Liberal and pro-abortion governors, from Janet Napolitano to Jim Doyle, have succeeded in their election campaigns.
Democrats have won the House and may also gain a majority in the Senate:
Democrat Jon Tester held a narrow margin of just 3,317 votes over incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns with nearly 83 percent of the vote counted. Election officials in Yellowstone County, Mont., said voting machine problems were delaying reporting of any votes in the Montana Senate race until later Wednesday.If Tester wins, Democrats could secure Senate control by winning in Virginia, where embattled Republican Sen. George Allen trailed his Democratic challenger, Jim Webb, by fewer than 6,000 votes out of more than 2.3 million counted.
There will be a variety of post-mortem analyses of the results but ultimately the election was the Republican's to lost. Hugh Hewitt comments,
"In this election year, Democrats won the day, largely because of the failed track record of the GOP."It is easier to tear down than to build up and the mistakes of Republicans as well as the actions of our enemies abroad were exploited by the Democratic party, securing victory on the majority of fronts. From a pro-life perspective, the fact that voters were swayed in this manner reflects apathy toward life related issues. As political marketing engines flooded the airwaves, the fluid priorities of the American voter turned in all directions before finally resting on those who were elected."Handed a large majority, the GOP frittered it away. The chief fritterer was Senator McCain and his Gang of 14 and Kennedy-McCain immigration bill, supplemented by a last minute throw down that prevented the NSA bill from progressing or the key judicial nominations from receiving a vote. "
Len Munsil, a pro-life conservative candidate who was defeated yesterday by the incumbent governor in Arizona, gives his take on the results:
I believe in living life with no regrets. This life is an adventure, and we are only here for a season. I remain committed to leaving it all out on the playing field of life, and to continuing to engage our state and nation on the important issues of our time.Beyond Len�s advice, it is clear that the Christian and pro-life communities must minister to the hearts and minds of Americans, helping our neighbors set priorities, values and standards that will provide long-term stability, growth, and respect for human life. The rising alternate media within the internet is certainly a key to outreach and communication and we�ll double our efforts to give our pro-life bloggers an online voice.When I began to participate in battles over important policy issues 20 years, one of the first political axioms I learned was this -- no political victory or defeat is ever final. Everything is up for grabs all the time. It is up to us to engage for the things we believe in and for the great principles of our democracy.
If you are discouraged tonight -- and you should be -- let that motivate you to be more engaged, more active and more dedicated next time. After the American people remember what it is like to be ruled by liberals, our political prospects will improve.
La Shawn Barber provides perspective:
... our system of government is still the best around. Democrats wanted a chance to govern, now they have it. Campaigning for 2008 begins now. So spend the day, if you must, moaning in this thread about last night�s losses.
