University of Dallas News

Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Commentary

Media Credit: wikipedia.com Senator Scott Brown was recently elected.

Following the election of Scott Brown to the United States Senate, I've heard complaints from various pundits and students that he is not conservative enough. In particular, his stance on abortion has come under attack. I am ardently conservative and pro-life. However, in this case, I think the criticism of Brown is excessive.

Brown is replacing one of the most pro-abortion politicians in history. Sen. Edward Kennedy, after originally voting like a Catholic, followed the Democratic Party as it embraced the pro-abortion agenda. Brown supports limiting abortion (through parental consent and notification requirements) and opposes the health care bill, which would have used taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. Kennedy supported unrestricted access to abortion and was one of the primary authors of the health care bill. Brown may not be pro-life, but he is at least less pro-choice.

Additionally, Brown is a Republican. I would never support a politician based only on his party identification, but we must consider the facts. Parties matter. Party leadership can make a huge difference in the way a politician votes. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) switched parties and, instead of being a wobbly Republican vote, has become a reliable liberal vote. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), a supposedly pro-life Democrat, lost his 100 percent pro-life rating with the National Right to Life because Democratic leadership hounded and bribed him into supporting the health care bill. Brown is neither the ideal Republican nor the ideal conservative, but he may be convinced to vote for a pro-life bill when his vote is necessary.

We must also recognize basic facts about the American political environment. While roughly 60 percent of Americans support restricting access to abortion, only 20 percent support an end to abortion, and only one percent view abortion as the most important political issue of the day (all numbers via Gallup polling). Americans are more concerned with the economy than with the taking of innocent life. This is unfortunate, but we must recognize this fact and learn to support life in this political environment. To that end, I would like to make a few suggestions.

First, Republicans win when they run on a fiscally conservative platform - Scott Brown is a fiscal conservative. Second, the vast majority of Republicans in Congress are pro-life, as pro-abortion Republicans are usually defeated in the primaries. Third, if and when there is a Republican majority in Congress, there will likely be a pro-life majority (between Republicans and Southern Democrats), and liberal Republicans such as Scott Brown may be convinced to vote pro-life when their votes will make the difference.

Scott Brown is not as conservative as I would like him to be. However, he is a vast improvement over not just Kennedy, but any Democrat who would have won the seat. Scott Brown will be more pro-life than any other possible senator from Massachusetts. Perfect? Far from it - but the best option available.

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