By Lois Anderson, Political Director

Our PAC board recently interviewed a candidate who did not have an opponent in the primary and didn’t make it through the process soon enough to be in our primary Voter’s Guide.   He shared something very encouraging, telling us that during the primary, ten to fifteen people called him at home to ask him about his position on abortion.   The conversations were polite, and there was a positive give and take.   Life was the only issue prompting the calls, and the calls impacted his view of life and how deeply people care about it.

Another politician related how shocked he was to show up at a pregnancy support center annual dinner and find, not the 30 or 40 people he was expecting, but 300!

I want to encourage you in your good work and thank you for being positive, winsome advocates for life.   In a world overflowing with electronic entertainment and information at our fingertips 24 hours a day, personal contact is more effective than ever.

While national issues and mass media will have a large influence over voters, so can you.   I strongly believe that the opinion of a fellow citizen can have amplified influence in a time when the information flow can be overwhelming.   Use your influence for good!

There is no lack of work to do.   We need to elect a pro-life president, John McCain.   We must return Senator Gordon Smith to the United States Senate.   And, we must elect as many pro-life legislators as possible to the Oregon Legislature.   Remember, we were able to defeat tax-funded clone and kill research by one vote in the Oregon House.   Did you think your efforts wouldn’t make a difference?   Thankfully, you were wrong.

Will you take on the challenge to talk with and provide information to your neighbors, family members, people at your church, and even at your child’s school?   Will you volunteer to help a pro-life candidate for a few hours?   Will you send a letter to the editor?   Will you take a long view of our efforts and resist discouragement?   Yes?   Good!

The PAC is working hard to provide you with helpful tools.   The information on presidential candidates McCain and Obama and Senate candidate Jeff Merkley in this issue of Life in Oregon are well-researched and can be shared with confidence.   Our general election Voter’s Guide will be available in October.   Make sure you have a good supply for your community.

I have needed an extra measure of encouragement and inspiration this year.   In July, I found both in a very special place.   I traveled to Washington D.C. for the National Right to Life Conference.   On the day before the conference, I visited Mount Vernon, the home of our first president, George Washington.   It was an unforgettable day.

As we toured his home and walked the grounds, I spent a lot of time thinking about Washington’s life.   Even though it must have been difficult beyond what we can grasp, Washington fought a war with a very uncertain outcome, gave up tremendous power to return to civilian life, and then used his influence to help create a tradition of civilian leadership in our great nation.

Washington’s life has vital lessons for us.   In elections and campaigns, we review history to aid us in our strategies.   This year, the political landscape is shifting so quickly that we are making history, not analyzing it.   While this can make operatives like me lie awake at night, we now have an opportunity and challenge to make history – just like George Washington!   Let’s use our influence to help create a culture of life worthy of our great nation’s history and founding principles.