{"id":2332524,"date":"2024-08-28T12:27:05","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-lifers-are-losing-the-fight-against-deceptive-ballot-measures\/"},"modified":"2024-08-28T12:38:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:38:22","slug":"pro-lifers-are-losing-the-fight-against-deceptive-ballot-measures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-lifers-are-losing-the-fight-against-deceptive-ballot-measures\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro-Lifers Are Losing The Fight Against Deceptive Ballot Measures"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpro-lifers-are-losing-the-fight-against-deceptive-ballot-measures%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2332524&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In the context of the upcoming 2024 elections, \u2063frustration is boiling \u200cover among key figures in the pro-life\u200d movement due to former President\u200d Donald Trump&#8217;s vague stance\u2063 on abortion. \u200cAs Election Day approaches, pro-life advocates are urged to concentrate on\u2063 thwarting misleading \u2063ballot measures that could undermine \u200dstate protections for \u2064the unborn. Many Republicans feel abandoned \u200dby \u2064the party&#8217;s current approach to abortion, especially Trump&#8217;s suggestion to leave the decision to states, which \u200ccould \u2063enable Democrats to \u2064push their more extreme agendas \u2062into \u2062traditionally Republican areas.<\/p>\n<p>There are significant \u200dconcerns\u200c about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abortion-activists-use-ohios-constitutional-amendment-to-target-informed-consent-laws-just-as-pro-lifers-warned-they-would\/\" title=\"Abortion advocates leverage Ohio constitutional amendment to attack informed consent laws, proving pro-life predictions accurate\">deceptive ballot initiatives<\/a> that, \u200cif passed, would not merely guarantee the right to abortion in several red states but would also \u200dhinder \u2063any \u2064legislative\u2064 efforts to regulate abortionists.\u2062 These ballot measures\u2062 could effectively establish constitutional \u200cprotections \u2064for abortion, making them difficult to repeal in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the gravity of these threats, much \u200dof \u2063the conversation among pro-life leaders has centered on criticizing Trump&#8217;s \u2063position rather than addressing the\u200b ballot measures. Some suggest that staying home on Election Day might \u2064signal their discontent, which could\u200b inadvertently empower the pro-choice movement \u2063and lead \u2063to unfavorable outcomes for the \u2063pro-life cause. The emphasis for pro-lifers should be on proactive\u2063 prevention\u200d and effective messaging \u200bto counteract the deceptive narratives surrounding abortion, rather than focusing\u2064 solely on political figures. If \u2064pro-lifers \u200cfail \u2062to turn out to vote, the movement stands to face significant setbacks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Some of the biggest players in the national pro-life movement are justifiably frustrated with the ambiguous abortion rhetoric plaguing former President Donald Trump&rsquo;s 2024 campaign. As Election Day draws nearer, however, those committed to protecting unborn life should focus their energy on combatting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-mixed-messaging-on-abortion-and-ivf-plays-right-into-democrats-electoral-strategy\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s contradictory stance on abortion and IVF boosts Democrats&#039; electoral strategy\">deceptive ballot measures<\/a> that threaten to undermine the most important and effective tool in the pro-life playbook: state safeguards. <\/p>\n<p>There is no doubt that the GOP&rsquo;s surrender on abortion leaves a huge bloc of their voters (as well as the women and babies they often claim to protect) hanging <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/07\/08\/top-gopers-surrender-on-abortion-leaves-their-pro-life-voters-women-and-babies-out-to-dry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">out to dry<\/a>. Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/04\/08\/trumps-mixed-messaging-on-abortion-and-ivf-plays-right-into-democrats-electoral-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">insistence<\/a> that abortion should be left &ldquo;up to the states&rdquo; gives Democrats and abortion giants a free pass to target Republican strongholds <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/22\/more-floridians-need-to-know-a-november-ballot-initiative-would-legalize-second-trimester-abortions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">like Florida<\/a> with their extreme abortion agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113012083325505976\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;reproductive rights&rdquo;<\/a> rhetoric and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MeetThePress\/status\/1827473548853616804\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vance&rsquo;s confirmation<\/a> that the pair will veto federal pro-life protections are certainly reprimandable. But they shouldn&rsquo;t be the ultimate focus of pro-lifers&rsquo; ire this November. <\/p>\n<p>Nearly a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/womens-health-policy\/dashboard\/ballot-tracker-status-of-abortion-related-state-constitutional-amendment-measures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dozen states<\/a> face deceptive ballot measures that promise to protect abortion. If passed in November, these proposed amendments will not only enshrine abortion for any reason in red state constitutions, but will also prohibit those states from passing laws aimed at holding abortionists accountable for the harm they cause women and unborn babies.<\/p>\n<p>These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proposed-legislation-would-ban-foreign-intervention-in-local-ballot-initiatives\/\" title=\"Proposed Legislation Would Ban Foreign Intervention In Local Ballot Initiatives\">ballot measure campaigns<\/a> are dangerous because, even though they are plagued with <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/03\/every-state-facing-deceptive-unlimited-abortion-ballot-measures-this-november\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">undefined terminology<\/a> that can be easily construed to justify abortion for any reason and questionable signature-gathering practices, they are effective. <\/p>\n<p>Time and time again, the pro-life movement has allowed abortion radicals to <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/11\/07\/abortion-radicals-will-expand-their-schemes-from-ohio-to-your-state-heres-how-to-be-ready\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sneak their ballot measure schemes<\/a> right past their Republican-controlled legislatures, governors&rsquo; mansions, and attorneys general offices. As a result, <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/History_of_abortion_ballot_measures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">every single one<\/a> of the seven&nbsp;state abortion referendums introduced since&nbsp;the fall of <em>Roe v. Wade<\/em>&nbsp;have ended with enshrining the &ldquo;right&rdquo; to murder preborn babies in state constitutions.<\/p>\n<p>These constitutional amendments, which effectively hamper states from legislating on abortion, contraception, assisted reproductive technology, and the radical transing of children, are <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/04\/04\/abortion-activists-use-ohios-constitutional-amendment-to-target-informed-consent-laws-just-as-pro-lifers-warned-they-would\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">not easily undone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of talking about these ballot measures, however, pro-life figureheads and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Mike_Pence\/status\/1828472690245521694\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">politicos<\/a> everywhere are postulating about Trump&rsquo;s position on abortion. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NancyAFrench\/status\/1827143784443809863\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">say voting for Harris<\/a>, the most extremist pro-abortion presidential candidate in history, will remedy the problem, while others <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LilaGraceRose\/status\/1828095846887600177\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have suggested a solution lies in simply withholding votes from Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This coordinated effort to keep principled pro-lifers home on Nov. 5 does nothing but damage the heart and soul of the movement sworn to preserve unborn life.<\/p>\n<p>The goal of the pro-life movement has <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/04\/09\/pro-lifers-have-always-wanted-national-protections-for-unborn-babies-and-their-mothers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">always been to eradicate abortion<\/a>. But hinging that goal on a federal abortion ban (which is only in the realm of possibility thanks to Trump and his first term) and a federal abortion ban only severely restricts pro-lifers&rsquo; effectiveness in the states where referendums on abortion are becoming routine.<\/p>\n<p>It shouldn&rsquo;t be hard to communicate to the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/06\/16\/poll-majority-of-americans-still-reject-democrats-unlimited-abortion-agenda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">majority of U.S. adults who reject Democrats&rsquo; unlimited abortion agenda<\/a> that dismembering babies through all nine months is an extremist position and not, as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear recently claimed, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/20\/ky-gov-andy-beshear-equates-democrats-radical-abortion-aims-with-loving-your-neighbor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;loving your neighbor.&rdquo;<\/a> Yet, many Americans do not equate Democrats&rsquo; euphemistic calls for &ldquo;reproductive rights&rdquo; with late-term abortions&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/07\/14\/associated-press-poll-is-corporate-medias-latest-language-twisting-exercise-in-advancing-abortion-extremism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">because pollsters and abortion activists twist the narrative<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The true solution for keeping radical abortion amendments from making it on the ballot lies in <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/11\/07\/abortion-radicals-will-expand-their-schemes-from-ohio-to-your-state-heres-how-to-be-ready\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prevention<\/a> and messaging. Yet, national pro-lifers risk becoming too preoccupied with smearing Trump to do the legwork in those states in danger of falling prey to Democrats&rsquo; schemes.<\/p>\n<p>If Vice President Kamala Harris wins the 2024 election because pro-lifers pouting about Trump refuse to show up to the polls, the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/27\/if-harris-wins-the-pro-life-movement-wont-stand-a-chance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pro-life movement won&rsquo;t stand a chance<\/a>. As Federalist Legal Correspondent Margot Cleveland accurately noted, Harris&rsquo; commitment to passing a federal law that usurps state-level pro-life protections and packing court benches with abortion activists &ldquo;will only further dehumanize the unborn, making it more difficult to change the hearts and minds of Americans.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, if the pro-abortion activists running deceptive ballot measure campaigns in nearly a dozen states succeed, as they have over the last two years, tens of thousands of babies in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota&nbsp;won&rsquo;t stand a chance either. <\/p>\n<p>Since its beginning more than 50 years ago, the fight for life has been marred with compromise. GOP politicians have repeatedly failed to move the legislative ball to protect babies forward, offering only toothless statements and the occasional congressional hearing temper tantrums. Even worse, some of them have turned to <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/28\/the-gops-panic-to-protect-ivf-plays-right-into-democrats-hands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">aiding<\/a> Democrats&rsquo; anti-life schemes by <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/22\/theres-nothing-pro-life-about-ted-cruz-and-katie-britts-ivf-bill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">promoting procedures that routinely sacrifice the unborn.<\/a> Yet, many are still boosted by <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/11\/02\/why-is-sba-pro-life-mia-in-the-fight-against-biden-pentagons-radical-abortion-support-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top pro-life organizations<\/a> as champions for the preborn.<\/p>\n<p>Pretending that pitting the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-worthy-recipient-pro-life-group-names-trump-pro-life-person-of-the-year\/\" title=\"\u201cA Worthy Recipient\u201d- Pro-Life Group Names Trump Pro-Life \u201cPerson Of The Year\u201d\">pro-life president<\/a> against the most abortion-crazed one is suddenly an unprecedented moral dilemma for pro-lifers committed to advancing the core mission of saving every unborn baby from in-utero slaughter is not just disingenuous. It verges on a malicious attempt to distract voters from the ballot measure battles that, if left unchecked, will determine without pushback that abortion through all nine months of pregnancy is the new American standard.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on X @jordanboydtx.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many prominent figures in the national pro-life movement are understandably frustrated with the unclear abortion messaging coming from former President Donald Trump\u2019s 2024 campaign. As Election Day approaches, those dedicated to safeguarding unborn life should concentrate their efforts on opposing misleading ballot measures that could weaken state protections, which are crucial for the pro-life cause. <\/p>\n<p>The GOP&#8217;s retreat on abortion has left a significant portion of their voter base\u2014and the women and children they claim to support\u2014vulnerable. Trump&#8217;s assertion that abortion decisions should be made &#8220;up to the states&#8221; allows Democrats and major abortion advocates to target Republican strongholds like Florida with their extreme agendas.<\/p>\n<p>While Trump&#8217;s rhetoric regarding &#8220;reproductive rights&#8221; and Vance&#8217;s confirmation of plans to veto federal pro-life protections are certainly concerning, they shouldn&#8217;t be the primary focus of pro-lifers&#8217; anger this November. Nearly a dozen states face deceptive ballot measures that claim to protect abortion rights. If these amendments pass in November, they will not only enshrine unrestricted access to abortion in red state constitutions but also prevent those states from enacting laws that hold abortion providers accountable for harming women and unborn children.<\/p>\n<p>These campaigns pose a significant threat because they often use vague language that can easily justify abortions for any reason, along with questionable signature-gathering methods; yet they have proven effective. Historically, the pro-life movement has allowed radical abortion advocates to push their initiatives through Republican-controlled legislatures without sufficient resistance. Consequently, every one of the seven state-level referendums introduced since Roe v. Wade was overturned has resulted in constitutional amendments affirming a so-called &#8220;right&#8221; to abort preborn babies.<\/p>\n<p>These amendments effectively restrict states from legislating on issues related not just to abortion but also contraception and assisted reproductive technologies, making them difficult to reverse once enacted.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of focusing on these critical ballot measures, many pro-life leaders are fixated on Trump\u2019s stance on abortion. Some suggest voting for Harris\u2014the most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever\u2014or withholding votes from Trump as potential solutions.<\/p>\n<p>This coordinated effort encouraging principled pro-lifers not to vote on Nov. 5 could severely harm the movement dedicated to preserving unborn life. The ultimate aim of this movement is clear: eliminate abortion entirely; however, tying this goal solely to a federal ban limits its effectiveness at state levels where referendums have become commonplace.<\/p>\n<p>It should be straightforward for most Americans\u2014who oppose Democrats\u2019 unrestricted approach\u2014to recognize that allowing late-term abortions is an extremist position rather than an act of compassion as claimed by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Unfortunately, many do not connect Democrats&#8217; euphemistic calls for \u201creproductive rights\u201d with late-term procedures due largely to manipulated narratives by pollsters and activists.<\/p>\n<p>To prevent radical amendments from appearing on ballots requires proactive messaging strategies; however, national pro-lifers risk becoming too distracted by criticisms aimed at Trump instead of addressing threats posed by Democratic initiatives in vulnerable states.<\/p>\n<p>If Vice President Kamala Harris wins in 2024 due solely because discontented pro-lifers abstain from voting out of frustration with Trump\u2019s stance, it would spell disaster for the movement advocating against abortions nationwide\u2014as noted by Federalist Legal Correspondent Margot Cleveland regarding Harris\u2019 intentions toward federal legislation undermining state-level protections and her plans involving judicial appointments favoring activists who dehumanize unborn lives further complicating efforts toward changing public opinion about these issues.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, if deceptive ballot measure campaigns succeed across nearly a dozen states as they&#8217;ve done recently\u2014impacting countless babies across Arizona through South Dakota\u2014the consequences will be dire indeed.<\/p>\n<p>For over fifty years now since its inception fighting against legalized abortions has been riddled with compromises where GOP politicians repeatedly fail at advancing protective legislation while offering only empty statements or occasional congressional hearings without real action taken towards protecting lives lost daily due lack thereof support given even some who promote anti-abortion policies still receive backing from leading organizations claiming allegiance towards saving preborns despite aiding adversaries instead!<\/p>\n<p>Claiming there exists an unprecedented moral dilemma between supporting either president when one stands firmly against killing innocent lives while another promotes such acts isn\u2019t merely disingenuous\u2014it distracts voters away necessary focus needed during upcoming elections ensuring future generations remain safe free threats posed unchecked radical agendas seeking normalize practices deemed unacceptable previously!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":2332525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-28-at-9.43.17%E2%80%AFAM-e1724856270444.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[6017,37720,39535,8347,36292],"class_list":["post-2332524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-advocacy","tag-ballot-measures","tag-deceptive-practices","tag-pro-life","tag-reproductive-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-28-at-9.43.17%E2%80%AFAM-e1724856270444.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/490"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2332524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2332525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2332524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2332524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2332524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}