Pro-Abortion Republicans Organize, Fundraise in Maine By Staff Jul 31, 2008 - 8:01:53 AM

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National Pro-Abortion RLC Endorses Maine's Summers for Congress

The pro-abortion, anti-family Republican Leadership Council of Maine registered a political action committee with Maine's Ethics Commission in July.  See a high-resolution image of the registration at www.cclmaine.org/PDF_Files/RLC-PACregistration.pdf.

The RLC of Maine is led by current Maine State Senator Peter Mills (R-Skowhegan) and current State Representative Meredith Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland).  Both are listed as co-chairs of the pro-abortion, anti-family group on the Maine Ethics Commission PAC Registration from July 14, 2008. 

Mills and Strang Burgess were two of only four Republican Maine legislators who co-sponsored a bill in 2007 that would have directly paid $283,000 for abortions in Maine.  One of the remaining four pro-abortion Republican legislators is not running for re-election this year, and the other Maine GOP legislator passed away shortly after co-sponsoring the abortion funding bill.  The bill itself was unanimously defeated in its legislative committee in May, 2007.

The newly formed Maine group is the state chapter of the national Republican Leadership Council, led by former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman.  The national RLC organization partners with the pro-abortion groups Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice, Republican Majority for Choice, the WISH List, and Republicans for Choice.  It also partners with the anti-family Log Cabin Republicans group.

According to their own descriptions from the RLC website, the Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice are "dedicated to the preservation of...reproductive freedom" and "believe our nation is best served by policies that support family planning..."  The Republican Majority for Choice "endorse[s] the 'big tent' philosophy of inclusion and tolerance on social issues, and support the protection of Roe v. Wade and want to ensure that the right to choose [abortion] is personal and NOT political." 

"The WISH List (Women In the Senate and House) is the nation’s largest fundraising network for pro-choice Republican women candidates at all levels of government."  The Republicans for Choice's "mission is to recruit and mobilize pro-choice Republicans, change the [Republican] Party Platform to reflect the majority pro-choice position and to help recruit and fund pro-choice candidates."  The Log Cabin Republicans consist of homosexual Republicans and "advocate equal rights for...gays and lesbians."

The national pro-abortion, anti-family RLC organization endorsed Maine Republican Charlie Summers for Congress within ten days after the June 10th Primary Election.  Summers has stated several times during his campaign that he unequivocally supports abortion without exception and in all circumstances.  A Summers campaign commercial is available on the RLC's website, along with their endorsement.  Summers's Democrat opponent, Chellie Pingree, is pro-abortion as well, having earned the endorsement of the pro-abortion group EMILY's List in 2007.

The Maine Republican Party's own platform details decidedly pro-life and pro-family planks, however.  The Platform states: "[The Maine Republican Party] believe[s] the family is the foundation of a stable society.  We believe in the sanctity of life; We define marriage as the union of one man and one woman."  

The RLC of Maine political action committee (PAC) reported a $500 donation by Casper W. Weinberger, Jr. of Mount Desert (the son of the former Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan), and a $200 donation by Charlene Perkins Strang of Topsham (mother of the RLC of Maine's co-chair and current State Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess).

State Sen. Mills and Former NJ Gov. Whitman

Additionally, the RLC of Maine is hosting a fundraiser at the Point Lookout club in Northport on August 6, 2008 at 1:00pm, "to benefit Maine Republican legislative candidates," according to their invitation.  Tickets for the event range from $75 to $500.  Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman is scheduled as the "special guest" for the fundraiser.  A private reception with Whitman is scheduled for 12:30pm for those who give the pro-abortion, anti-family group $500 or more.

RLC of Maine endorsed Republican Congressional candidate Summers will attend two separate fundraisers with the pro-abortion, anti-family Whitman, one that same evening in Bath and the other on the following morning in Portland.

Among the RLC of Maine supporting current Republican state legislators are State Senator Peter Mills, State Senator Christine Savage of Union, and Representatives Christopher W. Rector of Thomaston, Jayne Crosby Giles of Belfast, Robert P. Walker of Lincolnville, Ken Lindell of Frankfort, and Meredith Strang Burgess.

Hosts for the pro-abortion, anti-family Republican group's fundraiser include Allen and Sally Fernald of Rockport, Sara K. Montgomery of Lincolnville, Rusty and Becky Brace of Rockport, Charlene Perkins Strang of Topsham, Cynthia (Cindy) Faulkner of Portland, and John Bradford of Brooklin.  Faulkner is also listed as the RLC of Maine's PAC Treasurer, according to the Maine Ethic's Commission Registration.  Bradford is a former Republican legislator from Massachusetts.

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