Hundreds of pro-life voters have called me on my cell phone, emailed me, and have even sent me letters and postcards.  Their question has been, “Are you pro-life or not?”

This has deeply concerned me because I am pro-life.  In fact, I am a minster, and before stepping down from the pastorate in August, I had even delivered a sermon on the reasons why abortion was morally and spiritually wrong.  I am a father of two precious boys, and I believe that life begins at conception.  I believe that abortion is the killing if innocent life.  Apparently the good folks at Michigan Right-to-Life don’t care about my views or convictions, and instead of endorsing me for Congress, they have decided to endorse no candidate.

Needless to say, I think those who made this decision need to have their heads, and hearts, checked.  I say that with all the respect in the world.  But I’m not one of those politicians who is going to play nice just to save face.  This decision is reckless and may even cost candidates such as myself to lose votes at the polls.

By not endorsing my candidacy, they are in effect saying that a vote for Sander Levin is equal to a vote for myself.  But last time I checked, Sander Levin supported abortion rights.  Are you confused?  So am I.

The Right to Life website states that a candidate must meet the following requirements to be endorsed by their organization:

1. The candidate must be pro-life.
2. If an incumbent previously received a RTL endorsement, they shall be granted that endorsement again.
3. Where there is an open seat, candidates shall be interviewed by the endorsing committee.
4. Local PACs will make recommendations as they have no local authority to endorse.
5. RTL PAC can make an endorsement to any candidate from any party as it deems appropriate.
6. The candidate must be electable due to limited resources.
7. In races where there are no previous endorsements, and all candidates meet the criteria of RTL PAC, then no endorsement will be made except that the candidates meet all criteria for endorsement.

You can see the RTL PAC requirements by clicking here.

The problem here is that is appears RTL only desires to help candidates that are in “safe” districts or have the financial means to buy an election.  This means that in districts, such as the 12th, where more than 65% of registered voters are democrat, candidates such as myself will never receive an endorsement from RTL, even though I am adamantly pro-life, and a paying member of RTL Warren-Centerline.

The biggest issue I have is that I never even asked for the help of RTL volunteers.  However, by leaving the congressional endorsement blank, they have essentially declared that I am not pro-life, and that that I am not electable.  And how exactly would it have been a depletion of RTL resources by printing my name there?  Would it have been that much extra ink that it would have broken their bank?

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

My suggestion is that folks in the 12th District stop making contributions to Michigan Right to Life during election years, and instead make contributions to those candidates who fulfill the most important requirement: They are pro-life.  Many folks have already made this pledge, and I encourage you to do the same.  Tell RTL that you appreciate what they do (and I do) and then tell them that you’ll handle the endorsement portion of their mandate since they don’t do a very good job at it themselves.

Feel free to call RTL and ask them why I wasn’t endorsed.  Their number is 586-774-6050.

My name is Bert Copple.  I am pro-life.  And I am asking for your endorsement this year on November 4th.

www.bertcopple.com