Stand on abortion could cost Harper votes-evangelical leader

[Connie Fournier]

Stand on abortion could cost Harper votes, evangelical leader warns

By Jane Taber
Globe and Mail Update
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... le1997824/

Charles McVety suggests Tory Leader's refusal to reopen debate will dissuade social conservatives from contributing to campaign

Stephen Harper's refusal to reopen the abortion debate risks suppressing the Conservative vote, a leading voice of Canadian social conservatism says.

"There is just no energy out there," Charles McVety, the evangelic leader and Christian activist, said in an interview. "Frankly, my fear for Stephen Harper is that being so overt standing against the pro-lifers, he risks not motivating Conservative voters."

Mr. McVety noted the Conservatives lost 160,000 votes between the 2006 and 2008 elections. He blames Mr. Harper's decision just before the 2008 campaign to block Conservative MP Ken Epps's private member's bill that would have made it a separate offence for killing a fetus when a pregnant woman was murdered.

"He lost massive numbers of votes," Mr. McVety said. "And I think, again, at the outset of this campaign - again saying he is not going to touch the abortion issue - I think that does not motivate Conservatives to get out and knock on doors and make phone calls and put signs up and hustle."

Historically, if voter turn-out is low "the Conservatives suffer - that's an absolute equation."

"Conservatives are conservative by nature so if they don't show up at the polls Harper may lose his bid for a majority," the president of the Canadian Christian College added.

The abortion debate was reignited last week after the Liberals leaked a tape of Brad Trost, the incumbent Conservative candidate in the riding of Saskatoon-Humboldt, bragging that he had contributed to the government's decision to "defund" [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-cutting-funds-to-planned-parenthood-tory-mp-says/article1993971] the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

The Harper team went into damage-control mode, denying that any funding decision had been made. On the campaign trail, Mr. Harper repeated that would not reopen [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/any-and-all-anti-abortion-legislation-will-be-defeated-harper-declares/article1994462] the abortion debate and that any effort to do so would "defeated" under his watch.

But Mr. Trost was partly correct. The IPPF has been in limbo, waiting to hear from CIDA about its 2010 funding proposal for $9-million over 18 months. This indicates to Mr. McVety that funding is not coming, despite what the Tories said last week.

"It hasn't been funded in over a year. I don't think it's coming," he said, noting, too, that the Harper government had announced last year that its G8 maternal-health initiative would not include funding for abortions.

"Internationally the Harper government has made it very clear that they are not funding abortion overseas," Mr. McVety said.

Domestically, though, he said his supporters would like to see the government yank funding for abortions.

"But that's fallen on deaf ears," he said. "This is something we continue to push on because we feel very strongly about it. But there are times when that message is more receptive than others. And frankly, when you're in a constant campaign mode as we've been in for the last seven years the controversial issues are not something that politicians entertain during a campaign."

[Connie Fournier]

I posted this because I find it interesting that Charles McVety is saying this to the Globe and Mail, yet his Canadian Family Action organization is still urging their members to vote for the CPC.

http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/v ... p?t=143216

You can't have it both ways, Mr. McVety.

[Fairwarning]

All our politicians are too busy meeting with the Islamic Circle of North America, Sikh radio shows, a Khalsa Day parade, etc....than to care what a Christian as to say.

[pirapoi]

"There is just no energy out there," Charles McVety, the evangelic leader and Christian activist, said in an interview. "Frankly, my fear for Stephen Harper is that being so overt standing against the pro-lifers, he risks not motivating Conservative voters."

Mr. McVety noted the Conservatives lost 160,000 votes between the 2006 and 2008 elections. He blames Mr. Harper's decision just before the 2008 campaign to block Conservative MP Ken Epps's private member's bill that would have made it a separate offence for killing a fetus when a pregnant woman was murdered.

Actually, they were 167,494 votes lower than in 2006

What Mr. McVety didn't note was that voter turnout was down pretty well right across the board - 982,865 less votes.
BQ was down -173,610, NDP down -74,182, Liberals -846,230, Christian Heritage -1,677

[Canadian Dad]

When you see something in the G&M you must always ask yourself: How is the newspaper trying to hurt conservatives with this story?

There's always an angle.

[Canadian Dad]

Having said that, the CPC's stance on abortion has cost them my vote, which will be going to the CHP (though I hate to admit it).

[free_life2]

This election there is buzz among evangelicals and Harper's stand against pro life politics, last election no one seems to know Harper's was pro abortion. Tell your friends about Harper and the CPC stand for abortion and lets turn this election on it's heels against the tories.

If every riding that has a CPC MP were to lose the evangelical vote they would not have a seat in Canada. Harper wants your vote but has no respect for your values.

[free_life2]

Pastors need to speak from the pulpit informing Christians where Harper stands on abortion.

[BlawBlaw]

Mr. McVety noted the Conservatives lost 160,000 votes between the 2006 and 2008 elections. He blames Mr. Harper's decision just before the 2008 campaign to block Conservative MP Ken Epps's private member's bill that would have made it a separate offence for killing a fetus when a pregnant woman was murdered.

. . .

Historically, if voter turn-out is low "the Conservatives suffer - that's an absolute equation."

As mentioned, voter turnout was lower so everone except maybe the Greens lost votes. But with that lower turnout the Conservatives gained over a point of the popular vote while adding a few seats to the caucus, so I don't know what this guy is on about.

Of course, if Harper took a clear, firm stand against abortion he would probably lose more votes than he would gain.

[AltaInd]

Clearly, FD Evangelicals are a fringe group in the Evangelical movement.

Moreover, social conservatives are interested in a wider variety of public-policy issues than abortion and gay marriage.

<snip>

Along with Rick Hiemstra, director of research and media relations at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, I recently wrote a report on evangelical voting trends in Canada between 1996 and 2008. The paper drew a lot of attention on Parliament Hill because it revealed the fluidity of the evangelical vote as it shifted from predominately Liberal support in 1996 to the Conservative Party in 2008. What many found particularly surprising was the increase in the vote that went to the NDP during that 12-year period. The supposedly theo-coniest of the theo-cons appear to exhibit voting patterns not too different from the rest of Canadians.

[AltaInd]

Clearly, FD Evangelicals are a fringe group in the Evangelical movement.

Moreover, social conservatives are interested in a wider variety of public-policy issues than abortion and gay marriage.

<snip>

Along with Rick Hiemstra, director of research and media relations at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, I recently wrote a report on evangelical voting trends in Canada between 1996 and 2008. The paper drew a lot of attention on Parliament Hill because it revealed the fluidity of the evangelical vote as it shifted from predominately Liberal support in 1996 to the Conservative Party in 2008. What many found particularly surprising was the increase in the vote that went to the NDP during that 12-year period. The supposedly theo-coniest of the theo-cons appear to exhibit voting patterns not too different from the rest of Canadians.

The link.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/201 ... ll-matter/

[Canadian Dad]

I'm no evangelical.

[pirapoi]

In 2008 the CHP ran 59 candidates collecting 26,751 votes - (average 453 per riding.)

This election they are running 46 candidates (22% less.)

[BlawBlaw]

The CHP is actually the number 6 party, behind the Greens.

[free_life2]

Mr. McVety noted the Conservatives lost 160,000 votes between the 2006 and 2008 elections. He blames Mr. Harper's decision just before the 2008 campaign to block Conservative MP Ken Epps's private member's bill that would have made it a separate offence for killing a fetus when a pregnant woman was murdered.

. . .

Historically, if voter turn-out is low "the Conservatives suffer - that's an absolute equation."

As mentioned, voter turnout was lower so everone except maybe the Greens lost votes. But with that lower turnout the Conservatives gained over a point of the popular vote while adding a few seats to the caucus, so I don't know what this guy is on about.

Of course, if Harper took a clear, firm stand against abortion he would probably lose more botes than he would gain.

I disagree. Lets see how he fairs in this election, he won't be getting a majority by picking votes on the left and he keeps losing more and more votes from the right. I guess the CPC can become the LPC of Canada, being just like them and they might actually get a majority someday. Wow won't that be great! But they will never keep the hard rights vote including so-cons votes as they move to the left to pick the imaginary center.