ARTICLES

Pro-Lifers Outside G.O.P. Convention

BEHIND THE SCENES, OFF THE SCREENS

By Lesley Payne

Before the G.O.P. convention (August 12-16), it looked as though the pro-choice faction of the Republican party had a chance of removing the party's pro-life plank. The group was aided by Governor Pete Wilson, who had considerable influence over organization of the convention. But shortly after the convention began, the tide appeared to turn, and by the middle of the week, Wilson was touted by pundits as one of the meeting's big "losers."

Wilson's fall may be partly due to one Southern California pro-lifer who reviewed the 165 California delegates and 165 alternates, all picked by Wilson. The pro-lifer discovered that nearly all the Dole delegates were Wilson campaign donors or pro-abortion activists; there were few Dole donors. Forty-three of the delegates were California state employees; only 91 were dues-paying Republican Party members. The pro-lifer got this information to Bob Dole. "They found out that Wilson had brought all his own people and it was clear he came to disrupt the convention. They asked him to not cause trouble, but he decided to play the abortion fanatic. The day Dole released his economic plan, Wilson, [Massachusetts governor William] Weld, and [New Jersey governor Christine] Whitman held their press conference, complaining about being 'silenced.' The Dole people were mad at him about that. But they had to treat him tenderly."

One liberal observer who agreed with the negative assessment of Wilson was Al Hunt of CNN's Capital Gang political analysis show. His room at the Horton Grand Hotel was next door to the Republican National Coalition for Life's suite. RNC/Life volunteer Betty Crucitt noted that during the convention Hunt would peek into their open door when passing the room. On one occasion Crucitt called Hunt in, complimenting him on his attack on Wilson, which she had seen on the Capital Gang the night before. To show her appreciation she gave him a cookie.

Several evenings later RNC/Life worker Joan Patton called Crucitt at home, telling her that, on the day's Capital Gang, Hunt recounted how "Phyllis Schlafly" had given him "a box of cookies" because she liked what he said about Wilson.

One of the major themes in the media was the "danger" to San Diego abortion clinics and pro-abortion activists by groups like Operation Rescue. Lisa Petrillo, in the August 18 Union-Tribune, reported Womancare's expenditure of $36,000 on security from "violent" pro-lifers. The article painted a picture of FBI "alerts," sightings of "clinic bombers," and escorts "ready to protect clinic's clients." Petrillo reported, "Operation Rescue's troops never crossed the fortified battle line that was Womancare," as though they were kept at bay by the guards and security devices, not mentioning the fact that the group never came near the clinic.

"We flatly ignored Womancare for several reasons," said Troy Newman, a San Diego Operation Rescue activist. "One was they spent $35,000 on security measures, which means they're probably going to go under. Also, their own paranoia was keeping women away. They had 40 to 50 'deathscorts' in front of their mill, with nets draped in front of the place. We had a news report of a woman who went in there, who had already missed one abortion appointment at Family Planning Associates because we rescued there Saturday. At Womancare they had to get her through their little locked-door solenoid system. They had her filling out all these forms because they're so afraid somebody from OR would infiltrate. She got sick of filling out the forms. She said, 'Hey, just give me the abortion.' They got so paranoid they threw her out, because they were sure she was a plant. She decided to keep her baby. She said, 'Somebody up there doesn't want this abortion to happen.'"

Connie Youngkin, another local pro-life leader, did go near Womancare, circling the building once a day while driving around San Diego in her son's truck, 5x4-foot aborted-baby pictures mounted on the sides. Youngkin would wave to the escorts as they contacted each other by walkie-talkie and took pictures of her.

On Wednesday, August 14, during her drive around Womancare, Connie noted an empty parking place on Sixth Avenue, across from the abortion clinic parking lot. "It was just begging me to park in it. They panicked, because everyone that drives in or out of their lot would see the pictures right there."

Youngkin says that when she was trying to park in the space, one of the abortion workers stood in the space, attempting to block her. "I said, 'You know, I could just stay here all day until a policeman comes and I report you blocking me parking my car, or you could leave.' The worker left. I got out and started reading a book on the grass. Eventually about five police cars come and I'm just sitting there reading on the lawn at Balboa Park under a tree."

The police attempted to get Youngkin to leave, claiming the clinic had an injunction against her and that she was a member of Operation Rescue. Youngkin stated that she was familiar with Womancare's injunction. "The sergeant said I have to stay at least 100 yards away. I know that's not what the injunction says. I said, 'Let me see a copy of the injunction.' (He had it in his hand). He wouldn't show me. He lied. He threatened to tow my truck away if I didn't move it. I got his name [Skip Malhorn]. He claims he's a supervisor at the Central Division. I agreed to leave (I had already been there an hour and a half), but I told him I would file a complaint with the department."

Youngkin's name appeared in U-T reporter Gerry Braun's August 12 column about the pro-abrortion flotilla which was supposed to meet Bob Dole's incoming boat. Of the expected 96 vessels, only 25 boats and a couple kayaks showed up. Braun quoted Youngkin: "If you check with the registrar of voters, you'll see that Leslie Griesbaum is a longtime Democrat...That is what dampened enthusiasm in the Pro-Choice Republican Parade of Sails, that a Democrat was heading it."

Youngkin notes that in the spring the North County Times printed a puff piece about Griesbaum converting to Republican, but checks with the registrar of voters revealed that she never re-registered. After phone calls to Braun and meticulous documentation of Griesbaum's registration status, Youngkin convinced Braun to include the information in his column.

Operation Rescue held rallies from August 12 through 16, with speakers including Alan Keyes, Norma McCorvey (the born-again "Roe" from Roe vs. Wade), and Randall Terry. One Catholic man who recently moved from Texas to San Diego noted the difference between Operation Rescue meetings in the two states. He noted at OR functions he had attended, in Texas, there would be numerous priests, nuns, and people holding rosaries. At the San Diego rally he saw one priest (from another state) and one nun. "I've never seen an Operation Rescue rally so completely Protestant," he said.

OR held three rescues during the convention. According to Troy Newman, there were five babies confirmed as saved. At the first rescue, Saturday, August 10, 26 people were arrested at Family Planning Associates in La Mesa. Because of the rescue, the clinic rescheduled all appointments for Tuesday, August 13. Over 100 rescuers returned Tuesday; the protesters left without being arrested once the abortions had been rescheduled again. The third rescue was held Thursday, August 15 at abortionist Robert Santella's College Avenue office; there were no arrests. Newman notes that this is the first time Santella's office has been picketed.

OR also showed up at the Christian Coalition rally at Spreckels Organ Pavilion at Balboa Park. "We brought out signs. They lined the back of the organ pavilion so all speakers could remember what they stand for. So when Ralph Reed compromises, he has to look into the face of a dead baby and tell that baby why he's compromising."

Thursday, August 15, Operation Rescue also held a memorial service for Baby Sarah, a pre-born child (Newman states she was no more than 20 weeks gestation at the time of her death by saline abortion; she fits into the palm of his hand) who was discovered at a Chicago abortion clinic, embalmed, and sent to Newman. The service was held in Children's Park, across from the convention center.

"I think we won the hearts of the San Diego Police Department that day," said Newman. "We had an open-casket ceremony to honor this baby girl. The police surrounded us because there were raving pro-aborts all around us. They were chanting and singing and had their signs. We had about 250 mourners. Everyone had a carnation. They walked by and paid their respects to Sarah, and laid a carnation at the foot of her casket. There were about 200 weeping people in Children's Park that day. You could see the effects on the police officers' faces."