Pat Martin, known as a passionate advocate for the rights of the unborn, overstayed his welcome at the Mat-Su legislative town hall meeting on Saturday, and finally was asked to leave the meeting, after he would not yield the microphone.
Martin was objecting to a bill presented by Sen. Shelley Hughes, who is a supporter of the right to life cause. Her bill is a constitutional amendment to end abortion.
But Martin was laying a trap, and he accused Hughes of actually trying to regulate abortion, rather than eliminate it.
Hughes was having none of it. She defended SJR 4, which says that state funding for abortion and abortion itself is not the purpose of the privacy clause of the Constitution. That privacy clause has been used by Alaska courts time and again to stop lawmakers and the public itself from putting limits on abortion.
SJR 4 would require passage by the voters.
“It grieves my heart, every baby that is aborted. I want to save every baby. I want abortion to not exist,” Hughes said. “I am so disappointed with Mr. Martin.”
She said, “Alaska Right to Life should not be linking arms with Planned Parenthood to stop a good constitutional amendment. It is what we need because the judges have knocked everything down that we have tried to do.”
Hughes said, “If he wants to stop this, then he is going to allow more babies to die. What he is doing is destructive. It is destructive. I’m in touch with the board of Alaska Right to Life because I don’t think they are all aware of the message you have been passing out, Mr. Martin,” Sen. Hughes said. “Linking arms with Planned Parenthood is shameful.”
“Saying that is deceitful and double shameful,” Martin responded, as the crowd grew restless. Shower allowed Martin a short rebuttal.
Martin had some supporters in the crowd, which was gathered at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. But he also was being shouted down by others who said he had taken too much time. People were shouting, “Stop the filibuster!” and booing Martin.
Each speaker was supposed to be limited three minutes, and Martin had dominated the meeting for over 10 minutes.
Finally, because he would not step away, and continued to be combative with the lawmakers, Sen. Mike Shower forcefully asked Martin to leave. Martin went into the hallway and continued to talk to anyone who would listen to his views on SJR 4.
Over 100 people attended the town hall, and most of them were passionate about topics but not angry or rude to the lawmakers. The entire Mat-Su delegation attended: Sens. David Wilson, Shower, and Hughes, and Reps. Cathy Tilton (minority leader), DeLena Johnson, David Eastman, Kevin McCabe, and Chris Kurka, (who is the past executive director of Alaska Right to Life). Rep. George Rauscher attended by phone.
Aloha.
No good is done for the cause by petty bickering.
Rep George was not there and not missed
What is Pat Martin’s issue against the amendment? I am understanding that amending language in our constitution would allow future bills giving more control over abortion and making it more difficult. Right now our hands are tied. The bill would change that. A step in right direction.
Pat round-filed my draft US Constitutional RTLife Amendment several years ago. I’m convinced that Pat won’t accept anything he didn’t create or short of that isn’t in charge of. He has a few good ideas, but it’s time for new leadership at AKRTL. There’s more to this story – why did Pat object? But uncivil discourse is inexcusable, more so from those who are leaders, and even more so from Christians.
Too bad we don’t have a video of Mr. Martin’s words exchanged between Sen. Hughes and Martins maybe a column written in his own words.
Abortion is a gruesome procedure, probably a bit longer then the time spent enduring Martin.
Fetus/human is extremely sensitive to pain. Being torn apart and vacuumed is rather barbaric. A thoughtful passionate debate is warranted.
Very poor reflection on Ak Right to Life by their leader. I agree that it’s long past time for new leadership!!
One of the most catastrophic failings of right to life is their inability to win incrementally.
The left wins in small steps. The right to life insist on everything or nothing. Which is why they usually accomplish nothing.
Let the Fed’s pay for abortion. They are the largest customer for fetal tissue. For things like vaccines.
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