Sen. Bob Smith Leaves GOP

NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHT TO LIFE  
Press Release     For Immediate Release: July 19, 1999 
     Contact:     Phil Morrison, President  
                  Ellen Kolb, Legis.Director 
                  Mike Gagnon, Chairman 
                  e-mail:  life@nhrtl.org

NH Right to Life Committee Supports Bob Smith

The Board of New Hampshire Right to Life issued the following statement today regarding NH Senior Senator Bob Smith.

Senator Smith has his priorities straight. Principles are more important than the vehicles for implementing them. When the vehicle no longer takes you where you want to go, it's time to get out.

New Hampshire Right to Life, whose membership cuts across party lines, salutes Sen. Smith for his decision to leave the Republican Party, with full understanding of the possible implications for his political future. The Senate leadership's treatment from now on of Smith's bill, S.907, the Right to Life Act of 1999, will be most telling. It remains to be seen if Republican senators will again ignore their party's pro-life plank for the sake of spiting one former Republican.

We have no doubt that whatever Sen. Smith's plans, he will be working to defend the right to life. He is a public servant, not a party servant. The spiteful attacks on him in recent days by GOP leaders on the state and national levels are an affront to all voters who look to principles, not party labels, in choosing a candidate.

New Hampshire Right to Life thanks Senator Smith for his pro-life work and wishes him well as he continues his Senate service.