Many pro-lifers in Virginia’s First, Fourth and Fifth Congressional Districts were surprised in July to receive a postcard questioning whether their Representatives would vote to uphold the “sanctity of life” on a bill relating to importation of drugs. The mailing implied that a vote for the bill would somehow allow the abortion drug RU-486 to become more widely available.

It turns out that the mailing was part of a campaign by a group called the Traditional Values Coalition that targeted a number of pro-life Congressmen across the country, including Virginia Representatives Jo Ann Davis, Randy Forbes and Virgil Goode. However, the premise of the mailing is highly questionable. Regarding the drug importation bill, NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson told VSHL that “we’ve looked at it and we are not convinced that it will really increase access to RU-486.” Columnist Ramesh Ponnuru reported extensively on this mailing in National Review Online, pointing out that the bill would not override other drug regulations. He explained that a person would still need a prescription to get the drugs and restrictions on the administration of RU-486 would remain in effect.

Representatives Jo Ann Davis, Randy Forbes and Virgil Goode have solid, consistent pro-life voting records. There is no reason to question their commitment to the sanctity of life.

We do not know what mailing list was used to identify the pro-lifers who received this mailing. Rest assured that it did not come from VSHL.

Published in VSHL Lifesaver, August, 2003