The Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee announced this week that they have adopted a resolution denying endorsements to all Democrat candidates for office.  The move is an expansion on an existing policy to refuse endorsements to Democrats running for the Indiana House of Representatives.

“Our leadership anguished over this decision,” notes IRTL-PAC chairman Mike Fichter. “Had Democrats like Brad Ellsworth held firm in opposing federal funding for abortion in the health care bill, we likely would have rewarded such action with a bipartisan endorsement policy. Ellsworth’s collapse under pressure from the White House and Speaker Pelosi, as well as the collapse of his colleagues Joe Donnelly and Baron Hill, leaves us with no alternative. Leadership matters, and the reality is that Democratic leaders are advancing an abortion agenda at an alarming rate that will only be checked by a Republican majority.” — CNW

For years, moderate Democrat candidates for the state legislature have been able to hang on in conservative districts because they have stuck to the pro-life talking points, using their Indiana Right to Life endorsement as a shield against GOP efforts to take back the majority.  Even though IRL was offering meaningful support to Democrats who needed it, their agenda was routinely flushed by House Democrat leadership year in and year out.  By 2008, IRL was tired of Democrats sandbagging their priorities and refused to endorse Democrat candidates for the Indiana House.

After being burned by “moderate” Democrat Congressmen who caved in to their party leadership during the recent debate over abortion funding in health care reform legislation, IRL has apparently decided that they have had just about enough of Democrats in Congress talking one way in the district and voting the other way in Washington.  The move shows political courage and I wish more organizations that exist to advocate for their core beliefs would follow IRL’s lead.