Big tent

A number of Republicans gathered at the RNC meeting in Palm Springs voiced the opinion that the debate over defunding partial-birth abortion had left scars on the party. But a number of others I spoke felt that the party has come together and emerged united after the fractious debate.

I was a first-hand witness to the coming together of two vigorous RNC voices on opposite sides of the defunding issue. On January 16, California GOP Vice Chairman John McGraw passionately advocated the defunding measure in both the Resolutions Committee and the full committee debate. Speaking just before McGraw at the general session was Nebraska GOP National Committeeman Duane Acklie, who announced that he had considered the issue long and hard "and only made up my mind today" to vote against the resolution denying funds to Republicans who oppose a ban on partial-birth abortion.

But on the evening following the debate, there were McGraw-a graduate of Creighton (Neb.) University-and Acklie chatting amiably with a small group of people invited to some after-hours socializing at the Rancho Mirage estate of Dick and Dianne Westin, themselves products of the Cornhusker State. Also enjoying each others company were Joan McGraw, the Californian's mother, and Duane's wife Phyllis. The evening dosed with Omaha Mayor Hal Daub's bringing down the house with his rendition of "A Nebraska Winter" a ditty written by host Westin.

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Jan 30, 1998
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