AFA of Indiana does not endorse candidates, but we do comment, when necessary, on newsworthy political items or stories. I have been surprised at the intensity and negativity of the Republican primary for the US Senate race.  For this reason, I had expected some sort of response to Senator Richard Lugar’s often-repeated claim to have “a 100% pro-life voting record with National Right to Life.”  (Lugar’s campaign has mentioned this in response to Indiana Right to Life’s endorsement of Richard Mourdock.)

When it comes to actual abortion legislation Senator Lugar is pro-life.  It is also true that in the last four years the Senator has had a 100% voting record with NRTL. One would expect, if he wins the primary in May, that Sen. Lugar might get an endorsement from National Right to Life over his likely Democratic opponent because of Congressman Joe Donnelly’s support of Obamacare, though the Congressmen often scores in the mid 70% range with NRTL. 

However, over the years Senator Lugar’s voting score with National Right to Life has actually dipped as low as 33%.   Many might say that’s not truly a 100% voting record with NRTL.

The Senator has voted contrary to National Right to Life in support of embryonic stem cell research funding (H.R. 810 – 2006) (S.R. 5 - 2007), abortion dependent fetal tissue research (1997).  NRTL also scored votes on McCain-Feingold (2001) and Shays-Meehan (2002) campaign finance bills, which NRTL opposed .  (NRTL did not score Senate votes on judicial nominees who had records and views on life issues.)