Politicians challenged to disavowtactics of extremist Pro-Life Wisconsin

I've written a couple of times about Pro-Life Wisconsin's outrageous and vile attacks on the family and caregivers of a Monona Marine who suffered critical brain injuries in Iraq, and who was allowed to die, as he had expressly requested in a living will. Previous post.

That extremist group also opposes abortion without exception -- even in cases of rape, incest, or to save a pregnant woman's life -- and has even entered the legislative wars against birth control.

The group makes poliltical endorsements. Twenty five members of the legislature were endorsed by Pro-Life Wisconsin in 2004. Many will be looking for their support in 2006.

Which brings us to Mark Green and Scott Walker, the two Republican candidates for governor who describe themselves as "pro-life."

A Capital Times editorial challenges Green and Walker to speak up:

Let's be clear: Peggy Hamill and the rest of the Pro-Life Wisconsin crew have no conscience, no honor and no sense of responsibility. No reasonable observer could ever expect them to do the right thing for the Simon family or anyone else in Wisconsin who is suffering or in need of sympathy.

But a serious question remains with regard to the controversy caused by the Pro-Life Wisconsin press release and the refusal of the group's leadership to apologize for calling "murderers" those who honor the wishes of an incapacitated Wisconsinite: Do politicians who seek the support of the so-called "right-to-life" movement share those attitudes?

Two candidates for governor in 2006 identify themselves as "pro-life" politicians: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and U.S. Rep. Mark Green, a Green Bay area Republican. The two Republican gubernatorial candidates have been notably silent regarding the controversy.

It is time for Walker and Green to speak up. If they agree that those who honored the wishes of a permanently incapacitated Marine are "murderers," then they should say so. If they disagree, they should have the courage to condemn Pro-Life Wisconsin's over-the-top extremism.

While we're at it, let's make the same request of those who accepted the group's endorsement last year:

State Senators
Glenn Grothman R-West Bend
Mary Lazich R-New Berlin

State Representatives
Leah Vukmir R-Wauwatosa
Mark Honadel R-South Milwaukee
Bob Ziegelbauer D-Manitowoc
Steve Kestell R-Elkart Lake
Thomas Lothian R-Williams Bay
Joel Kleefisch R-Oconomowoc
Jeff Fitzgerald R-Horicon
Joan Ballweg R-Markesan
J.A. Hines R-Oxford
Debi Towns R-Janesville
Gabe Loeffelholz R-Platteville
Sheryl Albers R-Reedsburg
Carol Owens R-Oshkosh
Dan LeMahieu R-Oostburg
Mark Gottlieb R-Port Washington
Samantha Kerkman R-Burlington
Jeff Wood R-Chippewa Falls
Scott Suder R-Abbotsford
Mark Gundrum R-New Berlin
Jerry Petrowski R-Marathon
Judy Krawczyk R-Green Bay
Karl Van Roy R-Green Bay
Ann Nischke R-Waukesha