HULL OF A RIDE
Two years ago, when Arizona Republican senator John McCain was considering running for president, an adviser warned him that he would be attacked by conservative groups even if he were sound on their issues. Pro-life groups would treat him worse than they would a pro-abortionist, because McCain's campaign-finance proposals threaten them as an organization.

It was a prescient warning, judging from the National Right to Life Committee's refusal to take yes for an answer from McCain. Yesterday he said, "I am pro-life. I have a moral belief that life begins at inception. I believe that we should work to repeal any law or any provision concerning abortion in my view." Then he added: "I'm for the repeal of Roe v. Wade." The NRLC says that's not good enough because McCain hasn't said when or how he would overturn Roe. We hope they're on the phone to Austin asking the same question.

The most plausible reading of McCain's comments last weekend is that he garbled his position. But what if he did in fact consciously try to move away from his pro-life record, realized he'd miscalculated, and retreated? Either way, one would think that a pro-life group would welcome the final result. Instead, the NRLC has helped the media stick to its favorite script: Leading Republicans are attempting to wriggle out of their unpopular pro-life commitments.

If pro-lifers need to pick on an Arizona Republican, they could take a look at Gov. Jane Hull. A county judge recently ordered state officials to take a 14-year-old girl who is 23 weeks pregnant out of the state so she can get an abortion that is currently banned in Arizona. Hull, who was selected on Thursday to give the GOP radio address this Saturday, has chosen not to challenge the judge's ruling. "We can draw lines in the sand, but are we going to draw lines in that child's life?" she asked--referring to the pregnant child, rather than the unborn one.

Arizona pro-lifers have been active in this battle, but many of their national allies have remained silent. They're not even questioning the Republican Governors Association for rewarding Hull this week with national airtime. Instead they lambaste McCain, and let a child's life hang in the balance.