GRTL Clears up Collins-Zoller Endorsement Battle

For the past several weeks, Ninth District Candidates Rep Doug Collins and Martha Zoller have fought intensely for the pro-life vote. In this time, the two candidates sought to justify their positions on this issue. Here, the jewel of justification is the Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) Endorsement. GRTL, a non-profit organization, is one of the most solidly pro-life organizations in the state. As such, its endorsement is the indelible mark of a genuinely pro-life candidate, one of the most significant issues of the upcoming congressional election in July.

On April 27th, the Collins campaign issued an e-newsletter with a video-clip of Mrs. Zoller from last year’s CPAC. In the clip, Zoller says she’s a different kind of pro-life candidate. Later in the video, she explains,

“I don’t think abortion should be illegal. But, I think the way we change people’s minds on life issues is not with legislation.”

Shortly after the newsletter, Zoller’s campaign manager Ryan Mahoney issued a response, saying the clip was taken out of context.

“If they had shown the full statement,”

Mahoney explained,

“viewers would have understood Martha’s point that the real victory for the pro-life movement comes in convincing the hearts and minds of people not just in legislation. This view is shared by many pro life organizations such as Focus on the Family.”

Also, in retaliation, the Zoller camp said GRTL’s endorsement of Collins was suspended due to Collins

“killing pro-life legislation in the House Committee.”

During a Gilmer County GOP meeting this month, Collins explained his endorsement was not suspended, but that he simply moved his name from one bill to another.

In a series of recent statements, GRTL justified its endorsement of the two candidates. GRTL PAC Director Melanie Crozier issued a statement regarding the organization’s endorsement of Collins as a pro-life candidate.

“The GRTL PAC made the decision to delay all endorsements of current legislators,”

she wrote,

“until it was ensured that pro-life legislation was going to be advanced during the 2012 legislative session. While Doug’s endorsement was delayed, GRTL PAC recognizes his pro-life leadership during his time in the GA House and appreciates his work on HB 954.”

Additionally, GRTL issued a further explanation, stating,

“Rep. Collins, along with four other members of House Leadership, did sponsor a bill that GRTL was lobbying against. The House leadership explained to GRTL that it would be easier to fix the ‘bad’ bill than to start over with a new pro-life bill. GRTL leadership pressed the issue and asked for a new bill. It was understood that no one would receive an endorsement from GRTL if their name was still on the compromised legislation. Doug, as well as the majority of the leadership, removed their names and began supporting HB 954. All five members of House Leadership, as well as other incumbents, were told that no GRTL endorsements would be given until solid pro-life legislation was moving in the House.”

Crozier, also issued a statement justifying Zoller’s endorsement.

“Martha met with GRTL officials last year, after CPAC,” she explained, “At this meeting we were not expecting to be able to endorse her. However, after a 2 hour long meeting we were certain that Martha had definitely had a ‘pro-life conversion.’ We have since that time had multiple conversations with Martha and have no reason to believe that she isn’t with us 100% on our issues and on the Personhood strategy that we adhere to as an organization.”