Wyoming GOP Women’s Organization President Can’t Say Murder is Wrong
President of the Natrona County Republican Women organization could not say murder is wrong
Jaw dropping.
I guess that’s the best way to describe comments made by Elaine Lafferty, president of the Natrona County Republican Women organization in Wyoming.
Lafferty literally could not say murder is wrong.
It was part of a back-and-forth with freshman lawmaker, State Rep. Jeanette Ward (R-WY57). Ward a video of her interaction with Lafferty in an April 18 Facebook post.
The discussion was predicated on Ward’s pro-life stance, a stance Lafferty says hurts the Republican Party. Lafferty makes several makes several absurd comments on the issue.
I’ll address those absurdities in a follow-up, but I want to just single out one specific exchange. The unwillingness to condemn murder wasn’t whether or not abortion is murder. It was literally whether or not murder is wrong.
That specifically occurred later in the exchange. Ward asked: “Couldn’t we agree that murder is wrong?” Lafferty responds: “I don’t know.”
Here’s a transcript of the exchange:
Lafferty: “I truly, truly believe in the separation of church and state. It was put there for a reason. And I think the Republican Party has a really ugly, steep hill to try to get over if we keep forcing so many women out because of the abortion issue. I just want your opinion on that because I think that’s why we lost so many primaries was because of the abortion issue. I mean, I think that once again there is a separation there between church and state. And right now, the church is trying to force their opinion and views on abortion into the state and the government, and somehow the Republican Party and we the people need to figure out a way where you can be ok with it but you can’t just put this hard line down because we will lose. Biden will win again if we keep doing that. He just will. So, what is your opinion on that? How are we going to find a middle ground because it can’t be 100%? You’ll never win.”
Ward: “Well, I think that Republicans ought to follow the Republican Party platform on this issue, number one. Number two, the separation of church and state is not in the Constitution. It was meant to keep the state out of the church, not the church out of the state. And having said that, many religions hold that murder is wrong. I think, perhaps, what we disagree on is whether abortion is murder or not. So, surely, we can agree that it’s not ok to murder a person. So, I think where we disagree is what is a person.”
Lafferty: “I’m just stating that, the Republican Party is going to continue to lose if they continue down that path. I’m sorry, I mean I was raised in a very Christian home. But today’s young girls, today’s women, today’s men are not. They’re just not. And I know a lot of women who have said that they will not vote Republican as long as we hang on to that platform of, cut and dry, none. They’re just not going to. We’re going to have to find some type of a, just like they’re trying to get rid of the morning after pill. That’s ridiculous.”
Ward: “Well, that’s what SF 109 does. We passed a law that prevents abortifacients.”
Lafferty: “And that’s ridiculous.”
Ward: “I’m sorry that you feel that way, but I think we can agree that there are many religions that think that murder is wrong.”
Lafferty: “But religion should not come into our government. You’re there to govern me, not to control my beliefs. My beliefs are my beliefs. My religious beliefs are my religious beliefs. The government should not be able to tell me what my religious beliefs should be. And I think that’s where you guys cross the line.”
Ward: “Couldn’t we agree that murder is wrong? Even secularist agree that murder is wrong.”
Lafferty: “I don’t know. There’s a lot of states that you can, you know, have a terminal illness and choose to end your own life. Is that not murder by doctor?”
Ward: “Well, I profoundly disagree with that as well. We need to respect life at both ends, from birth to natural death.”
Lafferty: “I think maybe I’m voicing the wrong opinion to the women in this room but that’s just my opinion. Thank you.”
Side note, the legislation Ward referred to was Senate File 109 which prohibits chemical abortions through abortifacients. That bill was passed by the Wyoming House by a 56-5-1 vote and the Senate by a 26-4-1 vote. Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed it on March 17.
As I stated above, I’ll write a follow-up on the abortion issue itself. But I wanted to single out this specific point.
Let it sink in. A “leader” of a political organization is unwilling or unable to unequivocally say murder is wrong. Seriously, think about that.
On the abortion issue itself, remember that the word “fetus” means “unborn child” from its Latin meaning. A child is a human life. Humans are created in the image of God. Abortion is the taking of human life. Abortion is murder.
But I guess murder may be alright in Lafferty’s twisted worldview.