By AlaskaWatchman.com

As you know, both pro-life and pro-abortion voters are extremely invested in the life issue, and in the outcome of Alaska’s election in less than a month.

That makes it more important than ever to address this sensitive issue with truth and compassion, communicating your position respectfully and clearly to voters on all sides of this issue.

Every candidate should remember that pro-life Alaskans make up a large portion of the electorate in every district. They want to see and hear your clear leadership on the life issue. Many of them will be dismayed if you ignore the abortion issue rather than clearly and respectfully communicating your position. Some may even choose to stay home in if you are silent on the most pressing human rights issue of our time.

Our opponents support abortion until the moment of birth with no limitations – that is an extreme position not shared by most Alaskans and it must be countered with the truth.

Remember, most Alaskans do NOT support our Alaska Supreme Court’s interpretation of our Constitution permitting abortion any time for any reason up to the moment of birth. Or that taxpayers have to pay for elective abortions. Very few Alaskans want abortion to be legal without any limitations. And yet, almost no pro-abortion candidates in Alaska support any limitations on abortion, making theirs the real extreme position.

That’s why it’s worth asking your pro-abortion opponents, and voters inclined to support them, why they don’t support limitations on abortion, as most Alaskans do. Would they not agree that it would be better to support women in unplanned pregnancies with material and financial support, childcare, and the encouragement they need to confidently raise their children or give them a chance at life with a loving adoptive family, rather than the non-solution of abortion, which leaves women wounded and uncared for?

Pro-life candidates have no need to ignore this issue or be defensive. We show, by our actions, that we care both for preborn children and women in unexpected pregnancies. We have truth and compassion on our side, and we have the ability to clearly communicate on this issue, encouraging voters who are already pro-life, winning undecided voters to our cause, and earning at least the respect of our opponents.

Thus, we can approach Alaska voters with a message on abortion, which most of them already agree with — and a message that will win in November.

Here are three truthful, appealing, and constructive ways to communicate on this issue.

— Abortion isn’t a real solution for women – Alaskan women deserve better.

— The Alaska Supreme Court has interpreted the state constitution to provide a right to abortion, but abortion is not one of the unalienable rights, like free speech or freedom of religion and conscience, granted to Alaskans by the actual text of the Constitution itself.

— Our opponents support abortion until the moment of birth with no limitations – that is an extreme position not shared by most Alaskans and it must be countered with the truth.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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Alaska’s prolife candidates must publicly speak out on abortion

Jim Minnery
A lifelong Alaskan, Jim Minnery has served as the executive director of Alaska Family Council since its inception in 2006.