Newsletter - Summer 2000

If you read the above article about the State GOP Convention you already know how I came to be elected as an Alternate Delegate to the National Republican Convention which met in August in Philadelphia.

Ever since NRL Executive Director Julie Schmit-Albin and her four month old baby, Annie, traveled to the 1996 San Diego Convention as Alternate Delegate(s), I had often thought what a privilege it would be to do the same thing in 2000. My purpose was two-fold: first and foremost to be one of those pro-lifers who are present at the convention to send a message to the Party that it needs to retain the strong pro-life plank in the platform. Secondly, to have a presence from grassroots pro-life activists in the Nebraska delegation to the convention.

Annie Albin slept through much of the excitment when she attended the 1996 National GOP Convention in San Diego with her mom.

I arrived in Philadelphia, on Saturday evening, July 29th to get acclimated. On Sunday, I made my way to the Nebraska hotel to pick up my credentials and weeks' itinerary. The Nebraska delegation's welcoming dinner was held at a science museum. Afterwards we joined thousands of others at the boat parade and fireworks open to all convention delegates, alternates and guests.

Since I had found cheaper accomodations elsewhere I was not staying at the designated Nebraska delegation hotel ($220.00 night). This made it a little more difficult getting around the city but after the first day I figured out the transit system of free shuttle buses that ran between hotels and the convention center for delegates and guests. Of course, by the time I arrived in Philly, George W. had already selected Dick Cheney as his running mate. I was very pleased to learn from National Right to Life that Cheney had a 100% pro-life voting record while in Congress. The platform discussions had also taken place by the time I arrived and we should all be grateful to Nebraska GOP Chairman Chuck Sigerson for his unwavering stand on pro-life as a member of the platform sub- committee that discussed abortion. As he did four years ago in San Diego, Chuck worked for strong language denouncing partial-birth abortion; got wording for protection of human embryos and against cloning and trafficking in aborted baby body parts.

My first experience in the convention hall was one of noise, music and the enormity of it all. As an alternate, our seating section was up in the balcony while the delegates sat on the floor. While our vantage point was very good, all of the alternates and even some guests got the opportunity to sit on the floor when some delegates were gone or would give up their credentials to ensure that everyone had a chance to say they got on the floor. Delegate Pat McPherson of Omaha was the designated "credential passer" and worked hard all week to rotate the Nebraska alternates to the floor.

In fact, much of the first session Monday morning I was on the floor. This was when Don Stenberg addressed the convention and did a great job talking about partial-birth abortion. Omaha Mayor Hal Daub also made a brief address that morning representing local elected officials across the nation. So it was a very good time to be from Nebraska.

Tuesday morning I went to the Nebraska delegation meeting and learned what to expect from the campaign in the next loo days. The official Nebraska delegation photo was also taken and we wore our red Nebraska polo shirts. Tuesday afternoon I got pumped up by attending the Christian Coalition Faith and Freedom Rally where I sat with fellow Nebraska pro-lifers who were alternates or delegates. This was the largest- attended reception outside of the convention. It was standing room only with 3,500 to 4,000 people. There was lots of great patriotic music. Pat Robertson spoke and I was thrilled to see National Right to Life legal counsel Jim Bopp given time on the program.

When the Nebraska delegation cast their votes for Bush on Tuesday night, Governor Mike Johanns got a huge ovation by mentioning that our state is the only one that Bill Clinton has not visited! I got lots of feedback from other states' delegates on how impressed they were with our Senator Chuck Hagel and his introduction of John McCain. I thought McCain had a good talk even though we differed with him on campaign finance reform.

Wednesday afternoon I attended an awesome Republican National Coalition for Life luncheon where Alan Keyes and Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) were honored. Keyes was powerful as usual and got a standing ovation when he declared, "there is no shame in standing for our issue in the party." Phyllis Schlafly reported that the platform had less pro- abortion strength than ever. She called on George W. to be as steadfast on pro- life court appointments as Clinton has been for the pro-aborts.

NRL PAC Chairman Denise Ashby, Phyllis Schlafly of Republican National Coalition for Life and Nancy Hergert of ScottsbIuff.

I was so encouraged by the good grassroots people in attendance. I had a great visit with the women at my table who were from Pennsylvania. Dave and Nancy Hergert of Scottsbluff also attended and Nancy and I had our picture taken with Phyllis. There had been a fairly good-sized group of protesters out front but it just served to fire up those of us inside. Police presence was great all week. We felt safe and it really helped us to get into our buildings.

On the final night of the convention I got to sit on the floor the entire time except for the first half hour. What an experience! Of course excitement ran high. The younger generation got their look at nephew George P. Bush. The crowd loved George W's. speech and the concensus was that he did a great job. By far the most rousing applause of the speech (or the week and there was a lot of applause!) was when Bush said we need to protect the unborn. He acknowledged differences within the party on abortion but said, certainly we can all agree on adoption initiatives, parental notification and "if Congress sends a partial-birth abortion ban to me, I'll sign it!"

The convention closed on a high note with the prayer by Anthony Cardinal Belivacqua. Afterwards we popped balloons, not so much for the fun of it but mostly to be able to climb out of our seats. The balloons and confetti that rained down on us were phenomenal. All in all, I learned a lot from the experience and felt it was well worth going.

	PRO-LIFE NEBRASKA