Abortion wasn't ALWAYS an issue that Republicans were so fervently committed to. In the mid-70s, @GOP strategists realized they could peel off Democratic voting Catholics & evangelical Protestants if they leaned HARD into this issue.
Barry Goldwater, the Republican candidate for President in 1964, was pro-choice, and his wife, Peggy even helped set up an Arizona chapter of Planned Parenthood.
In 1967, Republican governor Ronald Reagan signed one of the MOST LIBERAL abortion laws in the entire country, legalizing abortion for women whose mental or physical health would be impaired by pregnancy, or whose pregnancies were the result of rape or incest.
In 1972, a Gallup poll found that 68 percent of Republicans believed abortion to be a private matter between a woman and her doctor.
Just 3 years after Roe v. Wade, public opinion polls showed Republicans SUPPORTED abortion rights even MORE than Democrats.
GOP First Lady Betty Ford called Roe v. Wade a “great, great decision,” & Vice President Nelson Rockefeller CAMPAIGNED for abortion rights in NY.
When Rockefeller was Governor, he signed a bill, making New York the 1st state to legalize abortion without a residency requirement.
But in 1972 candidate Richard Nixon began staking out anti-abortion positions as part of a STRATEGY to appeal to Catholic voters and other social conservatives.
After winning a majority of Catholic votes, @GOP strategists began forging coalitions with evangelical groups.
(Hypocritically and unsurprisingly, in recently uncovered audiotapes, Nixon expressed pro-choice sentiment. Reacting to the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision, Nixon was recorded saying some abortions were necessary, as in cases of rape). npr.org/templates/stor…
And the rest is history.
GOP strategists learned that abortion was an easy issue to GALVANIZE a base and thus they adapted. Many of the most notable Republicans in our history-George H.W. Bush, Nixon-were privately pro-choice, but eventually couldn't publicly admit that.
If you're a person who wants Roe overturned, here's my question to you:
WHERE & WHEN did you adopt these beliefs? Was there an authority figure (from a church perhaps) who influenced you? Have you talked to someone whose life was saved from access to abortion care?
Thanks. 🙏
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During the Holocaust, a scholar wanted to understand why some non-Jewish families harbored Jews vs. others who cooperated with Nazis & turned in neighbors.
The common denominator?
The families who helped/harbored Jews had a childhood where discipline was done WITHOUT violence.
People who were abused to “obey authority” were far MORE likely to submit to authoritarians in power. Those that weren't traumatized actually followed their conscience and helped protect others, risking their own lives to save others in peril.
In his book "The Holocaust Lessons," David A. Cooperson talks about these findings and compassionate parenting. amazon.com/Holocaust-Comp…
Today for World AIDS Day, I'd like to commemorate a dear friend I lost to AIDS in 2000. This tribute will be slightly different than most, but I believe it's consistent with the spirit and work of @HIVGov. 🙏
This is Dick Joslyn. Dick was in the Heaven's Gate cult.
Heaven's Gate was a UFO cult that resulted in 39 brainwashed members dying from mass homicide/suicide. Members believed they were "exiting their human vessels" so their souls could go on a journey aboard a spaceship following the Hale–Bopp comet. freedomofmind.com/the-heavens-ga…
Dick was in the cult for 15 years & was one of its most active and loyal members. He was #3 in the cult.
Eventually though, he grew disillusioned with leader Marshall Applewhite.
If you want to learn about mind control but prefer LISTENING to audiobooks, my books are now listenable!
Here's the order I recommend and the links to download:
"Combating Cult Mind Control" should be listened to FIRST and is the FOUNDATION for the study of undue influence. This book sets the frame and is widely regarded as the BEST book for protection, rescue, and recovery from destructive cults. audible.com/pd/Combating-C…
"Freedom of Mind" should be listened to SECOND and builds on my first book. This book focuses on my Strategic Interactive Approach (my method to get someone out of a cult) and shows you HOW to do this with someone you care about. audiobooks.com/audiobook/free…
In preparation for Thanksgiving, I posted a few threads summarizing HOW to help a family member out of their EXTREME belief. I summarized how I've helped get people out of cults for the last 45+ years.
Most people appreciated the tips, but some did not. A few of their comments:
"No. That is not my job. I am NOT their therapist"
and
"F that. Confrontation is important"
and
"some people aren’t worth trying to save"
and
"it is an awful lot of work to do. I'm not up to it"
I want to be clear about something. You don't HAVE to do anything!
but...
I concurrently get asked EVERY DAY how we "deprogram millions of people in the country."
And you know how we do it?
Close personal connections (and the approach I outlined in my threads...like the tweet attached below).
One of the best ways to AVOID hot topics and concurrently build rapport are conversation starters!
I've compiled some fun ones you can use at the Thanksgiving table today:
-What does your PERFECT day look like?
-If you could instantly become an expert in anything, what would it be?
-If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
-If you had a time machine for just one day, what would you do with it?
-What is your best memory over the last year and why?
- If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you choose and why?
-What’s one thing you can’t live without?
-What’s your favorite movie of all time? Why?
-What about your favorite book? Why?
Are you getting together with family this Thanksgiving? Are you WORRIED because some of these family members have extreme/irrational beliefs?
If you're interested and invested in learning HOW to help these family members OUT of these extreme beliefs, this thread is for you! 👍
BEFORE YOU INTERACT WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBER:
1. Start with YOU. Do your homework. Research cults and mind control. My books are a great comprehensive guide, but my website is also filled with fabulous (free) information. freedomofmind.com
2. Realize that helping a person will be a process requiring patience, effort, flexibility, & love. Arguing or debating doesn’t work. Criticizing the leader, doctrine or policy makes people feel persecuted. Assisting people to reevaluate requires a different communication toolkit