A recent article highlighted the controversial posture of Lila Rose, the head of the prolife non-profit “Live Action,” regarding the 2024 presidential race. Specifically, she has challenged Donald Trump to be more prolife or risk losing the prolife vote.[1] In essence, what Rose wants is for Trump to channel his inner Joe Biden and be a dictator for the cause of life, completely disregarding the Constitutional limitations on the power of the President and Federal government. We must understand that the same politicians who can ban abortion across the nation can also ban firearms, cars, and even books… all in the name of “life.”
But I believe there is more to this story, and much of it has to do with the nature of today’s political organizations. What the Dobbs decision did was throw the abortion issue back to the states, putting the fight into dozens of legislative halls. Over thirty years ago, I told my high school students that Roe would be overturned, and when that happened national prolife groups would be furious because their gravy train would be in jeopardy.
I speak from hard experience. Political warfare at the state level is grueling, with little to no recognition or monetary gain. At the state level you are in the trenches, crawling in the proverbial mud amidst the stench of battle. It can even be physically dangerous. One politico I knew of died in mysterious circumstances in Mississippi.
There is very little money at the state level, and this is why ambitious politicos run to the Federal level. There is plenty of money and attention there. Indeed, I have learned that virtually every nationally-oriented political group is not about the issues… but about the person in charge. Just look at the cover of Rose’s book Fighting for Life.[2] At the Federal level, you can bask in attention, take in a good living, and jet-set the nation… even the world. Yet, much of this political work is rah-rah… going to rallies and looking important.
And this is what Lila Rose does. Lila is in her early 30s, and she loves to travel. Whether its Washington, D.C., Brussels, Budapest, or the Vatican. She’s on the go. Moreover, in 2022 she was paid by her non-profit over $280,000, an almost two-fold increase over her salary in 2020.[3] She and her recently married attorney-husband just purchased a home in California for over $2.2 million.[4] Apparently, “fighting for life” in a non-profit can pay quite well.
It’s not that Lila Rose is a bad person, and I’m not against people getting paid for their work. But their efforts have to have real, tangible results. Sadly, much political work at the national level is nothing but churn, a constant grind of narcissistic attention and raising cash. Getting into the trenches at the state and local level is not their thing.
And when you bash the one guy who did more for the prolife movement than any president in modern history, and in light of who his opponent is, one has to question what’s really going on.
Russ Rodgers has several books published on Amazon.
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[1] https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/live-action-founder-lila-rose-challenges-trump-if-you-want-the-pro-life-vote-fight-for-life/?utm_source=featured-news&utm_campaign=usa
[2] You can find Lila Rose’s book Fighting for Life on Amazon.com.
[3] See IRS 990 documents, EIN 42-1764425 for “Live Action.” And this is only what we have public records for. Who knows how much Thomas Nelson paid her for her book. Her non-profit saw a dramatic increase in fundraising when Joe Biden ascended to the presidency.
[4] Yes, I did the research, but I would never “dox” somebody. Rose’s own bio on the Live Action website says she lives in California with her family.
For some reason I’m reminded of all those Tea Party “leaders” who ginned up crowds, got nothing done, but did very well indeed for themselves.
There is also Jerry Pournelle’s Iron Law of Bureaucracy… the one that says that inevitably an institution’s efforts will end up concentrated on the preservation an prosperity of the institution and its senior officers than the mission it was created for.