Billy Long Sinks to New Low With "Pro-Choice" Lies About Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman

If Billy Long was an honest man, which this week we have determined he is not, he wouldn't even be bringing up abortion as a campaign issue in the Republican primary. All the candidates running in the primary are pro-life, including Democrats Tim Davis and Scott Eckersely. That hasn't stopped Billy Long to sinking to a new low with new lies.

Billy Long is now making the case that Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman aren't pro-life candidates with a mailer that was probably billed out to a Kansas City mailing company tied to a Long strategist with questionable ethics who makes many ashamed of the G.O.P. label. In the ad, Billy Long claims Nodler and Goodman have failed to take a hard line stance on the issue of life, which is entirely not true. Both Senator Nodler and Senator Goodman have a strong pro-life voting records, and they have both fought hard for pro-life issues.

Billy Long believes because he has the endorsement of Missouri Right for Life, a group that calls itself pro-life led by Dave Plemmons, which has a questionable record of rating pro-choice candidates with high marks, that he can get away with nearly labeling Nodler and Goodman as pro-choice. Of course, we aren't going to let Billy Long get away with another lie about his opponents as Billy Long obviously decided to play dirty politics in the final days of the primary.

There needs to be a reminder that Missourians United for Life, a strong pro-life group didn't endorse Billy Long. They endorsed Nodler, Goodman, Michael Wardell, and Mike Moon. Missourians United for also doesn't have the questionable record of rating pro-choice candidates with high marks like Missouri Right to Life. I want to remind Mr. Long, as he distorts the record in a desperate attempt to save a campaign that is laughable at best, about the truth of the matter.


Beware of Missouri Right to Life's Endorsement of Billy Long: MRL Has a Record of High Marks for Pro-Choice Liberals

Billy Long is touting his endorsement from the Missouri Right to Life like it's the new Mel Hancock. Really, in true conservative circles, the endorsement is quite meaningless. The endorsements coming from Missourians United for Life carries much more weight for pro-life voters.

Billy Long represents the big money in politics today. He is a millionaire with the ability to raise a huge campaign war chest, and according to Dave Plemmons from Missouri Right to Life, it may be money that eventually won the endorsement from MRL. Despite Billy Long's frequent praise of Claire McCaskill during his KWTO radio days Plemmons commented on this very blog, "Billy Long is endorsed because he is the only viable candidate (name ID, money, and wide support) that takes a pro-life position, and has for several years."

Yes, he used the money word. We still don't really know what Billy Long did prior to being a Congressional candidate to support pro-life causes. I guess the money is more important than record for Plemmons.

Since we brought up record, it's hard to argue that both Senators Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman have an outstanding record in the Missouri Senate on pro-life issues. Apparently, their political opponents are making the case because they appropriated funds to a state university for a life science building they some how disgraced their pro-life record. That's total nonsense.

A closer look at Missouri Right to Life shows they gave a pro-choice liberal who openly supports taxpayer-funded abortions higher marks than Nodler or Goodman. You would think someone that open about their support for abortion wouldn't receive a high grade at all, but that's not the case with the Missouri Right to Life.

Missouri Right to Life's grade card graded St. Louis state Senator Joan Bray with higher marks than Nodler or Goodman. They agree with her votes nearly 70% of the time, yet like I mentioned earlier, she supports taxpayer-funded abortions. They scored Nodler and Goodman much lower despite having a 100% pro-life voting record.

Oh, but it gets better. On the floor of the Missouri Senate, Senator Bray angered many conservative male law makers by "criticizing the “men” who control the abortion debate for disrespecting women." (Yes, this is an elected official the Missouri Right to Life gives high marks to.)

The following is Bray's speech on the Senate floor:

“After multiple years on this issue, I’m sick of it. I’m totally sick of it.

I’m sick of women being treated like they are so stupid that they can’t make their own decisions regarding their reproductive rights and their bodies.

I’m sick of women having no options, and being coerced to give birth.

I’m sick of a bunch of men around here, year after year after year, piling up restriction after restriction after restriction on women who found themselves in a very unhappy, unpleasant circumstance of an unwanted pregnancy.

Missouri has the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and, as a result, Missouri’s women are put in danger when they finally do ever get to have an abortion — they’re later and they’re tougher abortions to have because there are so many barriers to Missouri women getting to have a safe and legal abortion.

I am sick of the disrespect for women who come to the Capitol defending a woman’s legal right to choose an abortion.

I am sick that they’re being treated dismissively and rudely.

I’m sick of the ethic around here that men are pro-life for their wives and pro-choice for their girlfriends.

I’m sick of the failure to take steps that would, in fact, reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, through sex education, contraception, family planning and emergency contraception.

No man in this body will ever have an unwanted pregnancy.

But, mark my word, your daughters, your wives, your sisters, your granddaughters, your nieces will.

And your actions here tonight will disrespect and diminish them.”


It turns out, Jack Goodman took the floor after Bray's disgraceful comments.

Goodman called Bray’s remarks “highly offensive” and “slanderous.”

Goodman said Bray had insulted “decent, committed families” and Senate spouses who shoulder the job of being a single parent during the week when the Legislature is in session. (From St. Louis Today)

So, it appears to me one of the endorsements Billy Long is now wearing as a badge of honor comes with much controversy and doesn't seem as pro-life as the name suggests. Both Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman have solid pro-life records, which is far more than a few soundbites on KWTO. You have to remember, these soundbites are scarred based on Billy Long's positive comments towards pro-choice liberal Claire McCaskill and his attacks on pro-life conservative Matt Blunt.