Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and staunch defender of faith, freedom and family, has refused, on the basis of Weld's record, to conduct a hearing on the nomination. He has said that if Weld goes to Mexico, "he will go as a tourist."

Weld has resigned the governor's seat to fight Helms over the nomination. The battle is being described as a struggle for the philosophical soul of the Republican Party. In announcing his resignation, Weld blasted Senator Helms, saying that his opposition to the nomination “has everything to do with the future of the Republican Party." Weld and his supporters have declared war on the pro-life, conservative mainstream of the Republican Party.

Senator Helms is under great pressure from influential Republicans to relent. Please help prevent Weld from becoming Ambassador to Mexico. Please Contact Senator Helms' office and encourage him to continue to ignore the nomination.

Address:

Senator Jesse Helms
403 Senate Dirksen Building,
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202/224-6342 - Fax: 202/228-1338

WELD SUPPORTS ABORTION THROUGH NINE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY 
On May 2, 1992, then-Governor William Weld testified on behalf of a pro-abortion legislative package that was described by Frances Hogan, a member of the board of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference as "the most radical kind of legislation and would abolish virtually every restriction against abortion on demand that currently exists under Massachusetts law." In an effort to protect abortion rights in Massachusetts regardless of whether or how the Supreme Court eventually rules, Weld said he would allow women to terminate pregnancies through the ninth month, calling late abortions "a price I would pay in order to have government stay out of the thicket." (Boston Herald, 5/6/92)

WELD OPPOSES BANNING PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS 
In 1996, Governor Weld ran against liberal, pro-abortion Senator John Kerry (D-MA) for the U.S. Senate. Senator Kerry voted to uphold President Clinton's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Governor Weld said that he would have voted the same way as his opponent. "It's a terrible procedure and I wish that it would never occur, but I would have voted the same way." (Boston Herald, 9/9/96)

WELD TRYS TO DUMP DULY-ELECTED PRO-LIFE DELEGATES TO REPUBLICAN CONVENTION  
Gov. William F. Weld vowed to try to oust some elected state delegates to the Republican National Convention, a move that could enhance the chances of a pro-choice plank. (Boston Herald, 5/7/96) According to press reports, Weld appeared to be singling out Bob Semonian of Watertown, an elected pro-life delegate and state chairman of the Pat Buchanan presidential campaign.

WELD BOOED AT REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 
During his speech at the Republican Convention in San Diego in which he advocated abortion-on-demand, Gov. Weld, who supported striking the pro-life plank from the platform, was booed by the majority of delegates in the hall.

WELD PROMOTES MILITANT HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA 
As Governor he has promoted homosexuality among his state's youth, creating a Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, appointing a homosexual youth coordinator and funding the office with $1million, and authorizing his Department of Health to co-sponsor with homosexual activist groups an annual "Gay/Straight Youth Pride March." (Life Advocacy Briefing, 8/11/97)

WELD SOFT ON DRUGS 
President Clinton's nomination of Governor William Weld to be Ambassador to Mexico is bad for America and bad for the Republican Party. It is bad for America because Weld is soft on drugs. He favors legalization of marijuana in some cases and "clean" needle giveaways to drug addicts. Making him the U.S. representative in Mexico sends the wrong message to that country at the same time we are urging Mexicans to get tough on the drugs pouring across our southern border. It is bad for the Republican Party because it highlights the split in party ranks. (American Renewal-Washington Update, 7/31/97)

Republican governors, many of whom are pro-life, have sent a letter urging a confirmation hearing for Weld. Pro-abortion Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Chafee (R-RI) have sent a letter to the 53 other GOP Senators urging Senator Helms to schedule a hearing for the Weld nomination. Among the abortion advocates who have signed it, Senators Susan Collins (ME), James Jeffords (VT) and Arlen Specter (PA), are PRO-LIFE Senators Rick Santorum (PA), Judd Gregg (NH) and Gordon Smith (OR). Failed 1996 presidential candidate Lamar Alexander has also come out in favor of the nomination, saying "Bill Weld is an excellent example of the best leadership in our party." (National Review, 7/28/97) Jack Kemp has also joined the fray on Weld's side, offering to be an intermediary to secure a hearing. (USA Today, 8/1/97) Senator Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, who has a pro-life voting record, is threatening to use his power to "punish tobacco farmers," (a threat against the economic well-being of Senator Helms' home state of North Carolina) unless Helms holds a hearing.

The Weld nomination is an insult to the people of Mexico. Senators Santorum, Gregg, Smith and Lugar should be ashamed of themselves for acting on Weld's behalf! Shame on Jack Kemp and every pro-life, Republican Governor and Senator who signed those letters! Republican officials have no business pushing a Clinton nominee for ANY position whatsoever!