S.C. Lt. Governor Bob Peeler Gets Choose Life Tag across Finish Line.(Brief Article)

COLUMBIA, SC - - What do South Carolina's pro-life Lt. Governor Bob Peeler and the National Association of Stock Car Racing have in common? They both were vital to getting the Choose Life License Plate Bill across the finish line on the final day of the 2001 General Assembly.

Last year Lt. Governor Peeler promoted the Choose Life plate bill as a showcase piece of pro-life legislation. He said the legislation "sends a positive message that South Carolina is a place where life is valuedEand reflected in our government." The legislation is similar to that proposed in about 30 other states, with proceeds from the sale of the plates going to benefit the state's crisis pregnancy centers.

As expected, pro-abortion lawmakers mounted an intensive campaign to keep the Choose Life License Plate Bill from becoming law. In the waning days of the nail-biting legislative drama, it looked like the Choose Life tag legislation would crash and burn. "By the last day of the session, our bill had been on the contested calendar of the State Senate for weeks and stalled in committee in the House," said Holly Gatling, executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life and the organization's lobbyist. "Of the half dozen license plate bills up for consideration, the Choose Life license plate was the only specialty vehicle tag lawmakers opposed."

There was, however, a highly favored license tag in the race -- the National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) plate. On the fast track to becoming law, legislators eagerly anticipated unveiling it at the popular, nationally televised Labor Day Southern 500 race in Darlington, South Carolina. It was vital to all the legislators, including the pro-aborts, for the NASCAR tag to become law.

"To say that South Carolinians are enthusiastic NASCAR fans is putting it mildly," said pro-lifer Wayne Cockfield, a self-described NASCAR "fanatic" who lives in Florence, about 10 miles from the Darlington Raceway.

"One thing no South Carolina politician wants is 100,000 NASCAR fans at the Southern 500 mad at them," said Cockfield, a member of both the National Right to Life and South Carolina Citizens for Life boards of directors. "Lt. Governor Peeler used South Carolina's love affair with stock car racing to send the Choose Life License Plate Bill across the finish line in the General ...