Ruzicka will push pro-life platform

One of Utah's most conservative and visible voices, Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka, will represent Utah on the national Republican Convention's platform drafting committee next week in Philadelphia.

Ruzicka jokes, "I won't embarrass anyone back here" during the convention, where Texas Gov. George W. Bush is expected to be picked as the party's presidential nominee and announce a running mate. "I'm going to be a good girl and behave myself, as I think I always do," she said.

In fact, Ruzicka says her main battle will be to keep the current 1996 GOP platform, especially its strong pro-life language, intact against challenges from moderates within Republican ranks.

However, should Bush pick a pro-choice vice presidential running mate — a possibility, but not likely — Ruzicka says she will cast a "no" vote as a Utah delegate on that vice presidential convention ballot and won't vote for Bush in November's final election.

"I would never vote for a pro-abortion candidate. I would just write in some other Republican's name" on the ballot in November, Ruzicka said.

Because of new national GOP rules, Ruzicka and the other 28 national delegates from Utah must vote for Bush, regardless of whom he picks for vice president, in the official roll call of the states. That vote traditionally takes place the Wednesday night of the weeklong party convention, this year July 31-Aug. 3 in Philadelphia.

"All of us have to vote for Gov. Bush, because he won" Utah's winner-take-all presidential primary last March, she noted. But delegates do have a free-conscience vote when the convention is asked to formally nominate Bush's vice presidential pick.

"I hope (Bush) will pick Alan Keyes" as his vice presidential running mate. Keyes is a conservative talk-show host and orator who officially is still in the presidential race, although he won no major GOP primaries or caucuses. Keyes is a strong anti-abortion advocate. But he is not on the short list of vice presidential candidates Bush reportedly is considering.

Ruzicka and seven other members of her family are attending the convention. Two of her children are alternate delegates, including her son, Jordan. Jordan Ruzicka may well be the youngest delegate or alternate in Philadelphia, his mother believes. He is only 17. His birthday is in mid-October, in time for him to turn 18 and vote in November's election. National GOP rules say delegates and alternates must be of voting age by Election Day.