O.C. Ducks Abortion Fight

For all the publicity the abortion issue received in the days preceding the Republican National Convention, delegates quickly approved the controversial policy platform without rancor Monday--and that’s just how most of the Orange County contingent seemed to want it.

After weeks of conflict, local delegates seemed determined to show a united front Monday, with some reluctant to even address the abortion issue when they gathered on the convention floor.

“My issue is the crime issue; that [abortion] is not my issue,” said Collene Campbell, a council member from San Juan Capistrano and high-profile advocate of crime victims’ rights.

So conciliatory were all trying to be that antiabortion delegate Charlotte Mousel of Tustin was among those who said she didn’t mind if Retired Gen. Colin L. Powell advocated his abortion rights position during a prime-time convention speech Monday night.

“Why not? I think he’s a great guy,” Mousel said.

Mousel and others said they did not answer delegate surveys seeking their views on the abortion issue.

“The abortion issue is an issue that I totally ignore,” added Haydee V. Tillotson of Huntington Beach, who is attending her first national GOP convention. “It’s true Republicans are divided on that issue, but to me, it’s not an important issue. This is an issue that has to be taken care of in a more private manner.”

Even though the platform was not “100%” to his liking, Orange County delegate Ky Ngo also muffled his protests.

Ngo, chairman of the Garden Grove-based Vietnamese-American Political Action Committee, said he was disappointed, for example, that the platform does not call on the U.S to withhold development aid to Vietnam until American POWs and MIAS are accounted for and the Vietnamese government disavows the Communist Party. Still, there were no serious complaints, and certainly not a vote of dissent from Ngo on Monday.

“I believe the Republicans are the ones that care about our views,” Ngo said. “But I want to do more than that. . . . It takes time.”

Orange County Supervisor Marian Bergeson credits presumptive GOP vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp with renewing delegates’ spirit of unity.

“The selection of Jack Kemp helped to mitigate many of the concerns of the pro-life folks. At the same time, he exemplifies the outreach that can bring many votes into the Republican Party,” Bergeson said. “Kemp has energized the ticket.”