Abortion Advocate Changes Mind Ex-Wife’s Abortion Causes Man To Change Sides Of Issue

A prominent campaign consultant who once led Idaho’s abortion rights charge is now crusading against abortion.

Saying that tumultuous events in his life helped him find the truth, David Ripley, 36, is traveling the state visiting churches and politicians.

He is promoting a new initiative sponsored by the Idaho Citizens Alliance that seeks to ban abortions after the 13th week of pregnancy.

“The initiative is pretty lame stuff and doesn’t even come close to what we should be doing,” he said during a weekend tour through Coeur d’Alene. “But if there’s a pin-prick in the shield of denial, the shield will deflate.”

Kelly Walton, alliance chairman, has said the addition of Ripley’s voice can only help the campaign.

Ripley, once a powerhouse in Democratic politics, worked on successful campaigns for U.S. Reps. Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco, and a host of legislative candidates.

In 1990, he produced a poll suggesting Idahoans believe government should allow women and families to decide about abortions. He later used that survey to help elect Democrats to the state Senate.

“Everything was accurate, but I had an agenda and I took advantage of the information,” he said.

In the summer of 1994, he said, his life changed.

“My wife and I split up and she was pregnant, struggling with the question of divorce and abortion,” he said.

While on business in North Idaho, Ripley said, he telephoned his wife and learned she had chosen to end the pregnancy. He said she told him it was her decision alone.

“She was right - I had no legal say,” he said.

“I had worked for abortion rights for 17, 18 years and never in my wildest dreams had I realized I was helping create the situation I found myself in,” he said. “Before I hung up the phone, I realized I was reaping what I had sown all those years.”

Ripley, a recovering alcoholic, attempted suicide before strengthening his religious convictions, he said. He since has traveled the state, speaking and writing about abortion and the initiative.

Attorney General Al Lance has said the alliance measure probably is unconstitutional in the wake of Roe vs. Wade court decisions.

Ripley said the underpinnings of that case law - a woman’s right to choose - is an outgrowth of feminism, which he calls the “most dangerous philosophy in the world today.” He claims that sentiment is often misunderstood.

The women’s rights movement attacked old ideas about manhood and created workplace equality, he said.

“There’s no question that that’s good,” he said.

But, Ripley said, women also bring equal rights into the family, which undermines the unity of marriage and helps spark conflict.

“It’s not possible to create a loving relationship on the basis of rights,” he said.

Ripley said he does not share Walton’s other passions - an anti-gay rights initiative and tax credits for non-public education. Ripley spent 10 years directing the Idaho Education Association’s political campaigns.

“I can’t imagine the circumstances under which I would raise my hand against IEA,” he said.

Although he readily admits having been a manipulative campaigner before, Ripley said he is now sincere. Those who think otherwise, “are not my problem,” he said.

“I’m not on anybody’s payroll, I’m not looking for a job,” he said. “I’m going where I can go and talking to whoever will listen.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo