On Monday evening, every Democrat in the Senate except three voted to block the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This legislation would have made it a requirement to provide medical care to babies who miraculously make it through a botched abortion.
In America, abortion is considered part of reproductive healthcare. Organizations like Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, insist it is just another routine part of gynecology. But unlike normal OB/GYN care, which is meant to carry a woman and her unborn child safely through pregnancy and labor, abortion is only meant to end a growing life. Those opposed to the Born-Alive Act repeatedly claimed that passing such legislation would affect already-established abortion rights in the country. However, as Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., stated, there was nothing in the bill that would touch abortion. The “privilege” would remain undisturbed. In the end, the bill fell 53-44, several votes shy of the 60 needed to advance.
As the country looks to the 2020 presidential campaign, Monday’s actions should serve as a stark reminder: The Democratic Party is the party of death. If Republicans wish to make this a campaign selling point, and they should, they’ll constantly remind voters of the current presidential candidates who voted to deny medical care to survivors of legal homicide. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., could not muster enough moral courage to vote in favor of the life-affirming legislation. Their inability to defend even vulnerable, post-abortive newborns is disastrous and should be tightly tethered to them for the rest of their political careers.
There is nothing so fundamental as the sanctity of life. This most basic human right comes before our political conversations concerning immigration, taxes, national defense, education, and the like. If there is no protection of the innocent in the womb and outside of it, then assigning a higher morality to other issues is nothing but a cheap attempt at distraction.
It is obvious that some Republicans are concerned with the president, his policies, and his behavior. But on this issue, he is exactly on target.
….This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019
As a conservative, I have my doubts about Trump. However, this reluctance to fully support him and approve of his tactics does not mean that the opposition will ever receive my support. Following Monday’s show of defiance by abortion-supporting Democrats, even the most ardent Trump critic on the Right should absolutely refuse to support them by way of a vote. After all, this isn’t even about the right to abortion; it’s about criminalizing infanticide. If Democrats can’t even agree to that, then how can they stand on the moral high ground when championing any other issue?
The Republican Party is by no means a perfect group in terms of policy or personality. The GOP has many failings and right now, it’s in a questionable era that will take years from which to recover. But when it comes to the starting point, the beginning of life, Republicans don’t abandon the cause.
Members of both parties should be willing to debate the merits of a near endless variety of legislation. But on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, there should have been complete bipartisan support.
It’s clear that when it comes to infanticide, and even abortion, President Trump and the Republicans are on the right side of history. This is a defining moment of human decency and the actions by Senate Democrats may haunt them on the 2020 campaign trail and perhaps, beyond. If that occurs, it will entirely be their own doing.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
