On Wednesday, Senate Bill 8 went into effect in Texas. The bill, signed into law in May by Gov. Greg Abbott, restricts abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detected. This heartbeat bill is unique, as similar legislation has been successfully blocked by courts.
Right on cue, abortion proponents vocalized their disapproval. Former president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards called it “a terrible day in Texas.”
Former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis, known for a 2013 pro-abortion filibuster, exclaimed, “I feel a tremendous sense of mourning accompanied by an indescribable rage.”
And Trevor Noah’s The Daily Show account tweeted, “Does the Pentagon have a plan to evacuate Americans from this fundamentalist territory[?]”
The amount of distress caused by legal protections for the unborn says much about the Left’s priorities. The Democratic Party as a whole treats abortion as sacrosanct. And any limitations are not just disappointing, but evil.
The Democratic Party’s rejection of the new abortion law in Texas contrasts sharply with its ongoing push for COVID-19 vaccinations. The message is clear: Vulnerable individuals are only worth protecting outside the womb.
According to data, more Democrats than Republicans have received or plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In the past several months, Democrats have painted Republicans as heartless, careless creatures.
As a pro-vaccine conservative, I agree that helping to shield others during this health crisis by way of vaccination is the right thing to do. But unlike Democrats, I also believe the same mentality should be extended to the unborn in the womb. Protecting those in danger who cannot help themselves is a moral right. Hypocrites on the Left, so eager to preach a gospel of community and care, don’t apply that mindset elsewhere.
The crowd that pleads with others to consider those most endangered by a virus contains too many individuals who believe the unborn are burdensome. But it is no stretch to view all individuals, born or not, in the same light. Assigning value based on location and stage of development is wrong.
There is a need for consistency on the Right, too. Vaccines are a pro-life tool that reduce the spread and severity of a life-altering, potentially life-ending virus. Conservatives must recognize the good vaccines do and not hinder the process or spread misinformation. But to be clear, the chasm between Democratic Party abortion policy and pro-vaccine campaigns is the widest of all.
Excusing the atrocity of abortion at any time is astounding. To do so when saving lives through vaccines is a top goal only highlights the Democratic Party’s loyalty to a horrific cause. Sincere concern for fellow human beings rings hollow when unborn Americans are not just forgotten, but targeted. Either everyone has worth regardless of age, location, infirmity, and vaccination status, or no one does.
There are many lessons to be learned about valuing one another. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought several of those to the forefront. Conservatives would do well to apply pro-life principles to matters other than abortion. This actually strengthens the original cause. Meanwhile, members of the Democratic Party applaud a procedure that has taken millions of lives, denounce restrictions to it, and dare to speak of human rights while doing so.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
