Yesterday, 44 Democrats and 2 Republicans voted to continue allowing the barbaric practice of legalized abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby is capable of feeling excruciating pain and, as science advances, capable of surviving outside the womb.
The bill, called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, was not expected to pass because the Democratic Party is in complete lockstep with the radical pro-abortion lobby. But that doesn’t make it any less shocking that there are still dozens of United States senators in 2018 who are still willing to allow late-term abortions. While these senators cower to the abortion lobby, over 60 percent of Americans support banning late-term abortions, including women in higher numbers than men, 78 percent of millennials, 70 percent of African-Americans, and 57 percent of Hispanics.
I watched the floor debate yesterday and beheld many a pro-life senator citing scientific research, data, and public opinion polling as their rationale for supporting the bill. Meanwhile, not a single pro-abortion senator could muster more than the tired, false, emotional-but-empty clichés we’ve been hearing for decades: this bill is an attack on women, this bill would send women back to the coat-hanger, this bill is a waste of time. I was disgusted that “the party of science” had no absolutely no scientific justification whatsoever for allowing babies to be torn limb from limb at or after the point of viability.
And it was equally disheartening that two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), joined the extreme Left to vote against the bill.
There were a few bright spots, in that Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Bob Casey (Pa.), and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) voted for the bill. But frankly, this just means they have some measure of common sense. They are often duplicitous on abortion and are still primarily pro-choice — and out of step with their constituents.
Of the 10 Democrats up for re-election in states that Trump won in 2016, seven voted against the bill. The GOP needs to hold them accountable for their dishonorable votes against protecting unborn babies. The message of their votes should be blasted far and wide, and they need to be run out of office. Will the GOP actually do this and proudly campaign on a pro-life platform? Or will Republicans cower and hide from popular positions like they often do? The pro-life movement is watching.
Come next year, we need a Senate that will do the right thing and finally enact this law.
