And So It Begins

And So It Begins

Despite being president-elect for less than two weeks, Barack Obama has already made it clear that he “plans to reverse an existing executive order against federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research.” (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081110/sc_nm/us_stemcellresearch_shares_1) This decision should surprise no one. Over the years Obama has shown complete indifference to the lives of the unborn. Remember this is the same man who as a member of the Illinois State Legislature rejected the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (BAIPA) which “mandate[d] that all babies born alive receive immediate medical attention.” (http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=29138) In comparison, when a similar bill was proposed to the House of Representatives in 2000, “no one, even those who had most staunchly supported abortion over the years, wanted to be on record as supporting what was, in effect, infanticide.” (See above link)
With his embryonic stem cell research plans revealed, expect him to next announce his intention to sign the granddaddy of all abortion rights legislation: the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). In July 2007 Obama told guests at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event that “the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." (http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/one_year_annive.html) According to Americans United For Life, below are some of the “550 federal and state laws” that will be nullified by FOCA:
· Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
· Hyde Amendment (restricting taxpayer funding of abortions)
· Restrictions on abortions performed at military hospitals
· Restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion for federal employees
· Informed consent laws
· Waiting periods
· Parental consent and notification laws
· Health and safety regulations for abortion clinics
· Requirements that licensed physicians perform abortions
· “Delayed enforcement” laws (banning abortion when Roe v. Wade is overturned and/or the authority to restrict abortion is returned to the states)
· Bans on partial-birth abortion
· Bans on abortion after viability. FOCA’s apparent attempt to limit post-viability abortions is illusory. Under FOCA, post-viability abortions are expressly permitted to protect the woman’s “health.” Within the context of abortion, “health” has been interpreted so broadly that FOCA would not actually proscribe any abortion before or after viability.
· Limits on public funding for elective abortions (thus, making American taxpayers fund a procedure that many find morally objectionable)
· Limits on the use of public facilities (such has public hospitals and medical schools at state universities) for abortions
· State and federal legal protections for individual healthcare providers who decline to participate in abortions
· Legal protections for Catholic and other religiously-affiliated hospitals who, while providing care to millions of poor and uninsured Americans, refuse to allow abortions within their facilities
(http://www.aul.org/FOCA)

Earlier I stated that Obama’s treatment of the unborn has been one of “indifference”. I was wrong. “Disdain” more accurately describes his treatment. The idea that a fetus is a human life is anathema to him, so much so that in response to the question, “When do babies get human rights?” he sarcastically answered, “I think that whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade.” (http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=29138) Interesting. It’s above his pay grade to know when a baby should get rights, but it’s not above his pay grade to deny a baby those rights. The hubris is sickening.
Considering his track record and his recent statements, it appears our president-elect is targeting the unborn.
I hope I am wrong; I fear I am not.

Donald Tremblay