The Demise of Pro-Life Democrats: Be Careful What You Pray For

I wonder how pro-lifers will adjust when, having decided the government has the right to interfere in the choices of women, it is decided that means the government also has the right to interfere in the choices of men. How about if all those women who are required to give birth to the babies of incest and rape demand the castration of the fathers of those ill-conceived babies? Or, how about if women decide that second amendment solution so much beloved by some of the Tea Baggers is the right solution for their problem? I am so tired of all those ranting "Christians" who refuse to accept that the right of a woman to choose is a god-given right. It is, after all, according to them, God who put the womb in the body of the woman thus conferring upon her the right to make the choices about the baby until it is born. Don't they notice that when they want to turn that right over to government they are going against God's will?

Whatever happened to pro-prevention. I don't intend to have a child this year so I will practice prevention. I will see my doctor to see what method I should choose. I will abstain, take the pill, IUD, etc. so as not to bring an unwanted child into the world. I was an embryo, zygote as well as anyone else and I was given the chance at life. I believe abortion should stay on the books but I believe also that we need to get hold of our children young and TALK to them about their bodies and their respect for themselves and their future children. 42 million fetuses were aborted worldwide last year I think women can do better.

The less impact the pro-life movement has, the greater the good for America. Pro-life is UNAMERICAN. Pro-life is UNPATRIOTIC. It seeks to ban, and place limitations, on personal sovereignty. Just because abortion is legal doesn't mean EVERYONE gets abortions. How many new teenage moms are there? How many new single, jobless mothers are there now? Child birth is not going away, people. Chill the **** out. Limiting of options is infinitely more destructive to the American cause than promotion choices. Also note that fighting for a Christian agenda is equally unpatriotic and anti-American: it goes directly against the declaration that our government shall make no formal adoption of any religion. You are disrespecting that, and spitting in the faces of our founding fathers. You want to talk of principle? Stop trying to force your dogma on everybody else.

lo colon - The term is zygote, not Cygot; and yes, it is a human being. Once the sperm and egg are combined, the map for a full-fledged, unique, human being is created. That single cell has all of the human information he or she will ever have throughout life. It IS a human being. It is nothing else. Which brings us to the question of whether or not it is a human being worthy of protecting. At this point society has decided, no. Okay, fine. But I will bet you any amount of money you are against the death penalty. Which always leave me a bit confused about the way people like you think.

Well stated, TigerLilly. Hey Stacy, then you shouldn't object to the morning after pill being made readily availble to those that engage in unprotected sex. The Cygot is not a 'baby' yet. Wouldn't that reduce the huge burden imposed on the taxpayer in paying for unwanted pregnancies? Nah, that makes too much economic and practical sense. You gotta love this country where spineless politicians do not have the courage to make hard political choices either to repeal the Court decision permitting abortions or end this controversy once and for all. There are more pressing matters to attend to.

Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful article, as usual, Mr. Gibson. I have to admit that I am so weary of the self-righteous tone of the phase "pro-life" when it is applied only to the abortion issue. I suggest substituting the phrase "anti-abortion" when the issue under discussion only references preventing abortion. Let's use the term "pro-life" when it actually describes issues that support LIFE--like healthcare availability, care of our planet's air, water and soil, education, and a fair wage, just to name a few. So much of the so called "pro-life" movement rallies itself only around preventing abortion--once a child is born, I don't see much concern about whether its' thriving is equally supported. As a Catholic nun, I also dislike the fact that the pro-life issue has become contorted with punitive and exclusive religion. Fran Ferder FSPA

Stupek pretended to be pro-life until he got squeezed. Then he caved and quit, too embarrassed to run again because of all the pro-life support he had enjoyed up over the years. You can't be a principled pro-life voice and a Dem. at the same time.

Question: What good is the Pro Life label on a Democrat. Answer: it's a political ploy to pick up a few votes. Like Mr. Stupak and others in this congress, Pro Life Democrats have shown they will abandon pro life principles given even the slightest cover.

The real issue is that the GOP tries to tell us who to sleep with and what to do with our bodies, especially women. The GOP denies science, health issues for women and yet tries to tell us they are for individual freedom. BS! period. The GOP wants freedom for business but denies it for labor and working people by refusing to enforce safety laws (OHSA) that hurts people (workers) in favor of business. They fight sex education for young womenn and have for years, want them to have babies to keep them poor all in the name that things will be fine after death. Those that rule with the afterlife in mind have no business ruling in this life.

Double standards... Like when Repubs and teaparty SAY they want less Government intrusion in our private lives, yet they are the ones insisting on laws to outlaw things they personally don't like. So, I guess if they can stick a 'moral' tag on it, its justified? No abortion, no pot, no same sex marriage etc? But its ok to rob, rape and pollute the Earth, as long as there's a profit to be made? Oil companies can literally destroy whole ecosystems and peoples lives for generations, but thats ok, cause they're making a profit. If a poor girl gets pregnant, as it happens too often, which is the higher long term tax drain, an abortion or years of welfare for her and her child? If you don't like abortion, don't have one. Let God be the judge, you are not qualified to usurp his job. Men, wear a condom or shut up, its a nearly 100% sure cure for you. If you would teach kids the reality of how profoundly teen pregnancy will affect the quality of the rest of their lives, and discuss birth control instead of sticking your head in the sand and squawking abstinance, it would be alot more useful. Think of it as insurance, to protect your childs future. Statistics show well educated young women put off child bearing till they are in their mid to late twenties. Poorer, uneducated girls have those babies, drop out of school, and go on welfare, because the Daddy splits, her parents can't or wont help and its nearly impossible to go to school, care for and work to support yourself and a baby. Its nearly impossible for young people to get any jobs, these days, much less young Mom's who will have more than the usual sick days and daycare issues, etc. How about a little Christian love and understanding instead of condemnation of people who's lives and struggles you can't begin to imagine?