By Dave Andrusko
Debbie Lesko
Photo by Gage Skidmore
It was important for all the obvious reasons that pro-life Republican Debbie Lesko defeated pro-abortion Democrat Hiral Tipirneni in Tuesday’s special election to fill the Arizona’s 8th congressional district vacancy.
In spite of non-stop support (including an editorial endorsement) from the Arizona Republic for Tipirneni, Lesko, a state Senator, prevailed.
You want to retain a seat that had been in pro-life hands, of course. You also want the House of Representatives to remain under pro-life leadership. Every election counts since off-year elections historically favor the “out” party.
And when the Big Three of pro-abortion political activism—EMILY’s List, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Planned Parenthood—line up as they did behind Tipirneni, it sends an important signal when pro-life volunteerism defeats their deep pockets.
But why do the Arizona Republic and EMILY’s List and NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood so love Tipirneni? She is astonishingly pro-abortion.
The Free Beacon’s Cameron Cawthorne wrote a very helpful story Monday based on Tipirneni’s responses to abortion-related questions posed Sunday on “Kasie DC.”
Host Kasie Hunt asked what Tipirneni, “Would you support for example a ban on partial-birth abortion?”
First, the yada, yada. “I truly do believe that is a decision that should be between a woman, her partner, her physician, and her faith,” Tipirneni responded.
To her great credit, Hunt pressed on: “Is there a point at which you do think abortion should be limited?”
According to Cawthorne, here’s Tipirneni’s evasive response:
“Late-term abortions, those are based on medical input from very experienced physicians, and it’s usually related to a risk to the woman’s life,” Tipirneni said, signaling support. “It is not something that is made frivolously. It is something that is very critical, and I don’t think that that’s something that we should be legislating. We need to let medical professionals make that decision based on what is best for that patient.”
#1. Late-term abortions are not “usually related to a risk to the woman’s life,” as we have explained repeatedly.
#2. And the issue is not whether the decision was made “frivolously.” Rather it’s that even the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute has reported that the reasons women have abortions 20 weeks and later have to do with relational issues, being young, and having trouble deciding earlier in pregnancy, to name just three of the primary reasons.
#3. There is a large majority in all polls that oppose late abortions, so it quite appropriate to “legislate” to protect pain-capable unborn children.
Congratulations Congress-woman-elect Debbie Lesko.