The first rule of thumb in the world of abortion on demand is to insist that whatever the manically pro-abortion are promoting, it is either being “misunderstood” or is in response to (and therefore the fault of) “Republicans” and/or “pro-lifers.”
I bring you Virginia’s new pro-abortion Gov. Ralph Northam who packaged himself last election cycle as Mr. Moderate. He was on WTOP this morning on the radio station’s long-standing interview program, ”Ask the Governor.”
The proposed abortion on demand/infanticide bill floating around the legislature came up. According to a subsequent story in the Washington Post,
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam faced intense backlash on Wednesday for comments he made about a fellow Democrat’s abortion-rights bill, whose sponsor said it would allow abortion right up to the final moments of pregnancy.
Note, “whose sponsor [Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax] said it would allow abortion right up to the final moments of pregnancy.”
Tran, as the video linked to this article demonstrates, is clear: abortion on demand throughout the entire pregnancy, including (just to make it crystal clear) when the woman is “dilating.”
Northam’s strategy on WTOP was the best defense is a good offense:
“Republicans in Virginia and across the country are trying to play politics with women’s health, and that is exactly why these decisions [to have abortions in the third trimester] belong between a woman and her physician, most of whom are men” [as if that had anything to do with anything].
What about charges of infanticide? That is, what to do about babies who survive the abortion? An even more duplicitous answer. Laura Vozzella of the Washington Post quotes the governor saying
It’s done in cases where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus that’s not viable. So in this particular example, if a mother’s in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired. And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
Northam’s spokesman said no one should ‘extrapolate,’ presumably suggesting the governor might be open to more than “comfort care” if the baby were “viable” or if the child did not have “severe deformities.” If you believe that, you’ll believe anything.
Two things. First who gets to decide if the baby is “viable”? The abortionist, of course.
Second, if the child has disabilities—“severe ” [whatever that means] or otherwise– Gov. Northam gives a one-thumb-up to comfort care and resuscitation (the latter only if the aborting woman and abortionists agree to it).
Pro-lifers are always being accused of “misrepresenting” what pro-abortionists are proposing. That works a lot of the time because most people cannot fathom that Democrats are as abortion-crazed as they are.
Here is part of the back and forth between Del. Todd Gilbert, Chair of the subcommittee, and Del. Tran (courtesy of National Review Online). Judge for yourself:
Gilbert: So how late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would impair the mental health of the woman?
Tran: Or physical health.
Gilbert: Okay. I’m talking about the mental health.
Tran: Through the third trimester. The third trimester goes all the way up to 40 weeks.
Gilbert: To the end of the third trimester?
Tran: Yes. I don’t think we have a limit in the bill.
Gilbert: So where it’s obvious that a woman is about to give birth, she has physical signs that she’s about give birth, would that still be a point at which she could request an abortion if she was so certified? [pause] She’s dilating?
Tran: Mr. Chairman, that you know, would be a decision that the doctor, the physician, and the woman would make.
Gilbert: I understand that. I’m asking if your bill allows that.
Tran: My bill would allow that, yes.
You can watch the dialogue here. The only thing more amazing than the scope of Tran’s bill is the utter blasé way she answers Del. Gilbert’s queries.
The bill is aptly called the Repeal Act because not only does it repeal any and all limitations on abortions in Virginia, but also because it repeals commonsense, mercy, and compassion.
Editor’s note. If you want to peruse stories all day long, go directly to nationalrighttolifenews.org.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
