Friday, March 29, AD 2024 6:13am

Palin On Abortion In Johnstown, Pennsylvania-October 11

For years pro-lifers have dreamed about a national candidate who is not only pro-life, but who actually talks about it, and not just to pro-life groups.  We have such a candidate in Sarah Palin.  Here is the text of the relevant portion of her remarks at a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania today:

“In this same spirit, as defenders of the culture of life, John McCain and I believe in the goodness and potential of every innocent life.  I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves.  And who is more vulnerable, or more innocent, than a child?

When I learned that my son Trig would have special needs, I had to prepare my heart for the challenges to come.  At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding.  But I can tell you a few things I’ve learned already.

Yes, every innocent life matters.  Everyone belongs in the circle of protection.  Every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance.  There are the world’s standards of perfection … and then there are God’s, and these are the final measure.  Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake.

As for our beautiful baby boy, for Todd and me, he is only more precious because he is vulnerable.  In some ways, I think we stand to learn more from him than he does from us.  When we hold Trig and care for him, we don’t feel scared anymore.  We feel blessed.

It’s hard to think of many issues that could possibly be more important than who is protected in law and who isn’t – who is granted life and who is denied it.  So when our opponent, Senator Obama, speaks about questions of life, I listen very carefully.

I listened when he defended his unconditional support for unlimited abortions.  He said that a woman shouldn’t have to be – quote – “punished with a baby.”  He said that right here in Johnstown –“punished with a baby” – and it’s about time we called him on it.  The more I hear from Senator Obama, the more I understand why he is so vague and evasiveon the subject.  Americans need to see his record for what it is.  It’s not negative or mean-spirited to talk to about his record.  Whatever party you belong to, there are facts you need to know.

Senator Obama has voted against bills to end partial-birth abortion.  In the Illinois Senate, a bipartisan majority passed legislation against that practice.  Senator Obama opposed that bill.  He voted against it in committee, and voted “present” on the Senate floor.  In that legislature, “present” is how you vote when you’re against something, but don’t want to be held to account.

Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat, described partial-birth abortion as “too close to infanticide.”  Barack Obama thinks it’s a constitutional right, but he is wrong.

Most troubling, as a state senator, Barack Obamawouldn’t even stand up for the rights of infants born alive during an abortion.  These infants – often babies with special needs – are simply left to die.

In 2002, Congress unanimously passed a federal law to require medical care for those babies who survive an abortion.  They’re living, breathing babies, but Senator Obama describes them as “pre-viable.”  This merciful law was called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.  Illinois had a version of the same law.  Obama voted against it.

Asked about this vote, Senator Obama assured a reporter that he’d have voted “yes” on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born Alive Act.  There’s just one little problem with that story: the language of both the state and federal bills was identical.

In short, Senator Obamais a politician who has long since left behind even the middle ground on the issue of life.  He has sided with those who won’t even protect a child born alive.  And this exposes the emptiness of his promises to move beyond the “old politics.”

In both parties, Americans have many concerns to be weighed in the votes they cast on November fourth.  In times like these, with wars and a financial crisis, it’s easy to forget even as deep and abiding a concern as the right to life.  And it seems our opponent hopes that you will forget.  Like so much else in his agenda, he hopes you won’t notice how radical his ideas and record are until it’s too late.

But let there be no misunderstanding about the stakes.

A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for activist courts that will continue to smother the open and democratic debate we need on this issue, at both the state and federal level.  A vote for Barack Obamawould give the ultimate power over the issue of life to a politician who has never once done anything to protect the unborn.   As Senator Obamatold Pastor Rick Warren, it’s above his pay grade.

For a candidate who talks so often about “hope,” he offers no hope at all in meeting this great challenge to the conscience of America.  There is a growing consensus in our country that we can overcome narrow partisanship on this issue, and bring all the resources of a generous country to the aid of both women in need and the child waiting to be born.  We need more of the compassion and idealism that our opponent’s own party, at its best, once stood for.  We need the clarity and conviction of leaders like the late Governor Bob Casey.

He represented a humanity that speaks to all of us – no matter what our party, our background, our faith, or our gender.  And no matter your position on this sensitive subject, I hope that spirit will guide you on Election Day.  I ask you to vote for McCain-Palin on the November fourth, and help us to bring this country together in the rational discussion of compassion and life.”

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Mary
Mary
Saturday, October 11, AD 2008 4:56pm

Amen.

Tito Edwards
Saturday, October 11, AD 2008 5:34pm

One of my favorite quotes from Governor Palin:

“as defenders of the culture of life”.

One of the most despicable quotes I’ve heard from Senator Obama:

“punished with a baby”

This is the far left position that Senator holds that can be summed up nicely by the late “Senator Moynihan, a Democrat, described partial-birth abortion as “too close to infanticide.” Barack Obama thinks it’s a constitutional right, but he is wrong.”

For a full disclosure, I’m voting for the McCain/Palin ticket.

With that, I believe this rally today is the turning point of the election right now for the Pro-Life ticket to pull ahead of the Pro-Abortion ticket for the POTUS.

Tito Edwards
Saturday, October 11, AD 2008 5:52pm

Donald,

I have no delusions of the predicament that the McCain/Palin ticket find themselves in. I agree, if McCain wins, it’s because Palin dragged him across the finish line.

Regardless of the outcome, we need to remember not to make the mistake of nominating McCain (of course if we can nominate the Democrat, we would try, but it isn’t happening because of the party’s embrace of the culture of death). We should definitely follow up with Palin as a nominee. And ram it through the primaries in 2012.

DarwinCatholic
Saturday, October 11, AD 2008 6:48pm

I’m really glad to see some solid words out of Palin on this topic. Goodness knows, if there is someone who has the standing to say them, it is she. And I hope they win — though if the stock market doesn’t stabilize fast I don’t see how it’ll happen.

But I’ve got to admit that I’m not clear yet how Palin would be as presidential material. We’ll have to see how she develops on the national stage over the next four or eight years — win or lose.

Certainly, we’re desperately short of solid conservative talent on the national scene right now, but right now she strikes me more as a potentially solid number two than top of ticket material.

eric
eric
Saturday, October 11, AD 2008 8:07pm

What if…..Palin were Catholic? Would she have been in this? And if still chosen, how roasted would she have been? A pro-life Catholic candidate would not be allowed…..? As far as ever being #1, who’s in support would be the deal maker or breaker.

rob
rob
Sunday, October 12, AD 2008 3:23am

-What if…..Palin were Catholic? Would she have been in this?-

That is an interesting question. I think the answer is absolutely not. There is no way any candidate would have picked a pro-life Catholic to run with him. Palin’s selection was surprising enough, but a pro-life Catholic would suggest the “bowing to Rome”, which would drive away liberals as well as conservatives.

Kyle R. Cupp
Sunday, October 12, AD 2008 12:05pm

Criticism of Senator Obama’s record on abortion is needed, but we also need pro-life leaders who can effectively negotiate the twists and turns of politics in their representation of the unborn and who will make building a culture of life a top priority. We need pro-life leaders who will give the life issues the kind of attention that President Bush has given to terrorism and the Iraq War. How precisely would a McCain/Palin administration defend the unborn when faced with a Democratic controlled congress and a culture that largely celebrates choice? What priority would they give to ending abortion?

Bret Ramsey
Bret Ramsey
Sunday, October 12, AD 2008 12:40pm

Donald,

That would be the strongest ticket ever! I pray for that day!

Bret Ramsey
Bret Ramsey
Thursday, October 16, AD 2008 9:46pm

This is one of the many reason this woman rocks!!!!!!!!!

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/16/your-spirit-lifter-of-the-day/

Bret Ramsey
Bret Ramsey
Thursday, October 16, AD 2008 11:07pm

This is why this woman rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/16/your-spirit-lifter-of-the-day/

Bret Ramsey
Bret Ramsey
Thursday, October 16, AD 2008 11:08pm

This is why this Woman Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/16/your-spirit-lifter-of-the-day/

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