First, I apologize. I only realized late last night that the comments were turned off on yesterday’s post. That was not intentional. Now, today, talking about abortion and compromise, might as well really fire up the comments. LOL. On abortion, I think the pro-life movement is going to have to decide if it wants to save the pro-life cause or see abortion on demand up until birth.
At what point should a Christian take an uncompromising stand? At what point does God say to a nation, "That's enough!" Those questions troubled me enough to inspire writing a book: "OMG! We are Killing Babies." The "We" in that title includes well-meaning 'pro-life' partisans who are willing to compromise...aka...concede that a little bit of killing is necessary to reduce a lot of killing? There is absolutely no question; abortions terminate the life-cycle of humans, regardless of their prospective political persuasion.
We don't have a Democracy. Democracy is mob rule, and our founders did not want it. In this case, the "Democracy" would allow a majority to vote away another person's right to live.
This is what I don't get about people at the Dispatch, like that Catdoggio dude: Like all politicians, Republicans fall short of sainthood. That's no reason to revile them - it should be enough simply to point it out and MoveOn
Federalism works. If we can fight the prolife battle for decades to push the Federal Government out of the discussion, we can spend decades at the state level making the case for fewer abortions.
Not matter what the prolife movement believes, not every woman agrees and you have to win this battle with individuals.
The tyranny of government can force abortion on demand or no abortion. A free person will decide for themselves and fight (hopefully always within our federalist political constitutional republic) to protect their liberty. Hopefully that means fewer abortions.
Hard to agree. Hard not to. I believe abortion should be a winning issue for the GOP, given the Dems extremely radical (and barbaric) stance on the procedure, which is way to the left of Americans' beliefs and feelings. Rasmussen last May found only 13% of Americans believe abortion should be legal throughout a woman's pregnancy -- yet THAT is the Dems position. They've passed it in several states and want to in Congress for all states. A full 2/3rds of Americans do not believe abortion should be performed beyond the first 3 months. Nearly all of Western Europe countries agree, setting a limit at about 15 weeks. That was Lindsay Graham's proposal for America, while the Dems insisted on full term. SO. A commercial with black and white grainy film (like Trump is using to unjustly defame DeSantis on Social Security) showing doctors in shadowy operating rooms. "North Korea and China, where abortion is legal throughout an entire pregnancy. [Give the 13 and 67% American numbers.] Western society overwhelmingly supports a 15-week limit [roll the nations that do]. A majority of Republicans agree. Who supports abortion through all of pregnancy? . . . the governments of North Korea . . . and China . . . and the Democrat Party of the United States. End the barbarity. Vote Republican." Or something like that.
The Republicans will die as a party unless it's platform, and hence it's brand, connects with enough young people because clearly it is young people that are making the difference in elections.
Today the Democrats along with their media propaganda empire, have successfully negative branded the Republicans as being the enemy of young people. Ask the average young voter what they think about the GOP and the answer is "ick".
It is very hard for Republicans to not fall into this trap as there are MANY things about modern young people that are extremely irritating and counter to conservative ethos. Some of these things warrant head on conflict (like the demand for socialism, violent leftist protests, attempts to destroy free speech rights, attempts to destroy Second Amendment rights etc.). However, the trap is to lump all young people as being part of these extremist activists and project general disdain... when MOST young people are not extremist activists.
I see some platform ideas moves that would help to pull more young people to the Republican party.
However, none of them will have any impact if the Republican party continues to push the "life at conception" moral absolutism. This position is hostile to young people... especially young women. It trumps anything else the Republicans might do to attract the youth vote.
Assuming the GOP can agree with a compromise position on abortion (suggest just adopting the European standards), then I think the following additional platform positions should be adopted:
Housing costs - The GOP should come forward with a comprehensive plan to increase the supply and lower the cost of housing nationwide. This includes setting measurable goals for states and cities, and tying federal incentives and penalties for performance. The high cost of housing is one of the biggest hits to young people. It is generally in Democrat-controlled states and cities where the biggest problems exists. The left NIMBY and environmental activist hive prevents new housing development. The GOP needs to take a leadership stand against that. In doing so, it will attract more young people frustrated with the lack of housing options and the high cost.
Student loans - Interest rates, terms and penalties are too high. These are risk-subsidized consumer loans and the lenders are frankly gorging on profit from them. Because they are government guaranteed debt instruments, the government should have a bigger say over the rates, terms, penalties, etc. Lastly, the student loan program needs to be changed so that the schools have some financial skin in the game. My idea would be that the schools have to put up 5% or 10% of the loan amount that would be returned to them with interest when the loan is repaid.
Career Opportunities - The GOP needs to put forth a comprehensive plan to increase economic opportunity for Americans.
Young family support - The GOP needs to put forth a comprehensive plan to incentivize and support young families. Tax incentives, childcare assistance, support for family leave benefits related to childbirth, etc. Some of this goes against conservative ethos of too much social spending and greater regulatory impacts to business; however, we are in crisis mode with young people not marrying and not having children.
"We actually need to realize politics still matter and voters still matter. We cannot always get our way, even when we are right. We have to be prepared for reasonable compromises and can fairly articulate that what works in some states won’t work in others."
So, when does "being right" become more important than politics and votes? Do we compromise on every issue? I know we can't be absolutists on all issues, but are there some that might require it, such as life?
Halleluia, comments are enabled again. Thank you, Erick. For a minute there I thought I had written something offensive and had been blocked.
The shock for the abortionists was that the courts let them get fat and lazy, so they didn’t give a flip about the determined and organized pro-life group. They are learning it was a bad bet and are now decades behind in the fight. BUT this is an ongoing fight. It’s nowhere near over.
The legislative skirmishes we are seeing today are the result of a bad Supreme ruling decades ago that effectively ended this debate.
The Dems working to throw Feinstein off the Judiciary committee shows that they at least learned how critical judges are. Trump and McConnell taught them that lesson. Now it's up to Senate Republicans to block the Dem's attempt at replacing Feinstein.
The appeals court ruling today effectively blocked mail order abortions. You must physically see the doctor, and the drug can only be given if the doc knows it is within the first 7 weeks.
There will be more skirmishes, but at least they are happening at the ballot box and in the courts, and not in the streets.
The real point here that is consistently ignored is the legal status of an unborn child. It’s a constitutional issue that has to be resolved. The Constitution does not guarantee an absolute right to abortion, as the recent Supreme Court reversal of Roe v Wade pointed out. That didn’t make abortions illegal, but it removed an artificial Constitutional protection. The states are currently trying to work that out, and as the article here correctly points out, it will get resolved at the ballot box.
But we are still left with the root issue. Is the unborn child simply an appendage of the woman’s body that can be disposed of at will, right up to birth, or does the child become a citizen at some point before that with all rights afforded said citizen.
If someone physically abuses a pregnant woman to the point where her unborn child dies, is that person guilty of murder? If a woman sees that her unborn child is not the sex she wanted, does she have a right to end it’s life? These are potential issues that only an amendment will adequately address.
Remember the president who said abortion should be "safe, legal, and rare?" Like you, I think some compromise is necessary to protect as many children as possible. I wrote an essay about the middle ground last summer, and I still think 10-12 weeks is reasonable. It's awful no matter what. I hate abortion. I also think exclusions and definition need to be part of legislation: D&C after a miscarriage or stillbirth is medical care, not abortion. Terminating an ectopic pregnancy is medical care, not abortion. Life of the mother must be an explicit exemption. I read there are doctors who refused care because they don't want trouble for violating a statute that doesn't clearly specify exceptions. This is the most recent one I read: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/10/pprom-florida-abortion-ban/, but there are plenty to find. I might even go along with certain chromosomal defects up to 22 weeks (Trisomy 18 is one). But the law must be clear, specific, and detailed so no one can claim ignorance.
Thank you Stephanie. I dont see this brought up enough. While I align strongly with prolife, I have an issue with women being denied medical care in the cases like you describe. I remember a case in Ireland where a woman had complications in her pregnancy and even though the fetus would not survive, she was denied a medially needed abortion. She went septic and died - while in hospital.
Also the recent case of the 10 year old victim of rape that had to travel across state lines to get an abortion. Several prominent conservatives spoke out saying that she should basically be forced to have the child. In cases like that, the decisions for that child should be between her family and medical doctors, not the state and a bunch of people who will not have to live with the outcome.
There have to be exceptions for rape, incest and medical intervention at the bare minimum.
This is all well and good to suggest we need to "vote for the only guy who can win" and hold our nose on the rest. However, I'm sick and tired of being betrayed by the Hold Your Nose candidate on all sorts of other unconservative stuff in addition to abortion. Forget that. If it were just a "twenty one weeks is all we can get" and everything else is there, fine, I'm good with that. However, if these seame candidates are still, "Let's spend like drunken sailors (sorry Navy for the comparison to Congress), let's compromise on gun control, let's not hold democrats accountable for actual laws broken, and let's just be rubber stamps for whatever the RINOs want" I am NOT down for that and they can pound sand. If that's the kind of Republicans this approach is going to elect, then yeah I'm fine with Dems being in charge. I expect a Dem to burn it down. I do NOT expect a Republican to burn it down and try to convince me there's no smoke in the fire. God bless and Godspeed.
“Republicans moving rapidly to the abolitionist position may make them hold their head high and sleep well at night, but it is also risks Democrats elected in swing states that then enact abortion on demand until birth.”
Exactly. With respect to this “holding head high” absolutely moral positioning, and even considering the “hearts and minds” goal, the absence of demonstrated care for the female making the mistake IS the fatal political flaw. In fact I would say that the messaging from the anti-abortion right is hostile to the female making the mistake… or if not hostile, so void of care (she is now just a vessel) that the left can easily characterize it as hostility.
Even in what Erick writes here you can see a level of moral anger over the sexual freedom and depravation that permeates American society. I think the moral right is angry, and has a right to be angry. They also have a right to hold their “conception at birth” views. But anything less than compromise is a political death sentence for Republicans… because without it, the clear message is that Republicans don’t care about the lives of people that lack self control, have unprotected sex that results in unwanted pregnancy. Almost every young person lacks self control, wants to have sex and is prone to mistakes. And clearly young people are now calling the shots in swing state elections.
Based on the 2022 midterms, abortion wins elections in the current environment. Republicans had better get real or they are not going to lose elections, but the country. Even "Republican" women will vote them out, as they did in 2022. As a Pro-Life man, I have difficulty with that. However, it is real. Hello, Republican leaders: Wake up.
Another comment... There are some who don't like the idea of compromise, because in fact you are killing a child in the womb. However, someone who has an abortion will have to stand in front of the LORD some day and explain it.... That may be cold comfort to those who insist on a total ban... but that's the way things are. Also, keep in mind that, as sinners, ALL of us will have to stand before God in judgement some day.
I'm a Conservative Republican who could care less about abortion. Do I believe it's killing a baby? Yes, but it has nothing to do with me. As a Christian, I know it's something that person will have to answer for one day. But, unless God specifically changes me with saying something about it, I see and don't see. I keep life moving. It's a distraction from the real issues. If Republicans just turned away and gave the responsibility completely to the democrats, they could win every election. Let those people answer for the sins of their own bodies. All these secular issues, put the onus on them. It would free us up for more important issues.
At what point should a Christian take an uncompromising stand? At what point does God say to a nation, "That's enough!" Those questions troubled me enough to inspire writing a book: "OMG! We are Killing Babies." The "We" in that title includes well-meaning 'pro-life' partisans who are willing to compromise...aka...concede that a little bit of killing is necessary to reduce a lot of killing? There is absolutely no question; abortions terminate the life-cycle of humans, regardless of their prospective political persuasion.
Why is there is there no option to share anymore?
Reasonable compromises? Sounds like something called . . . democracy.
We don't have a Democracy. Democracy is mob rule, and our founders did not want it. In this case, the "Democracy" would allow a majority to vote away another person's right to live.
This is what I don't get about people at the Dispatch, like that Catdoggio dude: Like all politicians, Republicans fall short of sainthood. That's no reason to revile them - it should be enough simply to point it out and MoveOn
Federalism works. If we can fight the prolife battle for decades to push the Federal Government out of the discussion, we can spend decades at the state level making the case for fewer abortions.
Not matter what the prolife movement believes, not every woman agrees and you have to win this battle with individuals.
The tyranny of government can force abortion on demand or no abortion. A free person will decide for themselves and fight (hopefully always within our federalist political constitutional republic) to protect their liberty. Hopefully that means fewer abortions.
Hard to agree. Hard not to. I believe abortion should be a winning issue for the GOP, given the Dems extremely radical (and barbaric) stance on the procedure, which is way to the left of Americans' beliefs and feelings. Rasmussen last May found only 13% of Americans believe abortion should be legal throughout a woman's pregnancy -- yet THAT is the Dems position. They've passed it in several states and want to in Congress for all states. A full 2/3rds of Americans do not believe abortion should be performed beyond the first 3 months. Nearly all of Western Europe countries agree, setting a limit at about 15 weeks. That was Lindsay Graham's proposal for America, while the Dems insisted on full term. SO. A commercial with black and white grainy film (like Trump is using to unjustly defame DeSantis on Social Security) showing doctors in shadowy operating rooms. "North Korea and China, where abortion is legal throughout an entire pregnancy. [Give the 13 and 67% American numbers.] Western society overwhelmingly supports a 15-week limit [roll the nations that do]. A majority of Republicans agree. Who supports abortion through all of pregnancy? . . . the governments of North Korea . . . and China . . . and the Democrat Party of the United States. End the barbarity. Vote Republican." Or something like that.
The Republicans will die as a party unless it's platform, and hence it's brand, connects with enough young people because clearly it is young people that are making the difference in elections.
Today the Democrats along with their media propaganda empire, have successfully negative branded the Republicans as being the enemy of young people. Ask the average young voter what they think about the GOP and the answer is "ick".
It is very hard for Republicans to not fall into this trap as there are MANY things about modern young people that are extremely irritating and counter to conservative ethos. Some of these things warrant head on conflict (like the demand for socialism, violent leftist protests, attempts to destroy free speech rights, attempts to destroy Second Amendment rights etc.). However, the trap is to lump all young people as being part of these extremist activists and project general disdain... when MOST young people are not extremist activists.
I see some platform ideas moves that would help to pull more young people to the Republican party.
However, none of them will have any impact if the Republican party continues to push the "life at conception" moral absolutism. This position is hostile to young people... especially young women. It trumps anything else the Republicans might do to attract the youth vote.
Assuming the GOP can agree with a compromise position on abortion (suggest just adopting the European standards), then I think the following additional platform positions should be adopted:
Housing costs - The GOP should come forward with a comprehensive plan to increase the supply and lower the cost of housing nationwide. This includes setting measurable goals for states and cities, and tying federal incentives and penalties for performance. The high cost of housing is one of the biggest hits to young people. It is generally in Democrat-controlled states and cities where the biggest problems exists. The left NIMBY and environmental activist hive prevents new housing development. The GOP needs to take a leadership stand against that. In doing so, it will attract more young people frustrated with the lack of housing options and the high cost.
Student loans - Interest rates, terms and penalties are too high. These are risk-subsidized consumer loans and the lenders are frankly gorging on profit from them. Because they are government guaranteed debt instruments, the government should have a bigger say over the rates, terms, penalties, etc. Lastly, the student loan program needs to be changed so that the schools have some financial skin in the game. My idea would be that the schools have to put up 5% or 10% of the loan amount that would be returned to them with interest when the loan is repaid.
Career Opportunities - The GOP needs to put forth a comprehensive plan to increase economic opportunity for Americans.
Young family support - The GOP needs to put forth a comprehensive plan to incentivize and support young families. Tax incentives, childcare assistance, support for family leave benefits related to childbirth, etc. Some of this goes against conservative ethos of too much social spending and greater regulatory impacts to business; however, we are in crisis mode with young people not marrying and not having children.
"We actually need to realize politics still matter and voters still matter. We cannot always get our way, even when we are right. We have to be prepared for reasonable compromises and can fairly articulate that what works in some states won’t work in others."
So, when does "being right" become more important than politics and votes? Do we compromise on every issue? I know we can't be absolutists on all issues, but are there some that might require it, such as life?
Halleluia, comments are enabled again. Thank you, Erick. For a minute there I thought I had written something offensive and had been blocked.
The shock for the abortionists was that the courts let them get fat and lazy, so they didn’t give a flip about the determined and organized pro-life group. They are learning it was a bad bet and are now decades behind in the fight. BUT this is an ongoing fight. It’s nowhere near over.
The legislative skirmishes we are seeing today are the result of a bad Supreme ruling decades ago that effectively ended this debate.
The Dems working to throw Feinstein off the Judiciary committee shows that they at least learned how critical judges are. Trump and McConnell taught them that lesson. Now it's up to Senate Republicans to block the Dem's attempt at replacing Feinstein.
The appeals court ruling today effectively blocked mail order abortions. You must physically see the doctor, and the drug can only be given if the doc knows it is within the first 7 weeks.
There will be more skirmishes, but at least they are happening at the ballot box and in the courts, and not in the streets.
The real point here that is consistently ignored is the legal status of an unborn child. It’s a constitutional issue that has to be resolved. The Constitution does not guarantee an absolute right to abortion, as the recent Supreme Court reversal of Roe v Wade pointed out. That didn’t make abortions illegal, but it removed an artificial Constitutional protection. The states are currently trying to work that out, and as the article here correctly points out, it will get resolved at the ballot box.
But we are still left with the root issue. Is the unborn child simply an appendage of the woman’s body that can be disposed of at will, right up to birth, or does the child become a citizen at some point before that with all rights afforded said citizen.
If someone physically abuses a pregnant woman to the point where her unborn child dies, is that person guilty of murder? If a woman sees that her unborn child is not the sex she wanted, does she have a right to end it’s life? These are potential issues that only an amendment will adequately address.
Remember the president who said abortion should be "safe, legal, and rare?" Like you, I think some compromise is necessary to protect as many children as possible. I wrote an essay about the middle ground last summer, and I still think 10-12 weeks is reasonable. It's awful no matter what. I hate abortion. I also think exclusions and definition need to be part of legislation: D&C after a miscarriage or stillbirth is medical care, not abortion. Terminating an ectopic pregnancy is medical care, not abortion. Life of the mother must be an explicit exemption. I read there are doctors who refused care because they don't want trouble for violating a statute that doesn't clearly specify exceptions. This is the most recent one I read: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/10/pprom-florida-abortion-ban/, but there are plenty to find. I might even go along with certain chromosomal defects up to 22 weeks (Trisomy 18 is one). But the law must be clear, specific, and detailed so no one can claim ignorance.
All or nothing never works out.
Thank you Stephanie. I dont see this brought up enough. While I align strongly with prolife, I have an issue with women being denied medical care in the cases like you describe. I remember a case in Ireland where a woman had complications in her pregnancy and even though the fetus would not survive, she was denied a medially needed abortion. She went septic and died - while in hospital.
Also the recent case of the 10 year old victim of rape that had to travel across state lines to get an abortion. Several prominent conservatives spoke out saying that she should basically be forced to have the child. In cases like that, the decisions for that child should be between her family and medical doctors, not the state and a bunch of people who will not have to live with the outcome.
There have to be exceptions for rape, incest and medical intervention at the bare minimum.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/27/world/europe/savita-halappanavar-ireland-abortion.html
This is all well and good to suggest we need to "vote for the only guy who can win" and hold our nose on the rest. However, I'm sick and tired of being betrayed by the Hold Your Nose candidate on all sorts of other unconservative stuff in addition to abortion. Forget that. If it were just a "twenty one weeks is all we can get" and everything else is there, fine, I'm good with that. However, if these seame candidates are still, "Let's spend like drunken sailors (sorry Navy for the comparison to Congress), let's compromise on gun control, let's not hold democrats accountable for actual laws broken, and let's just be rubber stamps for whatever the RINOs want" I am NOT down for that and they can pound sand. If that's the kind of Republicans this approach is going to elect, then yeah I'm fine with Dems being in charge. I expect a Dem to burn it down. I do NOT expect a Republican to burn it down and try to convince me there's no smoke in the fire. God bless and Godspeed.
“Republicans moving rapidly to the abolitionist position may make them hold their head high and sleep well at night, but it is also risks Democrats elected in swing states that then enact abortion on demand until birth.”
Exactly. With respect to this “holding head high” absolutely moral positioning, and even considering the “hearts and minds” goal, the absence of demonstrated care for the female making the mistake IS the fatal political flaw. In fact I would say that the messaging from the anti-abortion right is hostile to the female making the mistake… or if not hostile, so void of care (she is now just a vessel) that the left can easily characterize it as hostility.
Even in what Erick writes here you can see a level of moral anger over the sexual freedom and depravation that permeates American society. I think the moral right is angry, and has a right to be angry. They also have a right to hold their “conception at birth” views. But anything less than compromise is a political death sentence for Republicans… because without it, the clear message is that Republicans don’t care about the lives of people that lack self control, have unprotected sex that results in unwanted pregnancy. Almost every young person lacks self control, wants to have sex and is prone to mistakes. And clearly young people are now calling the shots in swing state elections.
Based on the 2022 midterms, abortion wins elections in the current environment. Republicans had better get real or they are not going to lose elections, but the country. Even "Republican" women will vote them out, as they did in 2022. As a Pro-Life man, I have difficulty with that. However, it is real. Hello, Republican leaders: Wake up.
Another comment... There are some who don't like the idea of compromise, because in fact you are killing a child in the womb. However, someone who has an abortion will have to stand in front of the LORD some day and explain it.... That may be cold comfort to those who insist on a total ban... but that's the way things are. Also, keep in mind that, as sinners, ALL of us will have to stand before God in judgement some day.
I'm a Conservative Republican who could care less about abortion. Do I believe it's killing a baby? Yes, but it has nothing to do with me. As a Christian, I know it's something that person will have to answer for one day. But, unless God specifically changes me with saying something about it, I see and don't see. I keep life moving. It's a distraction from the real issues. If Republicans just turned away and gave the responsibility completely to the democrats, they could win every election. Let those people answer for the sins of their own bodies. All these secular issues, put the onus on them. It would free us up for more important issues.