Politics

Intellectual Dishonesty of Pro-Abortion Politicians

There are very few pro-abortion politicians willing to talk openly about the unborn. Most obfuscate with tropes about “choice” and “reproductive health” without ever addressing the fundamental moral question. Are we killing human beings when we abort unborn children? Pro-lifers insist that the humanity of the unborn is the primary consideration. Pro-abortion politicians say… well actually, those politicians generally don’t want to talk about that at all. And if you press the issue, they close their eyes, plug their fingers in their ears, and cry “Nah, nah, nah, I’m not listening to you, nah, nah, nah…”

Case in point: A reporter asked House minority leader Nancy Pelosi this week whether an unborn child 20 weeks into pregnancy is a human being. After Pelosi failed to answer the question, the same reporter tried again asking,

My question is pretty simple. On the abortion issue, I understand your position on the legislation, but even the legislation aside, when it comes to the matter of whether or not an unborn child is a human being at 20 weeks gestation, what is your personal take on it. If it is not a human being, then what do you believe it is?

Pelosi again responds without answering the question but with an added flare of petulance and incredulity at the question—as if asking such a thing were a personal affront to her credibility as a woman. Pelosi said,

You know it is really interesting that you would come to these meetings to talk about it. The fact is is what we have said: The life and the health of the mother is what is preeminent in when a decision is made about a woman’s reproductive health. It isn’t an ideological fight, it is a personal health issue.

And as a mother of five, in six years, I have great standing on this issue, great understanding of it, more than my colleagues. In fact, one day many years ago, perhaps before you were born, when I was a new member of Congress, as a Catholic and a mom of five, opposing some of the initiatives similar to what–in the same vein as–what we have today, one of the Republicans stood up and said: Nancy Pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the pope.

Yeah, Yeah. That would be true. So, in any event, this is up to women, their conscience, their God, their doctor, their fate, their survival. And that is what the decision should be. Decisions about women’s reproductive health should not be made by politicians in Washington, D.C., but should honor the decisions that have been made by the Supreme Court, a decision made by the Supreme Court, recognizing the right of women to have that choice.

Not only does she claim a higher credibility than the Pope on this issue—which is strange since she’s a Roman Catholic—but in all her loquaciousness she still fails to answer the question. Why? Because she cannot go there. She cannot concede for a moment that the question is even relevant because the moment she does, she loses. She doesn’t have the intellectual honesty to face the question. So eyes close, fingers plug the ears, and “Nah, nah, nah, nah…” She may think that no one will notice the tantrum, but she is dead wrong on that. Everyone notices, and it is why her side is losing in the court of public opinion.

12 Comments

  • Tim Elliott

    I find it interesting that Pelosi considers it a “personal” not ideological issue, yet when the reporter asked for Pelosi’s “personal” opinion she refused to give it. I pray God would help me love her. This kind of childish, indignant irresponsibility is not very lovely at all…

  • Don Johnson

    It is true that pro-aborts like Pelosi cannot even discuss what is being done in an abortion, since their know their argument (such as it is) unravels once what is happening is discussed.

  • Christiane Smith

    Hi DENNY, some ‘heads up’:
    Yesterday on another blog, I was made aware of a startling statement supposedly attributed to Ross Douthat which makes an observation that may impact future intersections of religion and politics, this:

    @DouthatNYT
    Follow

    The idea that GOP is a party of moneyed interests posing as a culturally conservative party is, um, not always without empirical support.
    9:53 PM – 21 Jan 2015

  • Garth Madden

    See no evil, hear no evil. This might seem melodramatic, but this reminds me of video footage of German citizens being marched through the death camps by Allied armies who forced them to look at what they had supported. What the German citizens had overwhelmingly condoned with their silence and by their stubborn refusal to admit the reality of the horrors occurring under their watch. Blood is on your hands, Nancy. Your refusal to look at or acknowledge the bodies stacked in piles and bundles of innocent human hands, feet, hearts, and lifeless eyes condemns you, no less than what the world witnessed 70 years ago.

  • Paul Reed

    You can’t judge the entire pro-abortion movement by 1 politician. She’s just using politician-speak, like all politicians do. Go ask your average pro-abortion person, and they will in a very cavalier way tell you that abortion kills a human organism. Moreover, I find that pro-lifers (both non-politicians & politicians) have a far harder time talking about the implications of a pro-life legal code. What would happen the first time a woman dies or even gets hurt because she tries to do an abortion herself or goes to a back-alley one? Just try to imagine the media response to that. We’d be a “pro-choice” nation again in a matter of months. And another thing — the pro-abortion side isn’t losing in the court of public opinion. Just because someone doesn’t like abortion doesn’t mean they’re pro-life. Barring some huge change in the moral zeitgeist on par with the revolutions of the 60s, America will never be pro-life. You’ll see a few symbolic nickle & dime pro-life laws here and there, but that’s it.

  • Christiane Smith

    I’m sure Nancy Pelosi is knowledgeable about the Church’s social teachings. And in the context of those teachings, she has likely attempted to reconcile the dilemma of that unborn infant of 20 weeks gestation. She IS Catholic. She HAS lived five completed pregnancies and deliveries in six years. So there is no question that she has some insight into a situation where most men (particularly of other denominations) may not comprehend.

    Rather than the original question, I would respectfully ask Nancy Pelosi THIS question:
    What is the position of that unborn child of twenty-weeks gestation within the parameters of this particular document:
    http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

    The reason is that this document helps ‘connects the dots’ in much of Catholic theology together with much of Catholic moral and ethical teaching. Perhaps if Mrs. Pelosi spent some time therein, she may be able to better respond to the question put to her, at least in a way that shows a more integrated understanding. For those within my faith, they will understand this. For those who are not, let me say that the power of Catholic introspection and self-examination is well-developed among many in our faith as a part of our Christian formation,
    and when it is applied within the realm of our consciences, we are better able to examine the ‘situation’ in reality, to apply the teachings of the Church, and to pray for guidance in the formation a conscientious response to an issue.

    As a Catholic, Mrs. Pelosi would agree at least with this from the Vatican Catechism:
    ” “Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.”

  • Chris Ryan

    People have differing views of when life begins, whether it begins at conception, sometime later in the womb, or at birth. There’s no sense in pretending there’s an objectively true answer to that. Even the scriptures which pro-life supporters cite don’t say life begins at conception.

    • Ian Shaw

      Chris, that may be true, but regardless of ones thoughts on “when” life begins to our imperfect human minds, scripture clearly and explicitly declares that the child in the womb is a creation from God- made in the image of God By what or who’s authority do we have to destroy that human creation, being made in His image, that God is putting together, in his/her mother’s womb?

      Just asking….specifically about this topic and not on anything else related.

  • Rick Tatina

    This issue was brought up to Nancy Pelosi before during the Kermit Gosnell crimes last year and she was really defensive about it. The good thing for those who believe the unborn have rights is that there will always be someone bold enough to confront world leaders on this issue.

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