Culture,  Politics

Supreme Court Upholds Partial Birth Abortion Ban

This news is heartening. The Washington Post reports:

The Supreme Court today narrowly upheld a nationwide ban on a controversial late-term abortion procedure, voting for the first time to restrict abortion rights and handing a major victory to President Bush and his social conservative allies.

In a 5-4 vote, the court ruled that the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, which Bush signed into law in 2003, does not violate a woman’s right to have an abortion, which has been the law of the land since the landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade.

The dramatic decision delivered to abortion opponents the promise of a more conservative court reconstituted by Bush.

The ruling marked the first time that the court has banned a specific abortion procedure. It also marked a departure from the Supreme Court’s past practice of requiring a “health exception” in laws governing abortion to allow the procedure when a woman’s health would otherwise be at risk.

Can you imagine what the decision would have been had Al Gore or John Kerry named the replacements for Chief Justice Rehnquist and Sandra Day O’Connor? Instead of upholding the ban 5-4, the court likely would have struck down the ban 6-3. I am profoundly thankful to God for President Bush and the wise appointments he made in John Roberts and Sam Alito.

The Republican and Democrat parties could not be any more polarized on this issue. The responses from Presidential candidates illustrates the divide and why no serious pro-life person could ever vote for a Democrat for President—at least as long as they continue to defend the barbarous position that babies can be legally killed at any point during a pregnancy. Clinton, Obama, and Edwards took their stand on the side of barbarism today.

Here are the responses:

DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS
Clinton: “It is precisely this erosion of our constitutional rights that I warned against when I opposed the nominations of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.”

Edwards: “I could not disagree more strongly” with the high court’s decision. . . This hard right turn is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election.”

Obama: “I strongly disagree with today’s Supreme Court ruling.”

McCain: “I’m very happy about the decision given my position on abortion. Partial birth is one of the most odious aspects of abortion . . . It is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life.”

Giuliani: “The Supreme Court reached the correct conclusion in upholding the congressional ban on partial birth abortion. I agree with it.”

Romney: “Today, our nation’s highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us.”

Brownback: “I am very pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the ban on partial birth abortions. This ban was enacted to put an end to one of the most grotesque forms of abortion, and it is completely in line with the respect for life that is at the very heart of our Constitution. This is a great step forward for our nation’s citizens, born and unborn.”

4 Comments

  • Paul

    I agree, this is a great day for not only the pro-life movement, but also for all Americans. I frankly was shocked that this wasn’t deemed unconstitutional because of it’s language, but right on!

    Now if only the pro-life lobby could do the same thing for abortions in the second trimester, that would be fantastic. And then we could be just like Sweden!

  • Jason

    Paul,

    Is this the “intentionally botch[ed] partial birth abortion ban” that you continually chastise Bush for supporting? Just clarifying that I have the right bill in mind.

    Thanks,

    Jason

  • Paul

    Yes it is, Jason.

    Nice shot, Oswald.

    Anyway, I am still shocked that it made it through the courts for a number of reasons. Happily shocked, mind you. But shocked nonetheless.

    You’re welcome,

    Paul

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