Evangelicals, Trump, abortion, and the State of the Union
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
You could sum up in one word why many evangelicals voted for Donald Trump: abortion. It is therefore highly significant that it was Trump who made what might well be the strongest pro-life statement ever in a State of the Union address.
In 2003, President George W. Bush spoke out against partial-birth abortion, saying : "By caring for children who need mentors, and for addicted men and women who need treatment, we are building a more welcoming society – a culture that values every life. And in this work we must not overlook the weakest among us. I ask you to protect infants at the very hour of their birth and end the practice of partial-birth abortion."
But Trump took things to another level by rebuking the celebration of New York's new abortion law and Virginia Gov. Northam's infanticide comments. The President minced no words :
"There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our Nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he basically stated he would execute a baby after birth."
So, he first appealed to a mother's instincts, then contrasted that with the heartlessness of lawmakers cheering a brutal abortion law, then described Gov. Northam's position for exactly what it was: giving parents the right to "execute a baby after birth."
This was a significant moment in the history of the pro-life movement. He continued:
"To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children – born and unborn – are made in the holy image of God."
To repeat: This was a historic moment.
The President spoke of the personhood of the baby in the womb, thereby declaring that it is not simply a mass of cells. He spoke of the baby's ability to feel pain, underscoring the cruelty of abortion. He spoke of the unborn as "innocent life," reminding us of the injustice of abortion. And then he spoke of all children – inside and outside the womb – as made in God's holy image.
Was Trump simply playing to his base? Was he trying to rally the troops for 2020? Was he sounding religious when he is no such thing?
Perhaps. Perhaps he's simply saying what his constituents want to hear.
But even if that was the case, it would be still highly significant, given the power of the President's bully pulpit.
But the truth is that Trump has backed his words with actions.
He has appointed pro-life justices to the courts.
He has signed pro-life bills.
And he has been consistent in his stance throughout his presidency.
In that respect, whether he really means what he says and does is secondary. What matters is that he is both saying it and doing it.
Not surprisingly, there was immediate liberal pushback against comments, with Lydia O'Connor at the Huffington Post proclaiming , "Trump Turns To Absurd Abortion Imagery In State Of The Union Speech ... The president claimed that a new New York law would 'allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth.'"
O'Connor dismisses Trump's claims, writing: "What the bill does is expand access to abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy to women carrying a fetus that cannot live outside the womb. Previously, the procedure was available only to women at that stage of pregnancy if their health was threatened."
In support of this, she links to another article which notes that, "Under the new law ... women can also get an abortion after 24 weeks if their health is threatened or the fetus isn't viable."
So, the very link provided by O'Connor contradicts her argument and vindicates Trump's imagery: Right up to the moment of the birth , if an abortion was deemed necessary for the mother's health, it could be performed.
Why not own up to it?
Why not celebrate it, as the New York lawmakers did?
And, in the spirit of "women's rights," why does it matter if the baby is aborted at 8 weeks or at 30 weeks? What is wrong with Trump's imagery if the baby is still in the womb?
Right now, with the increasing militancy of the pro-abortionists, the pro-life movement is freshly mobilized.
And the roles of President Trump and Vice President Pence have been highly significant as well, with Pence addressing last month's pro-life rally in person and Trump doing so remotely.
Pence also wrote a stinging response to Gov. Northam's remarks, which he characterized as "morally reprehensible and evil."
Against this backdrop, the importance of Trump's State of the Union comments can hardly be exaggerated, underscoring why many evangelicals voted for him.
How different things would look today had Hillary Clinton been president.
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"Militancy of the pro abortion crowd." ? ?
Pretty sure that nobody is pro abortion. That's just a far right wing meme.
Another falsehood...NO one is pro abortion. I know if you keep repeating a lie people will believe it.
why waste the woman's time if she does not want to have a child and take good care of it?
Apparently you don't read the laws and why women would abort late term....more bs
Why should a woman be a human incubator for 40 weeks if she doesn't want to be?
Have YOU ever been pregnant? No? Then sit down and color.
NO one is pro abortion, why do you keep spreading this falsehood.
Let me explain it to you for the millionth time:
Here are the choices:
Birth and keep
Birth and adopt out
Abortion
Prochoice is for all choices and letting the individual woman decide which choice is best for HER.
The forced birth crowd never gets it.
When you can get pregnant and give birth than YOU can decide which choice is best for YOU. Not your uterus NOT your say.
And if you don't think for one minute that Trump has NOT paid for someone's abortion than I have a bridge to sell to you.
Don't forget he wanted Marla to abort Tiffany, but you don't seem to give a shit about that now do you.
And of course there is not a whit of mention concerning all of the men who skip out on their financial and personal obligations of the child. Why don't the 'anti-choicers' ever look at that?
Don't have to answer. We know why.
And there is nothing wrong with that. It is taking care of adult responsibilities in a cost effective way
Proof...where's your proof, and once again NO one is pro abortion.
Not your unplanned pregnancy NOT your decision.
Oh. You're referring to Broidy? My bad, he's married.
I will take care of my life and future first and foremost
If they don't want kids, why would they irresponsibility stay pregnant?
Pencils have erasers and computers have a delete key for good reasons
It is true....no matter how many times you try to say it is
They aren't getting pregnant on their own......
My father made me earn $500 (about 4 overtime shifts) and give to him to hold in case I had to take care of a problem, didn't need it and later paid for wedding reception with it
Tiffany who?
Tiffany Trump...Trump and Marla Maples' daughter.
Trump is so smart and knows exactly what he is talking about.....s/
He knows the republicans/christian right to a tee, yes, they'd love to abolish civil rights for women, gays, etc.
"Since the founding of our nation, many of our greatest strides – from gaining our independence to abolition of civil rights to extending the vote for women – have been led by people of faith," Trump said.