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‘Pro-choice’ movement now advocates for aborting babies

Timothy Carney Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
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This past May, Politico congressional reporter Sarah Ferris reported on a memo circulated by the House Pro-Choice Caucus, issuing guidance on language to use when talking about abortion. One section of the guidance wants Democrats to refer to abortion as a “decision” instead of a “choice,” in an effort to support the abortion rights movement. Straight Arrow News contributor Tim Carney argues this is all part of an effort by the movement to encourage more abortions rather than to provide choice for pregnant women:

Defenders of abortion used to call themselves “pro-choice.” It looks like some of them are dropping that label and dropping all pretense of supporting choice. We should give them some points for honesty I suppose. In the spring, the House Pro-Choice Caucus issued a memo saying that the word “choice” — which is in the group’s name — is harmful. That is the congressional pro-choice Democrats are no longer pro-choice. They’re pro-abortion, and it’s part of a movement.

 Consider the treatment of crisis pregnancy centers. These are pro-life charities that help pregnant women in difficult circumstances. They provide ultrasounds, counseling, and nutrition information, and many are licensed medical clinics. They provide free maternity clothes. They provide adoption services for mothers who choose that route. And they provide parenting help, lactation consulting, baby clothes, cribs, car seats, and more, for mothers who choose that route. These are institutions that exist to make it easier for struggling mothers to choose life.

 But choosing to have the baby isn’t what the pro-abortion wing wants. And so they have launched a campaign against these institutions. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, pro-abortion groups have vandalized the Blue Ridge pregnancy center in Lynchburg, Virginia; Mountain Area Pregnancy Services in Asheville, North Carolina; the Life Choice Pregnancy Center in Winter Haven, Florida; Life Choices in Longmont, Colorado, and plenty of other pro-life pregnancy centers. And Senator Elizabeth Warren is trying to sic the federal government on these places.

 She said, “We need to shut them down here in Massachusetts, and we need to shut them down all around the country.” Warren has introduced a bill that would levy massive fines on pregnancy centers found guilty of “misinformation if those places don’t perform abortions.”

These attacks on people helping women choose life aren’t the only attacks on choice. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which Democrats passed through the House of Representatives, strikes down any state laws that protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, or other health-care providers. This is an effort to punish pro-life nurses who refuse to participate in elective abortions. And at the same time, the ACLU is continuing its fight to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is promising to crack down on pharmacists who won’t sell abortion drugs.

Take it all in and the pattern is clear. Many former pro-choice activists and politicians have openly embraced the pro-abortion stance. Let’s go back to that memo from the House Pro-Choice Caucus. They declared it is now harmful to talk about reducing abortions or to use the old Clinton-era motto of “safe, legal and rare.” That is, they do not want fewer abortions. Many people are pro-choice, but the leadership of the Democratic Party and the most vocal activists on that side are not champions of choice. They’re advocates for aborting babies.

Defenders of abortion used to call themselves pro choice. It looks like some of them are dropping that label and dropping all pretense of supporting choice. We should give them some points for honesty I suppose. In the spring, the house pro choice caucus issued a memo saying that the word choice which is in the group’s name is harmful. That is the congressional pro choice. Democrats are no longer pro choice. They’re pro abortion, and it’s part of a movement. Consider the treatment of crisis pregnancy centers. These are pro life charities that help pregnant women in difficult circumstances. They provide ultrasounds, counseling, nutrition information, and many are licensed medical clinics. They provide free maternity clothes. They provide adoption services for mothers who choose that route. And they provide parenting help lactation consulting baby clothes, cribs, car seats and more for mothers who choose that route. These are institutions that exist to make it easier for struggling mothers to choose life. But choosing to have the baby isn’t what the pro abortion wing wants. And so they have launched a campaign against these institutions. since Roe v Wade was overturned, pro abortion groups have vandalized the Blue Ridge pregnancy center in Lynchburg, Virginia, mountain area pregnancy services in Asheville, North Carolina, the life choice pregnancy center in Winter Haven, Florida life choices in Longmont, Colorado, and plenty of other pro life pregnancy centers. And Senator Elizabeth Warren is trying to sic the federal government on these places. She said quote, we need to shut them down here in Massachusetts, and we need to shut them down all around the country. Warren has introduced a bill that would levy massive fines on pregnancy centers found guilty of quote, misinformation if those places don’t perform abortions. These attacks on people helping women choose life aren’t the only attacks on choice. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which Democrats passed through the House of Representatives strikes down any state laws that protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, or other health care providers. This is an effort to punish pro life nurses who refuse to participate in elective abortions. And at the same time, the ACLU is continuing its fight to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is promising to crack down on pharmacists who won’t sell abortion drugs. Take it all in and the pattern is clear. Many former pro choice activists and politicians have openly embraced the pro abortion stance. Let’s go back to that memo from the house pro choice caucus. They declared it is now harmful to talk about reducing abortions or to use the old Clinton era motto of safe, legal and rare. That is they do not want fewer abortions. Many people are pro choice. But the leadership of the Democratic Party and the most vocal activists on that side are not champions of choice. They’re advocates for aborting babies

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