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Politics of Appeasement
by Judie Brown
Released June 4, 2007
Commentary by Judie Brown
A few days ago I joined with several pro-life leaders in signing an ad that
focused attention on Dr. James Dobson and other Christian leaders who had
celebrated the Supreme Court's decision in the Gonzales v. Carhart case.
We did so because it is of specific concern to each of us that the facts
contained in the actual Supreme Court decision and its ultimate impact on our
struggle to end abortion are not clearly understood by some-and perhaps
intentionally distorted or ignored by others.
While not surprising, it is of some concern that those who lashed out at the
ad's signers are in a state of denial, and in this particular case, that
condition could be more costly to the babies than anyone can imagine. Allow me
to explain.
Regardless of the wide variety of opinions on the court's decision, the
effect of that ruling on the future well being of preborn children and their
right to life is nil. In the long run, not a single preborn child will be
protected under this ruling. We tried to make that case in the ad.
In addition, one simple fact-that the justices gave credence to the concept
that abortion is acceptable as long as a certain procedure is no longer
used-should have horrified great men like Dr. Dobson rather than leading him to
celebrate the ruling. As we pointed out in the ad (and will be doing so again as
the ad continues to run in other publications), "This wicked ruling does not
even prohibit aborting partially born children. It is not a ban, but a
partial-birth abortion manual. These 'pro-life' justices give instructions on
what can be called the Navel Birth Abortion, only a four inch variation from a
textbook PBA [Partial Birth Abortion]."
Pointing out to Dr. Dobson and others that the celebration of such a sad,
cruel Supreme Court ruling is a "mockery of the goodwill of rank-and-file
pro-lifers" is not an attack on Dr. Dobson but rather a wake-up call. Asking Dr.
Dobson and those who agree with his position to repent of their support for this
sad, cruel Supreme Court ruling is in fact a sincere plea based on our respect
for them and, more importantly, our respect for the truth.
The truth in this case is not a matter of opinion but rather an honest
assessment of reality.
The sad fact-and the reason the ad was prepared in the first place-is that
moral relativism (political correctness, if you will) has crept into pro-life
politics and blinded many from seeing the difference between fact and fiction.
As someone who has been involved in efforts to expose the hypocrisy of the
partial-birth abortion charade for years, I can assure you that there have been
plenty of opportunities for Dr. Dobson and others to re-examine their support
for this deceptive "ban" and to expose it for what it really is ? a legislative
proposition created for political reasons. As such, the alleged ban has never
had any actual effect on the overall goal of restoring absolute protection to
every single innocent preborn baby.
Once the ad ran, groups such as the National Right to Life Committee came to
Dr. Dobson's defense, calling the ad an "attack" on him. Nothing could be
farther from the truth; but there is no way that National Right to Life, the
architect of the so-called ban, is going to admit that perhaps its proposed
strategy and the resulting Supreme Court decision are in error. While the NRLC
claimed "complete disagreement" with the ad, their spokesman went on to
perpetuate the lie by stating, "It's the first time that the court has allowed
the legislative branch to outlaw a specific abortion procedure."
It would seem that either NRLC has not read the actual decision, which bans
nothing, or it has chosen to stick to the story it has been telling for the past
fifteen years. The partial birth abortion "ban" never was a true ban, but rather
a regulatory measure; nothing more and nothing less. That fact has never
changed, yet it has always been denied by the legislation's ardent supporters.
There has been nearly unanimous refusal to point out that the partial birth
abortion law permits the very procedure it claimed to ban in cases where the
life of the mother is purportedly at stake.
Some years ago, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, "The wisdom of
hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly
denied to practicing politicians."
I would suggest to all those who insist on calling the Gonzales v.
Carhart decision a victory that they take the time to analyze the precise
wording of that decision and weigh its effect on the struggle to restore
personhood.
Mrs. Thatcher once reminded her countrymen that when consensus among a
particular group of people becomes more important than the principles upon which
that group of people claims to stand, "abandoning all beliefs, principles,
values and policies" is the result. Such appears to be the case among those who
have for so long supported a politically-motivated effort that has resulted in
nothing of substance.
The entire partial-birth abortion campaign of these past many years has
simply been an exercise in political appeasement. And frankly, this attempt to
appease politicians by offering them opportunities to do nothing of value, while
claiming to be working hard at ending abortion, has resulted in preborn children
paying a terrible price: the loss of their lives. The politics of appeasement
has gotten the pro-life movement nowhere. Not convinced? Then just take a look
at the current pathetic malaise among presidential candidates regarding their
positions on abortion.
It seems to me that by pacifying the very people who should be steadfast and
crystal clear in their actions and words on the basic question of whether it is
ever permissible to murder an innocent preborn child, the pro-life movement as a
whole has produced nothing of actual substance for the babies. Politics as
usual is simply not the answer.
It's time for all of us to repent of our political inertia, heed the words of
Christ and resolve with renewed vigor to abandon all else; we must follow
Christ, focus on Christ, heed His truth, preach His truth and leave behind all
that is not of Christ. It's time to take a stand with courage, without apology
and with renewal of commitment. It's time to agree that we will never
participate in any political or legislative campaign that in any way emphasizes
what is politically attainable rather than what is morally correct.
Release issued: 4 Jun 07
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