Happy Martin Luther King Day! We have achieved so many dreams for civil rights in this country. We have a black president! Children of all races go to school together. No one has to drink from a separate drinking fountain.Despite all of these beautiful advances, unborn children have no rights. Their lives are at the mercy of their mothers’ choice.
Came across this post at the Opine-Editorials blog. It has some compelling ideas about how to fight the Foca.
Newly Minted Federalists: Freedom of Choice Act
by Op-Ed
"Newly Minted Federalists" is what Opine contributor Fitz called foes of the Federal Marriage Amendment back in 2007. Then, several senators voted against bringing the amendment to a vote on the grounds that marriage was a social issue best left to the states. Fitz doubted their sincerity at the time, and perhaps with good reason. The proposed amendment was voted down primarily on party lines with the Democrats voting against. Democrats historically have not been known for their support of states' rights.
Federalism, it seemed, was simply a convenient fig leaf behind which senators at the time hoped to hide their opposition to marriage as currently constituted. Well now we have a chance to put these newly minted federalists to the test.
Democrats are planning to introduce a sweeping bill taking away what little latitude has been left to the states in that other contentious social issue of our time: abortion. Senate Democrats, flush from their gains in the 2008 election plan on reintroducing the Freedom Of Choice Act, a bill designed to crush existing state laws regulating abortion, many of which have already been found constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
I have included below the names of all Senators who opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2007. I cannot research myself all of these senators to see which gave "states' rights" as their reason, but I urge Opine readers to call their senators and ask if they voted for states' rights in 2007 whether they plan on voting the same way when it comes to federalizing abortion. While you're at it, feel free to call President Elect Obama's office and get his take. In 2007 he opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment on the grounds that it should be left to the states but he promises to vote against states' rights and sign the Freedom of Choice Act if it makes it to his desk.
Senators voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment:
Email links for senators: Family Leader Network Map
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Sununu (R-NH)
Wyden (D-OR)
Full results of the vote can be found here. Votes on a house version in 2006 can be found here.
I'm still in awe to realize that freedom of choice - something not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution - trumps right to life - one of the specifically listed self evident truths in the Declaration of Independence. Ah well, if Obama has his way, he'll change all those pesky phrases in the D of I or the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteWow. That is pretty interesting. Just more evidence of our "me" society that makes exceptions for adults while easily squelching children's rights.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what those senators would give as their reasoning for flip-flopping on the matter of state rights now?
Thanks Kingfisher, and thanks Fitz. I will be sure to contact my two confused federalists. :0)
"I'm still in awe to realize that freedom of choice-something not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution=trumps right to life-one of the specifically listed self evident truths in the Declaration of Independence.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel the same way with states having "the freedom of choice" to impose the death penalty on its citizens (which, last time I checked, trumps the "right to life" of the person executed by this penalty)?
Wow Daniel, are you equating an innocent child with a murderer? Because last time I checked, a murderer gives up his right to life when he murders someone knowing full-well what the penalty will be. It hasn't been "trumped," it's been relinquished. My, my but responsibility is a dying virtue.
ReplyDelete"Wow Daniel, are you equating an innocent child with a murderer?"
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm saying that Euripides' specific argument against abortion here, with his usage of the Declaration of Independence, is broad enough that it could apply equally to the death penalty.
"Because last time I checked, a murder gives up his right to life..."
Not according to the D of I. It states that "We are ALL (emphasis mine) endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights..." and then goes on to list the first one as "the right to life." There is no exception made for convicted murderers.