My latest from Washington Times Communities
SAN DIEGO, December 31, 2011 — New Year’s is a time of renewal and reflection. As Americans say goodbye to 2011—the good, the wonderful, the bad, and the ugly—they must go into 2012 with optimism.
Why not make 2012 a great year?
Whether it is losing weight, rekindling friendships, finding a job, or being a better individual, New Year’s resolutions can go a long way if people fully commit to them.
Those of us who are politically conservative have a few resolutions of our own.
Conservatives are wholly committed to replacing President Obama with a new president in 2012, along with winning more Senate seats and maintaining a majority in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, conservatives want to create a business-friendly climate and promote American exceptionalism in the upcoming year. More importantly, conservatives also desire to stand up for life, tradition, and personal responsibility.
Come 2012, conservatives must stand for the rights of the unborn.
This past year, the pro-life movement successfully challenged the abortion industry and won. Most pointedly, pro-life activists exposed corruption, misuse of taxpayer dollars, and other instances of abuse at Planned Parenthood offices across the nation.
2011 will be regarded as the year Planned Parenthood flinched at the sight of a growing pro-life American populace. A Gallup poll released in May showed that more Americans find abortion morally wrong, although 49 percent identify as “pro-choice” and 45 percent identify as “pro-life” when asked about their stance on the issue. Moreover, young Americans have flocked to the pro-life movement.
Gallup’s Lydia Saad wrote, “Americans are rather conservative in their stance on abortion, with 61% now preferring that abortion be legal in only a few circumstances or no circumstances. By contrast, 37% want abortion legal in all or most circumstances.”
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a comprehensive measure to defund Planned Parenthood. The Pence Amendment—which was heralded by Republican lawmakers—successfully passed in the House but failed to muster enough votes in the Senate.
Although this bold effort failed to pass in the Senate, pro-lifers were able to usher in other victories on the legislative front.
Notable successes included the following:
Approximately nine states successfully defunded Planned Parenthood of over 61.2 million taxpayer dollars, according to Susan B. Anthony List.
States passed 83 laws restricting the practice of abortion.
15 state governments now support pro-life legislation.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius denied over-the-counter sales of emergency contraceptive Plan B.
LiveAction president and pro-life advocate Lila Rose reflected on the past year’s accomplishments in the rapidly growing movement to protect life.
In 2012, conservatives and other pro-life advocates must deter their pro-abortion cohorts from misusing tax payer dollars.
From 2009-2010, Planned Parenthood received over 487 million dollars (46 percent of its budget) from American taxpayers to fund abortions, which comprise 91 percent of total services performed by the “family-planning” organization.
Washington Times’ Kerry Pickett wrote, “SBA List goes further saying that in the PPFA report, ’46% of PPFA’s annual revenue ($487,400,000) comes from U.S. taxpayers in the form of government grants, contracts & Medicaid reimbursements.’”
“In 2010, abortion procedures made up 91% (329,445) of Planned Parenthood’s services for pregnant women, while prenatal services and adoption referrals account for only 8.6% (31,098) and 0.2% (841), respectively,” she added.
Those who support abortion, namely Planned Parenthood and similar activists, condone a cause with deadly undertones.
Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, was a staunch advocate of eugenics.
She once wrote, “In this matter, the example of the inferior classes, the fertility of the feeble-minded, the mentally defective, the poverty-stricken classes, should not be held up for emulation…”
Sanger also advocated population control and wrote, “The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.”
Similarly, Planned Parenthood claims to be a resource for family planning and women’s health. In actuality, it is only interested in profiting from abortion services.
Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee, elaborated on this: “Planned Parenthood’s bottom line is numbers. And, with abortion as its primary money-maker, that means implementing a quota. I know this is true because I worked at one of their Texas clinics for 8 years, two as the clinic director.”
Johnson also wrote, “Planned Parenthood is also spending a lot of money convincing its primary income providers – taxpayers – that its highest priority is women’s health and safety. Live Action and the Expose Planned Parenthood coalition released numerous undercover videos showing clinic staff aiding and abetting alleged sex traffickers in exploiting underage girls – some as young as 14.”
Life is a sacred right afforded to all Americans, as enumerated in the Declaration of Independence. Why not allow more babies to live in 2012?
As conservatives—as pro-lifers—we must ensure that 2012 is met with more successes to protect the rights of the unborn.
“Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born.” – Ronald Reagan
