Many, if not most, Democratic politicians vehemently oppose the stricter abortion laws that have recently passed in states across the country. However, one Democrat, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, is taking a decidedly different stand.
According to TheBlaze, Edwards announced his support for the pro-life “Heartbeat” bill that is currently making its way through his state’s legislature. Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Alabama have already passed similar laws that effectively prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Louisiana’s measure allows exceptions for pregnancies that pose a “serious risk” to a mother’s health. The bill doesn’t include exclusions for rape and incest. Last week, the Democratic Governor stated, “In eight years in the legislature, I was a pro-life legislator, 100 percent with the Louisiana Right to Life. When I ran for governor, I said I was pro-life and so that’s something that’s consistent” according to WAFB-TV.
For Edwards, the topic of abortion is extremely personal. The Democratic governor attributes his pro-life views to his devout Catholic faith. But, he has another reason to fight for the lives of unborn children. When he and his wife Donna were expecting their daughter almost three decades ago, physicians encouraged the couple to get an abortion. The unborn little girl was diagnosed with spina bifida in utero. Fortunately, Edwards and his wife defied the doctors’ recommendation. Now, their daughter, Samantha, is a healthy and thriving adult according to TheBlaze.
In signaling his support for his state’s “Heartbeat” bill, Edwards admits he’s deviating from traditional Democratic values. But, Louisiana’s Governor revealed on his monthly radio broadcast that he is more than comfortable taking this stand. He commented, “I know that for many in the national party, on the national scene, that’s not a good fit. But I will tell you, here in Louisiana, I speak and meet with Democrats who are pro-life every single day.”
Fox News reported that a Marist poll conducted this year showed that “Democrats varied in their opinion on abortion restrictions. But a strong majority — 60 percent — said they favored limiting abortion to the first trimester, unusual circumstances (rape, incest, life of the mother), or not permitting it at all.” The conservative media outlet relayed that a second poll “from May showed that overall, registered voters thought heartbeat bills were either ‘just right’ or ‘too lenient.’ That contrasted with 45 percent who said they were ‘too restrictive.’”
According to Fox News, Democrats for Life hasn’t shied away from voicing its support for “Heartbeat” legislation. The group has also called for a Democratic Pro-life Political Action Committee and more inclusive language from leaders in the Democratic Party. Some congressional Democrats have stated that being a Democrat and against abortion is feasible. But, most liberals understand Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s sentiments that the Democratic Party is “strongly pro-choice.” The New York Democrat excoriated a “Heartbeat” bill that passed last week in Missouri. Fox News reported that he’s “formed a unified front with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in vehemently opposing pro-life initiatives pushed by Trump and others.”
During his short tenure in the White House, President Donald Trump has worked tirelessly to protect the lives of the innocent unborn. According to Fox News, he “aroused Democratic fears in 2018 when he appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to a Court that seemed evenly divided along ideological lines on that issue. Kavanaugh could consider laws from Edwards’ state and others if they reach the Supreme Court — potentially ending protections established under Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey.”
Going into the pivotal 2020 elections, Trump has endeavored to link Democrats, such as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, to the heinous practice of late-term abortion. Fox News reported, “But as Democrats encountered accusations they supported ‘extreme’ abortion proposals, Republicans did as well. The party appeared to wrestle with the issue after Alabama passed an abortion ban that excluded exceptions for rape and incest — provisions that Ronna McDaniel, the party’s chair, ‘personally’ opposed.”
As more and more states pass “Heartbeat” bills, the long-awaited show-down concerning Roe v. Wade in the U.S. Supreme Court seems to be quickly approaching.
~ Liberty Planet
