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Today's News & Views
August 14, 2008
Pro-Life Senator John
McCain’s Remarks to NRLC 2008
Part
Two of Two
Thank you for inviting me to address
the 2008 National Right to Life Convention, I'm sorry I'm not able to be
there in person to address you. More than two-hundred years ago our nation's
founders declared, that we are endowed by our creator, with certain and
unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness. It was no accident, that they cited life as the first, and
most basic right. For without recognition of the right to life, we are not
guaranteed any other rights. Sometimes all wisdom asks of us, is that we
recognize common-sense. But sometimes wisdom, as to all other virtues
requires courage.
Wisdom suggests that we should be willing to give an unborn child the same
chance that our parents gave us. But it takes courage in this political
climate, to insist on the protection of unborn children, who can't vote,
have no voice, and can't reward you with support and donations. Wisdom
suggests that when federal judges impose their social views on the citizens
of every state, the result is going to distort our politics in harmful ways.
But it takes courage to insist, that the courts have to return to their
proper role.
I will look for accomplished men and women, with a proven record of
excellence in the law, and a proven commitment, to strictly interpreting the
Constitution of the United States. I will look for people in the cast of
John Roberts, Sam Alito, my friend the late William Rehnquist, jurists of
the highest caliber who know their own minds, and know the law, and know the
difference. I have been pro-life, my entire public career.
I am pro-life, because I know what it is like, to live without human rights,
where human life is accorded no inherent value. And I know that I have a
personal obligation to advocate human rights wherever they are denied, in
Bosnia or Burma, in Cuba or the Middle East, and in our own country, when we
fail to respect the inherent dignity of all human life, born or unborn. That
is a personal testament, which you need not take on faith. You need only to
examine my public record, to know that I won't change my position. I've been
proud to serve our great country in the military and in Congress.
Throughout these years I have always believed that the most important duty
of our national leaders is to protect human life. We protect human life from
violent extremists, who would destroy it to produce a cruel ideology. We
protect the lives of the most vulnerable, whether they are the unborn, the
elderly, or the disabled. It is a privilege to defend Americans in war and
in peace.
I'm proud to stand with you in defending the sanctity of human life, and in
supporting mothers and children, under the most challenging of
circumstances.
I'm proud of my wife Cindy, who brought our daughter Bridget home from
Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh, and blessed our family with the
gift of this blessed child of God. I am as thankful for her, as I am for all
of my children, and am glad that we were able to give her a home, and a
better life.
My friends we confront a difficult question when we address the issue of
abortion, the American people are compassionate people, who cherish life and
liberty. They love life, and they have an instinctive compassion for those
who confront difficult circumstances. We believe that the best way to
respond to such situations is to demonstrate our love and support for the
mothers and children, who are at the center of such challenges. The pro-life
movement has done this for decades by participating in and supporting
thousands of pregnancy care centers, that help women and their children meet
these challenges.
In November, the American people will choose a new president to lead our
country during very challenging times. I will proudly defend my record of
protecting human life during key debates on domestic and international
policy. I am proud to have supported a ban on partial-birth abortion, and
legislation that would protect children who survived an abortion procedure.
On the very first day, after the Supreme Court upheld the ban on the hideous
practice of partial-birth abortion, a bill was introduced in congress to
codify this practice in every one in the United States of America. The same
legislation would strike down the Hyde amendment, named after our great
friend and champion of human life, the incomparable Henry Hyde, and would
also strike down every other federal and state limitation on abortion
funding. This legislation, with has been co-sponsored by my opponent, would
also strike down every parental notification law enacted anywhere in our
country.
The American people have come together, to say that partial-birth abortion
offends our national conscience, that taxpayers should not be forced to pay
for elective abortions, and that states should be allowed to enact parental
notification laws. Those who oppose these protections of human life, unable
to prevail in legislatures, hope to appoint to the federal courts jurists
who would reject this political consensus, and would impose on us abortion
policies that offend the conscience of very many Americans.
My friends, I want to thank you again, for your commitment to a cause that
is greater than us all, protecting human life, and women and children,
wherever they need our support.
May God bless America, and your unselfish efforts, on behalf of all his
children.
Please send your comments to
daveandrusko@hotmail.com
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