Articles From The Writings of Vasu Murti

How to Debate Liberals on Abortion

John Morrow, a pro-life Christian taking a stand against abortion on secular human rights grounds, converted me to the pro-life cause, when he was debating pro-choice liberals (dominating the discussion!) on USENET, from 1986 - 1988. 

Prior, I was under the impression that abortion was solely a "religious" issue, and we shouldn't impose our "religious beliefs" upon others.

The sad irony is many pro-lifers see animal rights not as social and moral progress for all mankind, but as someone else's "religious belief" which they think doesn't apply to them. A lot of people look at abortion that way, too, you know!

1. John Morrow said he disagreed with the Republicans for failing to provide enough social support for children once they're born. 

In 1992, pro-life Democrat Robert Casey said he would strongly support Lynn Yeakel who was then running against pro-choice Republican Senator Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. 

Yeakel favored abortion-rights, too, but, Casey said, “we agree on all the other issues.” 

Casey stated further that he would not leave the Democratic Party. The anti-abortion Republicans, he insisted, “drop the children at birth and do nothing for them after that.”

Barney Frank similarly commented that for Republicans, "Life begins at conception and ends at birth."

2. John Morrow said his opposition to capital punishment led him to oppose abortion. 

3. John Morrow compared discrimination against the unborn to homophobia and xenophobia when debating pro-choice liberals. 

4. John Morrow said he supported sex education. 

5. John Morrow said he supported contraception. 

6. John Morrow said when Roe v. Wade came down, a different set of morals was in place: even mainstream secular American society would not accept single mothers, there were "shotgun weddings," homes for unwed mothers, etc. 

When The Mary Tyler Moore show premiered in 1970, they decided against making her character a *divorced* woman, thinking Americans weren't ready for it!

7. And John Morrow said health care in the U.S. should be "federalized" i.e., "socialized, like it is in the UK." 

We Democrats have been pushing for health care reform since Harry Truman.

(When I repeat John Morrow's arguments, the right wing attacks me.)

Kristen Day of Democrats For Life said in 2014: "Roughly a third of the Democratic Party is pro-life. And while many do not call themselves liberal, they share the values which seem to identify with liberalism, particularly a commitment to helping the vulnerable and providing a social safety net." 

The Democratic Party platform should support: Animal Rights, Defending the Affordable Care Act, Ending Citizens United, Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Giving Greater Visibility to Pro-Life Democrats, Gun Control, Net Neutrality, Raising the Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour, Responding to the Scientific Consensus on Global Warming, and a Sustainable Energy Policy.

Democrats for Life of America, 10521 Judicial Drive, #200, Fairfax, VA 22030, (703) 424-6663

Go on to: Humans are Anatomically Vegetarian
Return to: Articles
Return to: The Writings of Vasu Murti