Follow Calvin BREAKING: Trump blasts Democrats’ abortion extremism in State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 5, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address Tuesday evening to deliver an affirmation of the right to life and a forceful denunciation of recent extreme actions and statements by pro-abortion Democrats in New York and Virginia.
“We meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential, as we begin a new Congress,” he began his speech, which came a week later than typical as a result of last month’s government shutdown. “Millions of our fellow citizens are watching us, gathered in this great chamber, hoping we will govern not as two parties, but as one nation.”
“We must reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution, and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good,” he declared. “We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness.”
After honoring several guests including a trio of World War II veterans and astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and discussing issues such as the economy and government regulations, Trump cast partisan obstructionism in Congress as an obstacle to progress. He called for a “new era of cooperation,” starting with “finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the Senate, in some cases years and years waiting.”
Following remarks on illegal immigration, female employment, trade policy, healthcare, and education, the president turned his attention to recent abortion scandals.
“There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth,” he said. “These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth.”
Trump was referring to video that went viral last week of Democrat Del. Kathy Tran admitting her bill to liberalize Virginia’s late-term abortion laws would allow abortions just as a woman is about to give birth, followed by Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam suggesting that a born-alive “infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired.” He later claimed he was only referring to cases such as a “nonviable pregnancy” or “severe fetal abnormalities.”
Tran’s bill has already been tabled, but the controversy intensified a discussion of the extremes at which Democrats and their allies have arrived on abortion, which was already underway in response to New York’s recently-enacted law declaring a “fundamental right” to abortion and erased the state’s recognition of preborn babies as potential homicide victims.
“To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb,” the president said. “Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children—born and unborn—are made in the holy image of God.”
“Once again President Trump has proved he is our nation’s most pro-life president ever and he is keeping his promise to the voters who fueled his victory. The contrast between President Trump’s vision for the future and that of the Democratic Party, now dominated by abortion extremists, is stark,” Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser reacted. “Senate Democrats had the chance yesterday to prove they are not the party of infanticide, and instead they doubled down on a radical agenda of abortion on demand through birth and even beyond. That position that is simply irreconcilable with the values of the American people.
“We ask Congress to heed President Trump’s request, and to send the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to his desk without delay,” she continued. “This popular, compassionate legislation would protect unborn babies after five months – more than halfway through pregnancy, and a point at least by which these children can feel the pain of abortion.”
It was reported before the address that the president would use it as an opportunity to discuss abortion, a focus NARAL preemptively condemned as a “race to the bottom of their most depraved and devastating ideologies.” Trump reportedly expressed particular disgust for Northam’s infanticide comments Monday evening during a White House briefing with pro-life and pro-family leaders.
As Trump delivered his remarks tonigh, Planned Parenthood president Leana Wen listened in the audience, attending as a guest of Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Chosen to succeed Cecile Richards partly on the theory that her medical background could help reinforce Planned Parenthood’s narrative that it’s a “healthcare” provider, Wen instead undermined that message last month by admitting the group’s “core mission is providing, protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive health care.”
