The bill has been sponsored in large part in reaction to the horrors of the Gosnell abortion clinic.
President Obama has avoided talking about the Gosnell massacre, even though the President is on record supporting every possible abortion, including the type of late-term abortions Gosnell committed. When asked questions about the Gosnell revelations, President Obama and his press secretary always chose to dodge them rather than answer.
Now, however, Obama has chosen to inject himself in to this national debate:
The President has issued a Statement of Administration Policy indicating his advisors would recommend that he veto the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act if it were presented for his signature. The statement reads:
The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 1797, which would unacceptably restrict women’s health and reproductive rights and is an assault on a woman’s right to choose. Women should be able to make their own choices about their bodies and their health care, and Government should not inject itself into decisions best made between a woman and her doctor.
Forty years ago, the Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, including the right to choose. This bill is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and shows contempt for women’s health and rights, the role doctors play in their patients’ health care decisions, and the Constitution. The Administration is continuing its efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, expand access to contraception, support maternal and child health, and minimize the need for abortion. At the same time, the Administration is committed to the protection of women’s health and reproductive freedom and to supporting women and families in the choices they make.
If the President were presented with this legislation, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill.
Okay, media, it’s time to start asking the President questions — the same type of questions I urged them last week to ask top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
Here’s a really basic first question: “Does the President of the United States disagree with the consensus of the medical and scientific community that unborn babies older than 20 weeks feel pain?”
On social media, CatholicVote, myself and others are tweeting under the hashtag #TheyFeelPain to draw attention to the pain unborn babies over 20 weeks old experience. Please do everything you can to raise the volume on this issue today as we urge the House of Representatives to pass this bill. Spread and share the pro-life messages being sent by pro-life groups and politicians, push back against the lies and distortions being spread by pro-abortion groups and politicians.
And, most importantly, try to contact reporters and those in the media and demand they cover this national news story.
And if you have not yet contacted your Congressman or Congresswoman about supporting HR #1797, please do so right away!