Not Surprised by Ben Nelson’s Betrayal

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb)

Compromise breeds betrayal. By its very nature compromise tells your opponent and/or allies you are willing to give ground on the important issues in favor of attaining some measure of agreement. Nineteenth Century theologian Tryon Edwards once said, “Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another—too often ending in the loss of both.” So it has been with the pro-life movement the last thirty-six years.

By believing we could incrementally stop abortion through the Hyde Amendment, and now the Stupak/Nelson amendments to healthcare legislation, we have knowingly deceived Christians into believing that no government funding would go to abortion. That is how these amendments have been sold on the surface. They call it “elective” abortion, as though an unborn baby conceived by rape or incest or whose mother’s life may be in danger has no choice but to be murdered using government funding.

So-called politicians and pundits carelessly omit the exception clause to the Hyde Amendment when, for the lack of a better explanation, time and space inhibit forthrightness. This causes confusion among readers; I’ve shared with dozens of members of my church the truth of the exception clause and they are shocked. An example of this discrepancy/deception came lately in the form of an action alert from the Family Research Council (FRC):

    December 7, 2009 – Monday

    The Senate is voting as early as today on an amendment to the health care bill being offered by Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) which will ENSURE THAT ABORTION IS NOT FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT DOLLARS. (Emphasis added)

    Please call the U.S. Capitol switchboard NOW at 202-224-3121 and ask your state’s two U.S. Senators to vote for the Nelson Amendment on abortion funding.

For the typical Christian citizen trusting Mr. Perkins this alert tells the unsuspecting that Senator Nelson’s amendment will not allow ANY abortions to be government funded. Totally false and either deceptive or derelict.

In a news release from the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List, President Marjorie Dannenfelser rightly states:

    “Abortion is never good for women, and it should never be a legitimate aspect of any ‘health care’ debate.”

However just five paragraphs later, in the same news release, Ms. Dannenfelser posits:

    “The good news for the pro-life movement is that Bart Stupak is already a leader for Life in the House, and we know he won’t compromise his principles. The Susan B. Anthony List plans to reinforce Stupak’s leadership with our own efforts to target key members of the House of Representatives.

    “Unlike the House version of health care reform, the Senate bill as amended by Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) does not prohibit abortion coverage for plans offered in federally subsidized health care exchanges. The state ‘opt-out’ provision does nothing to prevent one state’s tax dollars from funding abortions in other states.”

This may be good news for the pro-life movement but it is a death sentence to unborn babies conceived by rape or incest or whose mother’s life may be in danger. Perhaps Representative Stupak himself is causing the confusion? Stupak writes:

    “The ban on public funding for abortion is a long-standing federal policy known as the Hyde amendment. It has been in place since 1977, and its legality has been confirmed by the Supreme Court. The law prohibits the U.S. government from funding abortion in ANY federal health program, including Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Our amendment simply applies that law to the healthcare reform bill.” (Emphasis added)

Random House Dictionary defines “any” as “every; all.” “Every” is defined as “all possible.” “All” is defined as “the whole of (used in referring to quantity, extent, or duration).”

So according to Rep. Stupak, there should be no abortions being performed in America that are paid for by federal funding; period.

Except that this is completely and utterly untrue. It is at best an egregious oversight or at worse a bald-faced lie.

The Stupak Amendment restricts “elective” abortion but allows for an exception of cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. Just like the Hyde Amendment does; and just like the Nelson Amendment would have had it passed.

When will groups such SBA List and FRC stop speaking like double-minded men and women? Jesus’ brother James warned us of such types:

    “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:2-8)

I am curious if Christians believe that if the American Church opposed abortion on all accounts, regardless the opposition and vitriol, while ministering to the needs of the expectant mother, would not God honor our obedience and move in the hearts of men and women in public office to stop this holocaust?

Oh that we would have the faith, hope, and obedience of the psalmist:

    “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end. I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.” (Psalm 119:112-114)

But oh Bro Dave, you cannot mean that a mother should have to choose the life of her unborn baby over hers, do you?

More on that to come…

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