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US Congress Votes Protection for Unborn Children
EWTN ^ | 3/26/04

Posted on 03/26/2004 3:17:03 PM PST by marshmallow

Washington, Mar. 26 (CWNews.com) - The US Senate yesterday passed a bill that will make criminals punishable for harm done to unborn children in the course of a violent crime.

Ten Catholic senators voted against the bill, which was opposed by abortion providers. The legislation which the Senate approved on March 25 has already been passed by the House of Representatives. It now needs only the signature of President George W. Bush in order to become federal law. The President has indicated that he fully supports the measure, and is likely to sign it promptly. The measure passed despite the adamant opposition of the abortion lobby, which saw the bill as an effort to undermine the legitimacy of abortion.

Kate Michelman of NARRAL lamented that in approving the legislation, Congress had recognized an unborn child as a person deserving legal protection-- a status that could jeopardize the legal right to kill that child. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California offered an amendment that would have increased penalties on criminals who attacked pregnant women, but insisted that such crimes only have one victim. That amendment was defeated by a single vote, in a 50- 49 tally.

Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania remarked that the Feinstein amendment had been "all about denying the humanity of the child." Although the bill has only limited application-- it covers only violent federal crimes, whereas most laws governing violent crime are state laws-- the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act was a hotly debated topic, and furnished a reminder that the abortion issue continues to be America's most divisive political topic.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, broke from his steady campaigning to visit Washington and vote against the legislation.

Nine other Catholic lawmakers joined Kerry in opposing the bid to give legal protection for unborn children. They were: Senators Ted Kennedy, Joseph Biden, Christopher Dodd, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Tom Harkin, Richard Durbin, Jack Reed, and Patty Murray.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 2004; biden; catholicpoliticians; christopherdodd; connerslaw; durbin; fetalrights; hr1997; jackreed; kerry; mikulski; patrickleahy; pattymurray; prolife; tedkennedy; tomharkin; votingrecord
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California offered an amendment that would have increased penalties on criminals who attacked pregnant women, but insisted that such crimes only have one victim.

Feinstein and the other abortion facilitators have no choice but to argue in this way, for to admit otherwise is to concede that abortionists are murderers, for they do precisely the same as the violent criminal. The only difference being that the abortion is a two person crime because the mother is in on it too.

This bill bypasses the abortionist's traditional argument about "choice" and concentrates solely on whether or not the baby is human. By saying that it is, the Senate makes an important pro-life statement.

1 posted on 03/26/2004 3:17:03 PM PST by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow
I can see Kennedy's point. There is a certain murdered mother to be who Uncle Ted may feel a bit queezy about on this one. For Kennedy to vote aye on this bill would be a retroactive indictment for the murder of Mary-Jo and the baby.

Aw man, that guy will never die. He's too afraid of what's comin. He makes his own reality here in Washington, but some day..........

2 posted on 03/26/2004 3:27:09 PM PST by blackdog (I feed the sheep the coyotes eat)
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To: marshmallow
I HOPE BUSH CHECKS OUT THE PORK IN THIS BILL BEFORE HE SIGNS IT.
3 posted on 03/26/2004 3:27:14 PM PST by jocko12
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To: marshmallow
Nine other Catholic lawmakers joined Kerry in opposing the bid to give legal protection for unborn children. They were: Senators Ted Kennedy, Joseph Biden, Christopher Dodd, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Tom Harkin, Richard Durbin, Jack Reed, and Patty Murray.

#1 - Notice that they are all RATs.

#2 - It's safe to say that, without exception, they are Cafeteria Catholics.

4 posted on 03/26/2004 3:30:50 PM PST by jackbill
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To: jocko12
I HOPE BUSH CHECKS OUT THE PORK IN THIS BILL BEFORE HE SIGNS IT.

What is the pork?

5 posted on 03/26/2004 3:31:42 PM PST by jackbill
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To: marshmallow
"Nine other Catholic lawmakers joined Kerry in opposing the bid to give legal protection for unborn children. They were: Senators Ted Kennedy, Joseph Biden, Christopher Dodd, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Tom Harkin, Richard Durbin, Jack Reed, and Patty Murray."

All democrats.

Majority of Americans are for this legislature. Democrat politicians are against.

Good Republican strategy: Further defining the democrats to the uninformed voters - skim a % of rank and file democrats and moderates to align and vote republican.

Just setting the bowling pins for the knock down near election time in November.
6 posted on 03/26/2004 3:59:08 PM PST by BluSky (“Don’t make me come down there.”)
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To: marshmallow
I find it strange that it takes an act of congress to protect children from their mothers.
7 posted on 03/26/2004 4:08:31 PM PST by Rudder
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To: BluSky
Fineswine was right on this bill. It is another nail in the coffin of abortion. For this I say hooray!!!
8 posted on 03/26/2004 4:09:02 PM PST by meenie
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