Defeating The "Freedom Of Choice Act"

President Obama has lulled some in the pro-life community into a degree of complacency by his statement on April 29 that "the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority." That was the president's intention. And any such complacency on our part could very well be a fatal error for America's unborn.

In his Clintonesque way, the president is telling the truth. The FOCA will not be brought up for debate in congress. Because it would be unlikely to pass. The radical nature of the FOCA is even opposed by the majority of pro-choice voters. The president, instead, will foist every one of the FOCA's provisions upon the nation by mandate, as integral components of "healthcare reform".

Make no mistake. This is no time for complacency. The Freedom Of Choice Act remains the most dire threat to the struggle for the rights of our unborn brothers and sisters since Roe vs Wade. And "Obamacare" is the cloak under which the FOCA will be inflicted upon the nation. 

Let's remember that the Freedom Of Choice Act would invalidate (1) the federal ban on partial birth abortion, (2) the ban on federally funded abortions, and (3) any federal or state law, or judicial restriction that limits in any way access to immediate right of abortion, during the entire term of pregnancy. This bill will also make it unlawful for pro-life healthcare providers (hospitals, physicians, etc) to refuse abortion services.

The president's intention is to have the unrestricted abortion on demand "rights" detailed in the FOCA included as part of the “Essential Benefits Package” offered by the government's health insurance plan.

While there is no mention of abortion in any of the pending "healthcare" reform bills, the democratic leadership has pointedly eliminated any amendments or language which would explicitly exclude abortion procedures from being considered a "benefit". Upon becoming law, healthcare reform would set up an “Advisory Committee”, chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. Ms Sebelius' zeal for unrestricted abortion on demand is perhaps matched only by President Obama's.

The Advisory Committee will be empowered to dictate what will, and what will not be included in the Essential Benefits Package. The president of Planned Parenthood has said that private health insurance providers will be expected to include the same "benefits" in their plans.

The insidious nature of this approach to completely overturn the decades of struggle for legislation (bans on partial birth abortion, parental notification, 48 hour waiting periods, ultra-sound pictures of the child about to be aborted, etc) that actually has "reduced the number of abortions in America" lays bare the hypocrisy of President Obama's rhetoric at Notre Dame, to say nothing for his campaign pledge to bring "transparency" to government.
 

Abortion Incorporated now eagerly waits for the president to deliver on the FOCA, in whatever manner he can. The mandates of the FOCA will be Ab Inc's crowning achievement. And a 1,000% return on their investment in candidate Barack Obama.

The Freedom Of Choice Act is not solely a pro-lifer issue. Over 75% of voters favored the ban on the heinous procedure of partial birth abortion. And the majority of pro-choice voters support common sense restrictions on abortion. But an Obama compliant media is aiding the president in inducing complacency concerning the threat of the FOCA.

Most Americans are unaware that the "healthcare bill" is being written in such a way as to allow Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to incorporate the provisions of the FOCA into federal law after the bill has passed. We all must get involved.

There is only one way to stop this subterfuge. Specific, detailed language which explicitly excludes abortion services from being considered a benefit, in any way, has to be included in any healthcare reform legislation. As mentioned, the congressional democratic leadership has squashed all attempts to introduce such amendments. For obvious reasons.

Contact The White House And Your Congressional Representatives Today
In the House, representatives Bart Stupak, (D MI) and Chris Smith (R NJ) are leading the fight to specifically exclude abortion as a benefit in any "public healthcare option". In the Senate, senators Jim DeMint (R SC), Tom Coburn (R OK) and Mike Enzi (R WY) have introduced exclusion amendments, all of which were rejected. E-mail your support to these leaders.

Contact the White House, your senators and House representative demanding that any healthcare reform legislation contain specific language excluding abortion services from being determined a "benefit". See our White House And Congressional Contact Information page for address, phone and e-mail information. Make a point of also contacting members of the Blue Dog Democrat Coalition, who are currently opposing the president on government run healthcare on the basis of all of the obvious defects inherent such programs.
 
We can all commit to spreading the word. Massive letter, postcard, e-mail and phone call campaigns will produce results. Start your own and participate in others.

Pass on all the information you can about the attempt at "Stealth FOCA" (Father Frank Pavone, Priests For Life) to as many people as possible. Place an article in your church bulletin and on your church's website. Communicate with affiliated churches and other denominations in your area.

A Stop The Abortion Mandate webcast was held on July 23. Among the prominent pro-life speakers were Father Frank Pavone, Dr James Dobson, Tony Perkins and congressman Chris Smith. A replay is available on the Stop The Abortion Mandate website.

Abortion Incorporated has expended tremendous resources in their effort to make the FOCA the law of the land. They have numerous, powerful politicians in their pockets, "like so many nickels and dimes". The odds can seem overwhelming to all of us who grieve for every abortion as a heartless murder, and a blight upon America's dignity as a nation.

God knows the difficulty of the challenge before us. And He waits to see how we will respond to this new, dire threat to our unborn brothers and sisters. Let Him know, everyday, that we will utilize the talents and resources we have been blessed with in this struggle. Profess, everyday, our faith in Him as our overwhelming, inexhaustible resource which will enable us to achieve victory for countless numbers of His unborn children.

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