Obama protects life only when convenient

Back in 1998, President Clinton declared with all the conviction he could muster, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” How important is it that we can believe and trust our leaders, especially our commander in chief who is bestowed with power that affects all of our lives.

Back in 2009 during the health care debate, President Obama, in order to gain votes from the so-called pro-life Democrats, signed an executive order to pass the health care bill. Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards called the executive order “a symbolic gesture.” Former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanual bragged later when running for mayor of Chicago that he devised the executive order strategy to “allow the Stupek Amendment not to exist by law.” The Stupek-Pitts Amendment was designed by so called pro-life Democrats to ensure that no abortions were to be allowed under Obama’s health care plan.

Finally President Obama himself said in September 2009, “And one more misunderstanding I’d like to clear up: Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.”

Well, what does the president say two years later? A bill called the Protect Life Act, which simply ensures that no abortions are to be allowed under the health care law and federal conscience laws will remain in place, has just passed the House, 251-172. Obama now threatens to veto the Protect Life Act.

The Protect Life Act is simply codifying in law exactly what Obama stated in 2009. Words matter, issues matter, character matters and standing up for principal matters. Everything must start with health law repeal and new executive leadership in Washington.

Larry O’Neill

Palatine