Washington D.C., Jan 22, 2009 / 13:40 pm
This morning Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) addressed the crowds at the March for Life in Washington D.C., which commemorates the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion in the United States. The representative exhorted pro-lifers to never give up the fight, even in the face of a pro-abortion President.
In his comments, the representative spoke to the thousands of protestors gathered from around the United States by recalling the words President Barack Obama spoke in his inauguration speech on Tuesday. The new President referred to the “God given promises” of freedom, equality and a chance of happiness, Smith recalled.
“Which begs the question, will our new President extend the ‘God given promise’ of hope, freedom, justice, respect, compassion, and protection and a simple chance at happiness to America’s unborn children?” the representative asked.
“Sadly,” he answered, “waiting in the wings, barely visible in the shadows, ready to pounce, lurks the most extreme pro-abortion agenda in American history.”
On the campaign trail, Obama spoke of the importance of reducing abortion, Rep. Smith noted. However, the representative went on to explain how President Obama’s agenda would only lead to an increase in the deaths of the unborn.
“Curiously, the very people who claim to want to reduce the number of abortions will seek to degrade, undermine, and if they get away with it, repeal outright, hundreds of federal and state pro-life laws that have demonstrated over time to have saved millions of innocent lives,” Smith said.
The New Jersey representative backed up his argument with statistics from both the liberal Alan Guttmacher Institute and pro-life advocates. According to Smith, the numbers show that “federal prohibition on taxpayer funding for abortion significantly reduces the number of abortions. According to the Guttmacher Institute 18-35 percent of Medicaid patients who would have had an abortion carry their babies to term when Medicaid funding is not available.”
Rep. Smith lent his support to pro-lifers, asking them to remain strong. “Despite this present darkness, be encouraged. Be strong. Be brave. For the scripture tells us, the Lord our God is with you. Continue to pray, fast and to work hard. Joyfully embrace the noble challenge set before us to defend the most vulnerable. For in time we will prevail and overcome the injustice of America’s culture of death, innocent lives depend on what we do today!”
“Let this be absolutely clear,” Smith exhorted the crowd, “Pro-Lifers will never quit, be discouraged or grow weary! What God has given, what God has promised to us all – the right to life – no man, including President Obama, can take away.”