When is a fetus not a fetus? When someone is making a point outside the realm of the abortion debate. This from the daughter of the Vice President:
“When Heather and I decided to have a baby, it was not going to be the most popular decision ever,” Ms. Cheney said, referring to her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe.
She then gestured to her middle — any bulge disguised by a boxy jacket — and asserted: “This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child.”
I'm delighted that this child is seen as such, as opposed to part of his/her mother's body, an appendage, a blob of tissue, or a "choice." Interestingly, her words were warmly received by co-panelist Gloria Feldt, former president of Planned Parenthood, who previously would have vehemently argued to the contrary. Indeed, who would hazard a guess about how much she was paid to deny that similar "bulges" were babies?
The duplicity reflects the general assumption that an unborn child's personhood is based on his value in the eyes of others. Thus if he is unwanted or imperfect (or the wrong gender), his disposal is justified. If he is killed against the wishes of the parents, it's called manslaughter. When a college student has a degree to finish, her pregnancy is a mistake to be terminated; when an excited woman sees the pink lines on her home pregnancy test, she changes her diet for her new "guest." Same process, same biology, equally unique strings of DNA created. As 19th century U.S. history taught us about the inherent value of black people, the schizophrenia cannot stand.
Would that Mary Cheney reminds her pro-abortion acquaintances of her remarkable revelation the next time they go to the ballot boxes.
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