Why I'm Pro-life and Pro-Obama

I am an Obama supporter. I am also pro-life. In fact, without my family's involvement in the pro-life movement it would not exist as we know it. Evangelicals weren't politicized until after my late father and evangelical leader Francis Schaeffer, Dr. Koop (Reagan's soon-to-be Surgeon General) and I stirred them up over the issue of abortion in the mid-1970s. Our Whatever Happened to the Human Race? book, movie series and seminars brought the evangelicals into the pro-life movement.

(Dad's political influence persists. Last week one of my father's followers -- Mike Huckabee -- was interviewed by Katie Couric, along with all the other presidential candidates. Couric asked the candidates if they were to be sent to a desert island and could only take one book besides the Bible, what would that that book be? Huckabee answered that he'd take my father's book Whatever Happened To The Human Race?)

Fast forward...

In 2000, we elected a president who claimed he believed God created the earth and who, as president, put car manufacturers and oil company's interests ahead of caring for that creation. We elected a pro-life Republican Congress that did nothing to actually care for pregnant women and babies. And they took their sincere evangelical followers for granted, and played them for suckers.

The so-called evangelical leadership -- Dobson, Robertson et al. also played the pro-life community for suckers. While thousands of men and women in the crisis pregnancy movement gave of themselves to help women and babies, their evangelical "leaders" did little more than cash in on fundraising opportunities and represent themselves as power-brokers to the craven politicians willing to kowtow to them.

Fast forward...

Today when I listen to Obama speak (and to his remarkable wife, Michelle) what I hear is a world view that actually nurtures life. Obama is trying to lead this country to a place where the intrinsic worth of each individual is celebrated. A leader who believes in hope, the future, trying to save our planet and providing a just and good life for everyone is someone who is actually pro-life.

Conversely the "pro-life" ethic of George W. Bush manifested itself in a series of squandered opportunities to call us to our better natures. After 9/11, Bush told most Americans to go shopping while saddling the few who volunteered for military service with endless tours of duty (something I know a little about since my son was a Marine and deployed several times). The Bush doctrine of life was expressed by starting an unnecessary war in Iraq that has killed thousands of Americans and wounded tens of thousands more.

The society that Obama is calling us to sacrifice for is a place wherein life would be valued not just talked about. As he said in his speech delivered on February 6 in New Orleans, "Too often, we lose our sense of common destiny; that understanding that we are all tied together; that when a woman has less than nothing in this country, that makes us all poorer." Obama was talking about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but his words also apply to our overall view of ourselves.

Regardless of the official position of the Supreme Court on abortion, a country in which all Americans are offered some sort of dignity and hopeful future would be a place conducive to the kind of optimism each of us must hold in our hearts if we are to welcome children into this world. But if our highest aspiration is to be a consumer with no thought or care for our neighbor, we will remain a culture in which abortion is not only inevitable but logical.

What we need in America is a spiritual rebirth, a turning away from the false value of consumerism and utilitarianism that have trumped every aspect of human life. To implement this vision we need leaders that inspire but to do so they have to be what they say they are. It's not about policy it's about character.

Obama's rivals for the nomination -- the Clintons -- do not inspire. When the Clintons were in the White House they talked about humane values while Bill Clinton betrayed every single person who voted for him by carrying on an unseemly sexual dalliance in the Oval Office with a young woman barely out of her teens. Since that time the Clintons have enriched themselves through their connections to a point where they're able to make a $5 million personal loan to their campaign.

For someone who says she has spent "the last 35 years of my life as an advocate for children" and/or "fighting for healthcare" that's a lot of money to have collected through doing good works. Presidential Mother Teresa wannabes shouldn't be doing deals with uranium mining outfits in Kazakhstan while schmoozing with the likes of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and wealthy mining magnates -- not if they want the moral authority to lead.

Similarly the Republicans have also been hypocrites while talking big, for instance about their pro-life ethic. But what have they achieved? First, through their puritanical war on sex education they've hindered our country from actually preventing unwanted pregnancy. Second, through the Republican Party's marriage to the greediest and most polluting earth-destroying corporations they've created a climate (both moral and physical) that has scorched the earth for-profit, with no regard to future generations whatsoever. The Republicans are to the pro-life movement what the Clintons are to selfless public service.

The real solution to abortion is to change the heart of America, not the law. We need to stop seeing ourselves as consumers. We need to stop seeing ourselves as me and begin to think of we. Our country needs someone to show us a better way, a president who is what he seems, someone with actual moral authority that our diverse population can believe in who has the qualities that make us want to follow him. Obama is that person.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of "CRAZY FOR GOD -- How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back"

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[SPYWITNESS]

FRANK SCHAEFFER says when he listens to "barama" speak he hears "a world view that actually nurtures life. Obama is trying to lead this country to a place where the intrinsic worth of each individual is celebrated." Soory buddy, I've listen to every one of Barama's speeches via C-span, and all the guy keeps REPEATING is the words "hope, change, and Ive' won more states than my opponent." He stutters when he gets off his notes, and during each debate couldn't win not 1 point because during a debate, you have to ad-lib! Unless the words are written out for him he seems unable to remember how to argue a counterpoint! Sound familiar?

[user168]

Why should others die so you can live?

Did you see "tears" when Hillary voted to support Iraq War? Yet she had "real tears" when she won NH...

“… How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?…”

“How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men, women, and children?”

Yes, at the end, only TRUTH stands - for peace, for harmony, for hope, FOR ALL...

“Without truth I know not how man can live.”

Now let's see how much TRUTH America wants...

Clinton stands for SELF, self-pity, self-absorption, narcissism, “me”-winning...

McCain stands for LOYALTY, his belief, his people, his ideals, “us”-winning...

Obama stands for TRUTH, intellectual truth, compassion truth, UNIVERSAL TRUTH, truth for all...

So be it that the youth sees HOPE in TRUTH...

"Live the change you want to see in the world."
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed."
"A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people."

GO! OBAMA, TRUTH IS THE NATION, THE WORLD, THE HOPE!

[SharonToji]

I agree with the general sense of your article. However, I think you are unfairly comparing the Clintons with the Obamas in terms of wealth. Some of the Clinton's supporters are suspect, but so are some of Obama's. You don't mention that the Obamas are very well to do, also. Some of their money comes from books Obama wrote, and some of the Clintons comes from their books. President Clinton, as with all past presidents, is also a well-paid speaker. Don't forget his foundation, however. It really does good in the world. I have no doubt that both of them have investments that are not completely green, or moral, etc.

No one who wants to run for senator or president, or even mayor of a large city, and is serious about winning, is disinterested in accumlating some personal wealth with which to do it. Obama is equally as ambitious as the Clintons. He could have angled for the vice presidency and waited 8 years, and probably been well-positioned to assume the presidency, but he chose this particular path. So don't make Obama out to be some sort of male Mother Teresa who is only there to serve, while the Clintons are ambitious money-grubbers. Both are excellent candidates, and we are fortunate to have both, as well as Edwards and even the much less popular candidates. Their politics are similar. Hillary has stated many times that she wants abortion to be legal, safe and rare. If you prefer Obama, by all means support him, vote for him, work for him, donate to him, but be fair.

Sharon Toji

[CanCar]

But the only specific thing that could make him Presidential is that he represented the mainstream mindset of the time. www.jacksonvillehumanesociety.info

[Ricardocomments]

The world is in dire need of Statesmanship! And quite frankly, Senator Obama has demonstrated that he is a Statesman, fulfilling a non-political vacuum that represents the interest of All. He is leading In the same vein as the following visionaries with extraordinary Statesmanship.

* A great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them.
- John Stuart Mill

* And statesmen at her council met
Who knew the seasons when to take
Occasion by the hand, and make
The bounds of freedom wider yet.
- Lord Alfred Tennyson,

* Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations–entangling alliances with none.
- Thomas Jefferson in his first inaugural address


* We say that someone occupies an official position, whereas it is the official position that occupies him.
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

* Honest statesmanship is the wise employment of individual manners for the public good.
- Abraham Lincoln

[mtrue]

My congratulations to you for a superbly written article -- it shows how we all are in this thing together. Thank you.

[jeanniem]

Frank, I sincerely thank you for bringing your point of view in this forum. I am finding your work, first and foremost, honest, forthright, and very refreshing. Your headline is also my position.

A few thoughts ... watching the current meltdown within Republican conservative and religious right ranks brings several questions to mind. As recently as 2004, we learned through the press (and I observed in my own circles), that the values voters were very troubled by the coarseness of society. I honestly have difficulty understanding how anyone would couple that concern with a vote for GW Bush. It often seems as if the right failed high school civics. Just how is it that electing a fellow born-again Christian in the man of GWB going to counter the coarseness of society.

My point is, how is it that this element of the electorate "demands" things that anyone with the most elementary level of understanding of American government simply knows cannot be achieved through executive or legislative action? They show themselves, again and again, IMO, suckers.

I remember the election of Reagan. How could any thinking person believe that Reagan was going to outlaw abortion? Ditto GHW Bush. Ditto GW Bush. They repeatedly show such high level of passion, anger, frustration, when they are simply using the wrong tools to achieve their ambitions.

[fedupnburnin]

I know it shouldn't all be about consumerism but so many abortions are tied to economic factors. The economy has been trashed by policies created by the 2 parties and this free-market fraud. That's what I find so infuriating about "pro-life" Republicans. The party behind so much job loss and an administration of scoundrels thinks life is "sacred", while their actions show the true truth behind their pro-life stance. Nothing more than image-enhancement for a party of liars, looters and murderers.

[farseer]

Nice article. At the start, you say "without my family's involvement in the pro-life movement it would not exist as we know it." You should have qualified that by inserting the word "evangelical" before "pro-life".

I too am pro-life. That there many things that threaten life besides abortion. Global warming is one, pollution is another, substance abuse is another, STD is another, war is another, terrorism is another (needs to be fought, not abetted as was done by the bush admin.) None of this means that I am happy that abortion is available on demand. At the same time, I am well aware (as is Obama, I think) that a number of things can be done to decrease the number of abortions, besides banning abortion. These things involve helping women and mothers. I support all of those things.

I am a Christian who has never bought into the idea that being a Christian means you are a GOP voter. On many issues, I go with the liberals. I think Jesus would too.

[Jazz42]

Great Post.
Thanks for your insight.

[visionar7]

No one is arguing that Obama speaks well; he does. he probably learned that in his church listening to the pastor or preacher who trys to inspire his flock as he passes around the collection plate. I like Obama, but it does bother me that the biggest % of people that don't vote for Hillary are males! It would seem even the black MALE got the vote long before a woman was allowed to vote. I think Obama would make a great VP..he could learn and gain experience; while protegeing under Hillary Clinton, as he has done in the senate...as when he has actually voted he has voted along with her....unless it was prior to him being a US senator which he was elected Nov 2004 and took office in Jan 2005...that way we would have a democrat in for 16 years as after her 8 years he would be our next president...so I don't know about you, but I think experience is more important than speaking well....and we are long overdue to have a woman as our "commander in chief"

[TishiJo]

Hillary Clinton has no honor or integrity. It is blatant in relation to how she runs her campaign, and with the power of the Presidency, OMIGOD she would rule our country with the same ruthless abandon.

[TishiJo]

Barack Obama has 25 years of experience. Community organizer 3 years; civil rights lawyer and professor of constitutional law ten years; elected to public office in Illinois Senate 8 years; elected to U.S. Senate 2004. Undergraduate degree in International Relations Columbia U; Graduate degree Harvard Law; President of Harvard Law Review.
In his first year (before he decided to run for President) he authored 152 bills, and co-sponsored another 427. These included the Coburn-Obama government Transparency Act of 2006 (signed into law by Bush), The Lugar-Obama initiatives (working with Republican, Richard Lugar) aimed at nuclear non-proliferation and conventional weapons threat reduction. He is one of only two lawmakers who sponsored a campaign finance reform bill passed in the Senate. There are 890 bills in Obama's name since he entered the Senate. He has Cosponsored 1096.
Obama currently serves on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs.

[koolwoman]

You really have a deep bias against HILLARY cLINTON. yOU REALLY SHOULD GET SOME THERAPY AND SEE WHERE THAT HATRED IS COMING FROM.

[boycottrightwingthings]

I agree, and all of the Hillary bashing is unwarrented and uncalled for, and dare I say it...sexist. I am supporting her, but if Barack is the choice, I WILL vote for him. We must come together and end Republican rule for many reasons-wars, greed, corruption, etc. I think that if Hillary did not vote for the war in Iraq, she would be way ahead everywhere. I like Hillary, but it might, I hate to say, be her undoing, and the sexism does not help her, and is deplorable and rampant.

[Bettysdad]

You are not "pro-life."

You are "anti-abortion rights."

Everyone is "pro-life."

Be honest, if you can. Describe yourself accurately.

[toucandan]

I AM USING A DELL VOSTRO 200 WITH FIREFOX AS MY BROWSER. I RESPECT FRANK'S FEELINGS AND THE ELEGANT WAY IN WHICH HE WROTE IT. IT IS TOO EASY TO CRITICIZE SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS FROM HIS HEART. I AM PRO-CHOICE AND I FIND FRANK'S POSITION REFRESHING AND OPEN MINDED.

[toucandan]

ONLY EVIDENCE CAN PROVE KNOWLEDGE,
KNOWLEDGE IS TRUTH,
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

[huffnpuffn]

There are too many people, fanatics on both side, who base their vote on not on a candidate, but on who they hope their candidate will nominate to the Supreme Court on the supposition that a case may perhaps make it to the Court in the next four years that may have some national implications on this issue.

This is bullshit.

Vote on foreign policy. Vote on national tax policy. Vote on deficit spending. Vote on going to Mars. Vote on something, anything, that actually belongs at the federal level.

Abortion, as divisive and poisonous issue as it is, should be left to the states, much like the death penalty. When we have a real national consensus on this issue, we can codify it at the national level. Until then, keep the federal government out of it. I do not want to be held hostage by the wackos that think pro-choicers enjoy having abortions or the wackos that think pro-lifers want women treated like barnyard animals. It's all bullshit.