Sam Johnson

Right to Life

Protecting life

There is nothing on earth more precious than life.  No matter where you stand on the abortion issue, most Americans find the practice of partial-birth abortion brutal and barbaric.   For years, Presidential vetoes thwarted legislation to ban partial-birth abortions.  Finally and thankfully, President Bush signed this ban into law, making it the first abortion-limiting law on the books since Roe V. Wade.  It truly was a historic moment and a milestone for the rights of the unborn. 

Sadly, the positive inroads made during the Bush Administration have almost evaporated in the blink of an eye.  In one of his first executive acts, President Barack Obama reversed the “Mexico City policy” created in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan.  The policy prohibited U.S. tax dollars from being used by non-governmental organizations to fund abortions overseas.

It’s astounding and deeply disappointing to me that the Obama Administration would dedicate one of its initial executive decisions to allow taxpayer dollars to fund abortions across the world.  As evidenced by the ground-swell of support that ultimately led to the ban on partial-birth abortions, many Americans believe in the sanctity of life.  Surely, these people do not want their tax dollars they send to Washington to pay for abortions, whether they are here or some other place in the world.

President Obama’s choice to reverse this policy is unconscionable and I hope and pray that the new President will reconsider it.

Eric Wilson, a columnist noted, “The U.S. is the midst of a recession, the government is over ten trillion dollars in debt, thousands are unemployed, and millions are without adequate health care, yet Mr. Obama made it a priority to free up American taxpayers' money to provide abortions for women around the world.  This decision represents a serious lapse in his commitment to be a president for all Americans and to move forward with a consensus.”

The Conscience Clause

In late February the Obama Administration announced that it would review the new protections put in place by President Bush, called the “conscience clause.”  The regulation created a legal safe haven for healthcare providers who choose not to participate in abortions and other services, like providing contraception, for personal ethical reasons.  News reports indicate that the Administration will soon start a 30-day public comment period, after which they will eliminate the recently created protections for medical personnel and facilities.

Embryonic stem-cell research

Taxpayers should not have to fund the destruction of human life.

I seriously question President Barack Obama’s decision to okay the practice of spending taxpayer dollars on embryonic stem cell research.  Experts continue to make revolutionary medical breakthroughs while protecting human embryos at the same time.

I support stem cell research that uses cord blood, amniotic fluid and other adult stem cell sources.  Adult stem cells currently are being used to treat patients with many diseases such as juvenile diabetes, ovarian cancer, and leukemia.  These are the avenues that hold the most promise for real treatments that help patients now.  Scientists agree that this exciting medical research is making a tremendous difference and I firmly believe federal money should be devoted to perfecting this ethical and life-saving research.