.- Sixteen pro-life leaders have made a new YouTube video to express their opposition to taxpayer funded abortion in President Barack Obama’s health care proposal. They said the plan threatens to create the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.
Pro-life groups and individuals have formed a coalition called Stop the Abortion Mandate (STAM). The coalition charged that the legislation’s proposed health care plan will force taxpayers to fund abortions, create an “abortion mandate” and decide who has the right to live or die.
In the 90-second video, talk show host Carmen Pate called aspects of the health care bill the “largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.”
David Bereit of the 40 Days for Life campaign said the proposal would force taxpayers to pay for abortion on demand, while Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said abortion will be included in any healthcare reform bill unless it is explicitly excluded.
“Do you want your tax dollars to be used to fund abortion on demand?” Jim Sedlak of the American Life League asked in the video.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” said Kristen Day of Democrats for Life of America.
Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said that abortions will “dramatically increase” if pro-life opponents of abortion provisions in the proposed bill fail.
“For us, this isn’t a political fight; it isn’t only a fight over a massive national debt or a government takeover of health care,” said Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America.
The video concluded with speakers urging viewers to contact their senators and representatives and also to visit the STAM website.
Explaining the video in a press release, Kristan Hawkins, executive director of Students for Life of America and a member of the STAM coalition, described the video as “a powerful display of unity and urgency” against President Obama’s health care bill.
“Whether or not they are pro-life or pro-choice, Americans do not want to be forced to pay for abortions, which is exactly what Obama’s health care plan does,” she added.
The STAM website is at http://StopTheAbortionMandate.com.
