Help is Better than Hate

Can I be both Pro-Life and Pro-Obama?

This week I was told by two people that they were voting for McCain because abortion is just such a terrible thing. I totally agree that abortion is horrifying. I've seen the pictures. I've been pregnant, a joy for me each time. I know people for whom it was not a joy and abortion was the only option they saw available. I wish they would have felt differently, but I will not judge them for their decision, because I have no way of understanding what they were going through.

On the other hand, I really would like the amount of abortions in our country to be reduced. Realistically, I understand the number will never be zero, but what could be done to limit that number?

Faced with the two McCain supporters basing their votes solely on their pro-life convictions, I headed to Google and found some statistics. I was thrilled to find the Matthew 25 Network expressing the views I have held for so long:

Studies Show that Economic Support for Women and Families Reduces Abortion

• Economic assistance to low income families is correlated with a 20% lower abortion rate. Across the entire United States, this translates into 200,000 fewer abortions.
• In the 1990s, states with more generous grants to women, infants and children under the age of five as provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program had a 37% lower abortion rate.
• Higher male employment in the 1990s was associated with a 29% lower abortion rate.
• The abortion rate has declined most rapidly from 1990-1996 when there was an economic boom under President Clinton. While rates have continued to decrease, they have declined less rapidly in recent years when poverty rates have been climbing.

What this says to me, is that help is better than hate. When women face an unplanned pregnancy, do we say: "Wow - too bad for you. Don't ask me for a hand out - but you'd better not be a baby killer," or can we say: "Wow - this is a huge moment in your life, here are some programs to help you be the kind of mother you would like to be."

In conclusion, YES, I can be an Obama supporter and be Pro-Life! I haven't even gone into the topic of supporting life in other ways, such as less war, and less pollution. I believe this is a very important point to make this election year! Please don't be a single issue voter, and spread the news that you can support LIFE and OBAMA!