Abortion Still Matters

It was sad to see the Detroit News, in an editorial yesterday about tomorrow's primary elections here in Michigan, lament that the abortion issue has apparently come to play a major role in the polling. Unions have poured money into the effort to have East Lansing Mayor Verg Bernero win the Democratic gubernatorial race in great part because they assert he will stand stronger for the right to abortion than Andy Dillon. The paper claims that the abortion issue should be put on the back burner so that more emphasis can be placed on job creation.

To hear such shallow talk is not shocking, yet when it comes from the Detroit News it becomes especially galling. We realize, too, that the activists using the issue to promote Bernero are using it wrongly, to wit, in support of the practice. But the bottom line must be that we never give up on the goal of ending abortion, and ironically, it is the unions and not conservative stalwarts such as normally found at the News that have made it a critical point in this election cycle. They see the importance of the issue. Why should the right, particularly in this case, not see that abortion stays a highlighted issue up to and until it is ended?

A single human life is more important than any number of jobs. Yet when the News editorial writers insist that job creation must be placed ahead of life issues they display an attitude which places electoral success ahead of the more important questions which face the body politic. What respect we show for humanity and human life is far more important than the immediate gratification of job seekers or political aspirants. Indeed, a greater respect for life will quite naturally lead to a greater interest in those quality of life issues under which job creation is to be found.

The proverbial cart must not be placed in front of the horse. Once we do that, all we do is topple the cart. First things first, Detroit News. The rest will come along for the ride.