President Obama has been accused of trying to silence his critics. Apparently he’s silencing his supporters now, too.
That was Gwyneth Paltrow’s experience, anyway. Obama was attending a Democratic fundraiser organized by the Hollywood star when he allegedly robbed Paltrow of her ability to communicate. After describing herself as one of the president’s “biggest fans,” Ms. Paltrow went on to declare, “You’re so handsome that I can’t speak properly.”
As a heterosexual man, I’m probably not the most qualified person to evaluate President Obama’s physical attractiveness. What I can say is that no matter how handsome someone might be, there are some things that pro-lifers just shouldn’t stay silent about. That includes supporting sensible rules to protect women from negligent and malicious doctors. The good news is that Arizona and other states have passed laws allowing surprise inspections of abortion clinics. Unfortunately, not everyone is on board.
Teddy Wilson at RHrealitycheck.org wrote an article about Arizona’s new policy. Referring to the law as “anti-choice,” he quoted Planned Parenthood Arizona president Bryan Howard, who claimed that such legislation will do “nothing but open the door to provider and patient harassment.This is yet another law that is in search of a problem rather than a positive solution.” In contrast, pro-lifers understand that random inspections are necessary to protect women from a “rogue abortion provider” like Dr. Steven C. Brigham. Who’s written about Dr. Brigham? Why Teddy Wilson, of course. He put out an article this month detailing the “gross negligence” and “official misconduct” that Brigham displayed.
At a hearing before the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners, Deputy Attorney General Jeri Warhaftig spoke of the substandard care that Dr. Brigham provided. Also highlighted were the serious injuries that an 18 year-old patient sustained while at a Maryland clinic affiliated with Dr. Brigham. A raid on that facility revealed less than stellar conditions, including the fact that workers had taken to storing aborted corpses in freezers. If inspections represent a “law that is in search of a problem,” then it looks like the search won’t take too long.
All sorts of problems have turned up in Delaware. Two nurses there, Jayne Mitchell-Werbrich and Joyce Vasikonis, went public in 2013 about what they saw at Planned Parenthood’s Wilmington clinic. This included a “meat market” atmosphere characterized by bloody tables and unsterilized instruments. Both individuals went on to testify before a state legislative hearing, where they were joined by former clinic director Melody Meanor. According to Meanor, there were multiple cases in which patients weren’t told of positive STD test results, records weren’t updated, and drugs were mishandled.
During her testimony, Mitchell-Werbrich pointed out similarities between Planned Parenthood’s clinic and the one belonging to Dr. Kermit Gosnell. As she explained, “Both operated extremely hazardous abortion clinics and their respective states refused to close them despite repeated warnings.” Speaking of Dr. Gosnell…
As you’re likely aware, late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell was responsible for the death of patient Karnamaya Mongar as well as the murder of newborn infants. The grand jury report identified several reasons why Gosnell was able to escape detection. Among the most glaring was the hands-off approach to regulating abortion that had been adopted by former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge. In fact, the report noted that even nail salons are subject to more oversight than Gosnell’s clinic received. It’s hard to imagine that a random inspection wouldn’t have saved lives by exposing Gosnell’s fatally incompetent staff and septic, rat infested working conditions.
Pro-abortion commentators like Carole Joffe refer to surprise inspection laws and other common-sense regulations by the acronym “TRAP” (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers). What these individuals don’t seem to understand is that vulnerable women are being lured into death-trap clinics. Pro-lifers can help prevent that by continuing to support basic safeguards. While the abortion industry has plenty of friends it can turn to, the lives of women and children depend on us refusing to be silent.
