Tens of thousands of people who support protecting the lives of children in the womb are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., Friday for the 51st annual March for Life. For those who may not be familiar, this is the preeminent pro-life march in the country that is held every January at the National Mall in Washington to protest the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. It was the law of the land from 1973 until June 2022, when it was overturned with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.
Republicans, particularly congressional Republicans, have championed pro-life issues in recent years. Many have cited it as a critical topic near and dear to their hearts and regularly tout their support and the importance of protecting the lives of the unborn. It’s disheartening to find out that only two Republicans in Congress, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), are pre-scheduled to speak at the event, according to the event website and various news outlets.
This isn’t a reflection of the organizers of the event in any way. They deserve a ton of credit and each year do a wonderful job. Instead, it’s a disappointment with the lack of participation from Republicans in Congress. They should be as enthusiastic in attending the March for Life as they are in attending fundraisers.
For those keeping track at home, that is two out of 269 Republicans in Congress who can go just a few blocks down from their offices and express their support for protecting the lives of children in the womb. So the common folk can go out and march in frigid temperatures to support the lives of the unborn, but not elected leaders whose political careers rely on their votes? Quite honestly, it’s a pathetic showing by congressional Republicans, many of whom use the topic to garner support from voters to help get elected to office.
Abortion seems to be a topic that many Republican politicians use to motivate voters to get to the polls. However, once in office, seemingly more often than not, they do little to demonstrate their public support to protect the lives of the unborn. Their political actions definitely do not speak as loudly as their words.
For example, many Republican presidents routinely expressed their pro-life support and were given the votes of millions of Americans because of it. Yet, when in office, they did little, if anything, to bring meaningful change. Moreover, regarding the March for Life, which is now in its fifth decade, the only Republican president to ever show up at the march in person (rather than by electronic remarks) was then-President Donald Trump.
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People come from all over the country to march in the frigid January D.C. weather to show their support for the lives of the unborn. There is very little reason that many congressional Republicans cannot do the same, especially more than just two Republicans. They love getting votes from pro-life supporters, so there is little reason that they cannot join the people who helped get them elected in a march that is right outside their offices.
Short of having a very good reason not to be there, shame on them all.