Asa Hutchinson: “Mr. President, I rise in respectful but very, very strong opposition to the Daschle amendment. I want to commend the…”

“Mr. President, I rise in respectful but very, very strong opposition to the Daschle amendment. I want to commend the Senator from Pennsylvania for his courageous leadership on an issue that deserves to be debated and a ban which deserves to be passed. I believe that abortion and the human life issue in this country are the great moral issues that confront our society. I heard my colleague from Maryland, Senator Mikulski, say that we voted 52 times in the last Congress on the issue of abortion. And she said, ``Are we any better off?'' I would suggest that while we debate balanced budget amendments, while we debate chemical weapons treaties, and while we debate a host of important issues, there is no issue more important to the future of our country, to civilization, and to the kind of people we are going to be than the sanctity of human life. If it takes 52 votes, then it is worth it. Many of today's politicians will run for cover at the very mention of abortion, even at the term ``partial-birth abortion.'' How do we call ourselves leaders if we are not willing to grapple, to debate, to struggle, to agonize and reach moral conclusions as to this great issue confronting who we are as a people and what kind of civilization we are going to be.”