Political Quotes

“several weeks ago, a national journalist asked, ``What kind of nation are we that would allow a procedure known as the partial birth abortion?'' I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 929--the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1997. Currently, thousands of these types of abortions are performed annually from the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy through the full term on healthy mothers carrying healthy babies--babies that have reached the point of viability. The partial birth abortion is so gruesome, even some supporters of abortion are opposed to it. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan refers to this heinous procedure as infanticide. In 1995, the American Medical Association's Legislative Council--a panel consisting of 12 doctors-- unanimously voted to recommend banning partial birth abortions. One of these doctors described the procedure as ``basically repulsive.'' More than 300 physicians and medical specialists joined former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop last year in saying that this procedure is never medically necessary to protect a mother's life or her future fertility. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate and disturbing that President Clinton, even when presented with clear medical evidence, refuses to support a ban on partial birth abortions.”