The state of Texas recently passed a Republican-led law which shut down 13 abortion clinics this week, leaving the state with only seven. There had been 44 just a year ago. Needless-to-say, this action put the GOP again in the spotlight for accusations of their War on Women, a charge that always upsets Republicans, all the more so because it's so difficult to contradict, in large part because it's true.
Still, though, on Meet the Press this past Sunday, host Chuck Todd gave the chairman of the RNC, Reince Priebus, a chance to explain why the law should be defended and not really so bad after all against the womenfolk. With a straight face, although a contorted voice, Mr. Priebus answered:
"The issue for us is only one thing, and that's whether you ought to use taxpayer money to fund abortion."
Now, there are two significant things about this statement, each a smorgasbord of reality, and I was at odds which to mention first. They are each equally gob-smack eye-opening. But in the end, I went with the most basic. And that's...
While Mr. Priebus gave a perfectly full-throated response, it not only has zero to do with the question asked of him but, even putting the question aside, the answer itself is utterly, bone-dry unrelated to the Texas state law.
The law has absolutely nothing -- as in nada, zilch -- to do with taxpayer money funding abortions. For those keeping score, what the law says is that it requires that abortions in Texas be performed in ambulatory surgical centers, and all doctors performing abortions need to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. (There also are time limits on when abortions can be performed and limitations on the prescription of abortion medication.) But taxpayer funding? Not a single word, hiccup or thought. If you had the world's most power microscope, you couldn't find it.
And that leads to the second reaction...
Whether what Reince Priebus said had anything to do with the actual Texas state law in question aside, I think that Democrats should stand up for the RNC chairman and support him for his position, whether or not they agree with his point. That might be the first time I've felt Reince Priebus has said anything as RNC chairman worth supporting, but this is such a controversial issue that it's admirable he took a position. And so, he should be held to it.
Again, that position of the chairman of the Republican Nation Committee is:
"The issue for us is only one thing, and that's whether you ought to use taxpayer money to fund abortion."
Not that a fetus is a person. Not that abortion is murder. Not that it's a matter of morality. Not that there should be absolutely no abortions after a certain time period, or even under any conditions. There is only one issue for Republicans, according to the chairman of the Republican National Committee. And it's that: No taxpayer money be used to fund abortion. Period.
Fine. If that's the GOP's one and only issue, much as I may not agree with it, I'm willing to compromise and think others should, as well. Because then the controversy of abortion would be over. The Texas state law would disappear, and 37 vanished abortion clinics in the state would return. Abortion clinics that have closed across the country would suddenly have their doors opened again. Protests around the country would dwindle to next to nothing. The lives of those who work at abortion clinics would become so much safer once again.
And the debate about abortion would, for all intents and purposes, be over. Oh, sure there will be some who would still argue that if abortion is legal, then it should be acceptable that it's covered by taxpayer funding. But as I said, if compromising on this issue brings abortion peace, then take the word of the chairman of the Republican Party Reince Priebus and run with it. Run fast and free. Run with the wind.
"The issue for us is only one thing, and that's whether you ought to use taxpayer money to fund abortion."
Got it. Done.
Compromise works. All hail Reince Priebus.
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To read more from Robert J. Elisberg about this or many other matters both large and tidbit small, see Elisberg Industries.