In what I have to think is the most ridiculous moment of the Pope’s visit to America Sen. Barbara Boxer held up a Senate resolution welcoming the pontiff to America because she objected to language about how the pope values “each and every human life,” according to the Politico.
Can you imagine a Senator objected to valuing “each and every human life?” Just think about that for a second.
The measure later cleared the Senate Thursday afternoon after the sponsor of the resolution, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), dropped the reference to “human life” because some Democrats saw it as a reference to abortion. According to Republican aides, Brownback, a devout Catholic, did not want a high profile fight over the resolution, which was adopted on a voice vote. In fact, Brownback blackberried his staff from the Pope’s mass at Nationals Park to direct them to drop the references to human life.
“There was some politics involved here, and the objectionable language has been withdrawn,” a senior Democratic Senate aide said.
Here’s the objectionable language in full:
Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out for the weak and vulnerable, witnessing to the value of each and every human life;
God Bless America…because we need it now!
April 17, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Well, at least they are now admitting that it is a human life. After all, if what they have been saying is true (namely that fetus’ aren’t human), then there would be no reason to object to it, would there? Goes to show that they’ve known all along.
April 17, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Great point horatius! If it’s not a human life then the resolution couldn’t have been referring to it. Great!
April 17, 2008 at 10:25 pm
This goes to show the power of language over perception. “Woe to you lawyers.” The “word” can be used to camoflauge ideas (truths) or illuminate ideas (truths).
I italicize “word” because not only is the word written and spoken, but Jesus himself is the Word. I might be so bold as to say Jesus the Word is an illuminator of truth. I might be even more bold to say that the anti-christ uses the word to obfuscate the truth.
When truth and “word” are divorced, as they are in most contemporary politics, anything goes. So called “Catholic” politician hide behind words like “personal morality” and “fetus” and “terminate a pregnancy”. So, of course “value of each and every human life” is objectionable. It means exactly what it says, and they don’t believe in those words. I wonder who’s side these guys are on?
No… I really don’t wonder.
April 17, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I’m disappointed that Senator Brownback agreed to remove the language. I think he should have held firm. It would have been an embarrassment to Boxer to oppose the resolution to the point where it would not have passed. Imagine opposing a resolution that recognizes the value of each and every human life!
Bob Hunt
April 18, 2008 at 2:07 am
For what it’s worth, I’m trying to draw attention to this in a forum that Senator Brownback contributes to.
I’m just disgusted with this.
April 18, 2008 at 2:52 am
I’m not sure I blame Brownback for all this, do you?
I agree that sometimes you have to pick a fight but he made a decision that this wasn’t the fight he wanted. I wonder why though.
April 18, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I certainly don’t blame Brownback for not wanting a floor fight over a resolution to honor the Pope. Boxer and the Democrats come off looking bad enough without it turning into a partisan battle.