Senate Democrats blocked passage of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Monday night in what President Trump called “one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress.” The final vote was 53-44, seven votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a legislative filibuster.
The legislation would have required abortion doctors to provide medical care to infants born alive after an attempted abortion.
….This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and cosponsored by 49 of his fellow Republican senators. Only three Democrats crossed the aisle to support the bill — Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and Doug Jones of Alabama.
Three Republican senators did not vote on the bill: Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Tim Scott (S.C.). According to their communications directors, both Cramer and Scott missed the vote due to flight delays.
All six Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls in the Senate voted against the measure, including Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Kamala Harris (Calif.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.).
Elizabeth Warren
Bernie Sanders
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kamala Harris
Amy Klobuchar
Cory BookerALL just voted "NO" against MEDICAL CARE FOR BABIES WHO SURVIVE ABORTION.
Infants. Babies crying for help. By default, they voted for infanticide.
The 2020 Dem Candidates for Prez of USA
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) February 25, 2019
Here are the 44 Democrat Senators Who Voted in Favor of Infanticide and Against Protecting Born-Alive Babies. #BornAliveAct #ProLife https://t.co/YoshybBKkL pic.twitter.com/pzVZ1S3VtJ
— Nick Short 🇺🇸 (@PoliticalShort) February 26, 2019
Here’s a different list for the
Born Alive Act:@RadioFreeTom @TheRickWilson @EvanMcMullin @JRubinBlogger @Peter_Wehner @SteveSchmidtSES
George WillSo-called “conservatives” who want Democrats in power.
Also @BillKristol and his wife supported Ralph Northam.
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) February 26, 2019
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tweeted that he wasn’t surprised by the outcome of the vote.
It is no surprise that today Senate Democrats voted in opposition to the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. I cosponsored @SenSasse’s bill as this is common-sense legislation that would have protected the lives of newborn babies from infanticide, saving millions.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 25, 2019
“They’ve chosen to empower & embrace unhinged leftist ideals—like those of disgraced Virginia Gov Northam—which are inhumane & pro-infanticide,” he wrote.
Democrats openly deny the concept of the sanctity of life & their actions today did just that. They've chosen to empower & embrace unhinged leftist ideals—like those of disgraced Virginia Gov Northam—which are inhumane & pro-infanticide. These ideals are heartless & unfathomable.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 25, 2019
The senator wrote that he would “remain committed to fighting for policies that will protect the lives of the unborn.”
I was proud to co-sponsor @SenSasse's Born-Alive bill. After the Democrats' actions today, I remain committed to fighting for policies that will protect the lives of the unborn. Every human life is precious, and must be respected as such. #Prolife
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 25, 2019
Other conservatives on Twitter reacted with shock and disdain. Pro-life activist Obianuju Ekeocha said the Democrats who voted down the bill “embraced evil.”
This is unbelievable. So if a baby survives abortion , there would not be any obligation to give necessary medical care to the baby. This is disgusting and everyone of the 44 Senators who voted against this bill have embraced evil. https://t.co/hWZKz4Lqm2
— Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) February 25, 2019
“Democrats just voted to let precious newborns suffer to death on cold steel surgical tables rather than mandate they get medical care,” said Newsmax TV host John Cardillo.
If you don’t think we’re in an ideological civil war and a good v. evil battle for the soul of America, realize that Democrats just voted to let precious newborns suffer to death on cold steel surgical tables rather than mandate they get medical care.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) February 26, 2019
Democrats literally voted to let born infants suffer to death.
I cannot believe this is happening in the United States.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) February 26, 2019
Some MSM outlets characterized the bill as “anti-abortion” rather than anti-infanticide. The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway corrected a Politico reporter:
As the name indicates, this is actually not an anti-abortion bill, unless you think that all laws protecting the lives of humans after they're born are anti-abortion. https://t.co/OxdkOtdjd3
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) February 25, 2019
Buck Sexton also complained about the language the MSM used to describe the bill.
Senate Democrats just voted against a bill stating the survivor of a failed abortion must be given medical care like any other child
Democrats and the media are lying about this. Do not let them lie.
Share this. Americans must know the truth. https://t.co/Jy1aCjEifn pic.twitter.com/DWoMaWCLNn
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) February 26, 2019
Meanwhile, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) dishonestly called the bill “extremist” and “anti-science”:
BREAKING: The Senate has voted down Senator Sasse's extremist, anti-science bill that attempted to inflict medically unnecessary restrictions on clinics, spread dangerous anti-choice lies, and threaten healthcare providers with jail time. #ProtectProviders pic.twitter.com/HXtttLH2qN
— NARAL (@NARAL) February 25, 2019
Longtime pro-life warrior Father Frank Pavone urged pro-life voters to make the Democrats’ ghoulish embrace of infanticide an election issue.
Ok, folks, so the vote on the Born Alive bill in the Senate was 53 to 44 and therefore the Democrats prevented a basic step forward to protecting babies born alive.
Powerful #Election 2020 issue. Don’t complain when we use it to hammer you at the polls.— Fr. Frank Pavone 🇺🇸 (Text LIFE to 88022) (@frfrankpavone) February 25, 2019
“We do have a majority of senators willing to protect these babies,” the national director of Priests for Life said in a live broadcast following the vote.
“Democrats who put the boundary line at birth — when you are absolutely without question going to protect a human life — well, this raises another disturbing question doesn’t it?” Pavone pointed out. “And that is, where exactly do they draw that line? Right now — where do they draw that line?”
He added: “When we talk about these moral questions of life and death, we talk about the slippery slope. Well, the slippery slope is not just something that’s in the future. It’s like right now. Where do these people draw the line?”
