What does it mean to be “pro-life?” Does the term apply only to the hot-button debate over abortion, or does it also encompass respecting and protecting the lives of all people, particularly those who remain vulnerable years after leaving the womb?
In political terms, “pro-life” is the rallying cry of “no exceptions” anti-abortion conservatives and evangelicals. It’s also a cudgel they wield against anyone who doesn’t adhere, faithfully and blindly, to their absolutist precepts. As in, you’re either their version of pro-life, or you’re pro-abortion — a baby killer.
Eight years ago, John Bel Edwards won a hotly contested race for governor by running as a staunchly pro-life, pro-gun Democrat. It helped that his “family values” Republican opponent was deeply flawed by a sex scandal.
As governor, Edwards signed every anti-abortion bill that lawmakers passed, including one that increased criminal penalties against abortion providers and at least one that many health care professionals believe outlawed procedures unrelated to abortion.
In fairness, Edwards also vetoed anti-trans legislation, issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ persons by state agencies and contractors, expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), and supported proposals to increase the minimum wage, close the gender wage gap and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Now, in his final legislative session as governor, Edwards is pushing two additional hot-button issues: adding exceptions for rape and incest to Louisiana’s strict anti-abortion laws, and abolishing the death penalty.
In announcing his legislative package, Edwards challenged “pro-life” lawmakers and advocates to expand their definition of the term — to live their professed faith by protecting all persons, not just the unborn.
“To truly be pro-life in my estimation,” Edwards said, “we must make it easier for parents to feed, educate and house their children. We need to raise the minimum wage, close our gender pay gap, and offer our people paid family and medical leave.
“We must also find empathy for victims of rape and incest who become pregnant,” Edwards continued. “And I am calling on the Legislature to abolish the death penalty, which promotes a culture of death and has proven to be expensive and ineffective at deterring crime.”
Critics will say Edwards’ clarion call is too little, too late; that he should have done this sooner. Truth is he slow-walked imposition of the death penalty throughout his tenure by accurately noting that the lethal injection compounds were not available. Now he’s just making his opposition official. Besides, the last state-sanctioned execution occurred in 2010, six years before Edwards took office.
With a new, likely Republican governor arriving in less than a year, it’s now or never for abolishing the death penalty and for carving out rape and incest exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban.
The governor faces a tough, uphill fight on both fronts, but he deserves credit for trying to breathe some life into what it means to be “pro-life.”
Clancy DuBos is the political editor and columnist for Gambit in New Orleans. Email him at clancy@gambitweekly.com.
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