The Life and Times of the Watters Family

Abortion On Television

I haven’t posted in a while, but things at work are finally winding down and with the election over, I can actually think about something else.

I was reading Instapundit earlier today when I stumbled across this item about abortion on tv. It is a response to this post by Jonah Goldberg over at National Review Online.

I e-mailed my thoughts to Glenn. My e-mail is posted below:

Glenn,

I’m no lawyer, so I’m not sure about the details of the legal issue, but your argument here fails my basic bullshit meter:

In the first example (baby drowning in .5 inches of water), the victim is imperiled by an unseen, abstract actor. Up until the point at which the passerby notices the situation, said passerby has had no material influence on the victims predicament. If he/she had, I assume the legal obligations would be drastically different.

However, in the second example, the mother-to-be (or not to be) is in fact the person placing the baby in peril in the first place. To compare the mother in this circumstance to the passerby in the original circumstance appears to be a major fallacy. The role of the mother-to-be in this case is far more analogous to that of the forces that conspired to place the victim from the original example in peril in the first place. In that original circumstance, had an adult person placed a baby and allowed it to drown in .5 inches of water (either with malicious intent or by negligence), they would likely face both legal and moral consequences if they did not act to remedy the situation and prevent death.

Again, I’m no lawyer, but it certainly seems artfully specious to suggest that a pregnant woman is actually “rescuing” a child if she chooses NOT to abort it. Let’s also not forget that, at least in the case that is being discussed (Jonah’s TV abortion example) the child is usually the result of an act of the will, however irresponsible it may have been, on the part of the mother. I realize that cases of rape and incest of course can complicate the issue, but none-the-less, the baby would be in NO peril whatsoever without the mother-to-be placing it there.

I always enjoy reading Instapundit and appreciate your insightful take on many issues. I thought I’d at least ask for some clarity in this case, as it seemed a little off to me.

Thanks,

Cameron S. Watters

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