Minority Senate Democrats this week used a rule requiring a 60-vote threshold to advance certain legislation to kill two proposals protecting unborn babies.
Now James Dobson, founder of the James Dobson Family Institute as well as his Family Talk radio, is asking voters to call out senators who voted against the legislation.
The votes were on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require doctors to provide medical care for babies that survive an abortion, and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would prohibit abortion past 20 weeks because of scientific evidence that the babies are capable of feeling pain.
"The senators who supported these bills have my deepest gratitude, and I implore them not to give up," he wrote in a column. "To those senators who had the audacity to turn their backs on helpless babies, I say this: you have chosen to embrace a culture of death and a political platform over humanity, decency, and life itself. God help us all if these two votes represent the soul of America."
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Regarding what "every American" should do, Dobson was specific.
"If your senator(s) supported this legislation, contact them and thank them. If your senator(s) opposed this legislation, demand that they consider their own humanity and the value of every life."
He provided links for voters to find out how their senators voted.
For the Pain-Capable vote, go here.
And for the Born-Alive vote, go here.
To find out how to reach your senator, go here.
Dobson said senators who opposed the bill have exhibited a double standard.
"In October and November of 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation making animal cruelty a federal crime. Yet incredulously, this past Tuesday the Senate failed to pass two pieces of legislation that would have further protected the precious lives of human babies, born and unborn. The votes in both measures were almost entirely along party lines with nearly all Republicans voting in favor and almost all of the Democrats voting against each of these bills."
He denounced those who refused to help the helpless.
"Babies, made in the image of God, who survive an attempt to end their lives should not then be left to die alone on porcelain tables," he said. "It's sickening to think that almost all of the Senate Democrats voted against this bill with only three Democrats – Casey (PA), Jones (AL), and Manchin (WV) having the moral courage to protect a newborn baby after such a barbaric act is botched," he said.
"I have said it before and I will say it again until I have no breath to speak. Every human life is precious and no child's life is expendable. This is not about 'abortion access' or the 'right to choose.' This is not about 'bundles of cells' or 'clumps of tissue.' This is not about 'my body, my choice,' or any other despicable euphemism or excuse employed to minimize the horror of killing an unborn child in the womb or letting a child die outside the womb. At its core, this is all about the inherent God-given dignity and worth of every human being – from conception to natural death," he said.
Kristen Waggoner of the Alliance Defending Freedom echoed Dobson's sentiments.
"Every human life is valuable, and every single baby deserves to be protected. ADF is profoundly disappointed by the Senate's failure to provide legal protection for babies who survive abortions and for not putting the well-being of mothers and unborn children first. We're grateful for the leadership of Sens. Ben Sasse and Lindsay Graham on these bills and for every elected official who understands the human rights at stake and fights to protect vulnerable babies," she said.
"For the Senate to fail to protect the lives of children once they are outside of the womb or at the stage to feel pain is unthinkable and inexcusable. We respectfully challenge all of our leaders in public office to affirm the basic human rights of vulnerable children – born and unborn."
Carol Tobias of the National Right to Life earlier explained the bills "would have protected very developed, living unborn children who can feel pain and those babies who are born alive following an abortion who are often allowed to die from neglect."
The Trump administration endorsed the bills.
"Our most helpless Americans cannot protect themselves from pain or from those who would callously allow them to die," said a statement. "The government, therefore, has a compelling responsibility to defend the rights and interests of these babies, including to be free from excruciating or unnecessary pain. All babies have the same dignity. They should not have to endure pain, and they should receive critical life-saving care regardless of whether they are born in a hospital, at home, or in an abortion clinic," the statement said.
Dobson earlier was harshly critical of state lawmakers in Colorado when they took a similar position as Democrats in Congress.
The Colorado Legislature is controlled this year by Democrats in both houses.
Dobson has dedicated his career as a psychologist, Christian leader and broadcaster to "preserving the biblical institutions of marriage and family by encouraging, inspiring, supporting, and leading parents and children to build their lives on God’s Word."
His radio broadcasts are heard weekdays on more than 1,300 radio outlets.
He's also authored 71 books on the family.
He served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine for 14 years and on the attending staff of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years. He's advised five U.S. presidents on family questions.
Along with an earned Ph.D., he holds 17 honorary doctoral degrees.