Op-Eds

By: Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)


As undercover videos of Planned Parenthood’s activities have come to light by the Center for Medical Progress, it’s time to take a hard look at our culture and ask some tough questions. Has our national conscience been so dulled that we no longer have a basic sense of right and wrong? Have we been so blinded by a perverted sense of individual liberty that we now believe that human life is nothing more than a commodity? Have we so devalued the most basic gift of God, a human life, that we can casually describe how to best preserve the most profitable parts of a baby, over lunch?

Our nation should be outraged by what these investigative videos have uncovered, and demand the government put an immediate end to these unspeakable atrocities. But relying on Washington D.C. to eradicate this problem is not enough. This isn’t the first time Planned Parenthood has been in the spotlight and, if this scandal follows the typical pattern of other issues that have outraged Americans, Planned Parenthood will lay low until the media attention blows over and we move on to the next crisis. Their consultants and attorneys will analyze whatever new laws were passed and will look for a work-around, or invent another way to do the same thing.

While government can, and should, react strongly and decisively to address this atrocity, what we are really facing in this nation is a cultural issue. The nonchalant attitude of Planned Parenthood employees discussing the price of infants’ body parts over lunch is evidence of a growing disrespect for the value of human life. I believe this has been brought on by a general disregard for what the Founders called the “laws of nature and of natures' God," in other words, a standard moral code.

According to our second President, John Adams, our form of government was “…made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Adams explained that a culture without moral boundaries would become so unconstrained that there is “…no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality...”

This moral void in America is also reflective in the halls of our government. According to President James Garfield, politics is downstream from culture, and if the culture is corrupt, the government will be corrupt. Garfield stated, "...the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption."

We must put an immediate end to the appalling actions of Planned Parenthood. Congress must stop the funding and fully investigate these atrocities. The President must direct the Department of Justice to open investigations into the operation of Planned Parenthood and prosecute any criminal activity to the fullest extent of the law. State governors must also investigate and shut down abortion clinics operating outside of state laws, and state legislatures must also cut funding.

My office is working hard to bring a bill to the floor that will stop all funding for Planned Parenthood. The President has already said he will veto attempts to defund the organization, but that should not deter us from doing what is moral, right, and expected. However, no matter how hard we push in Washington D.C. or in our state, none of this will happen without an outraged public demanding action and accountability.

My father taught me that if there is something that you don’t like, you have two choices...you can do something to change the situation, or you can accept it as inevitable and go on with your life. If the actions of Planned Parenthood offend you, then you should take action – otherwise, nothing will change. The people can call for government and private industry to stop funding these atrocities. We are still a government of the people and your voice is power, but only if you use it. What choice will you make?