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They Want to Amend the Constitution So You Can't Defend the Unborn Unborn babies have no voice of their own. They depend on you and me to be their voice. Until now, the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has guaranteed that we as American citizens can be that voice – for the unborn or for any other cause we believe in. But no more, at least not if pro-abortion Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has his way.
Reid has called a Senate vote on September 8th on a constitutional amendment that will fundamentally rip apart Americans' hallowed right to free speech. S.J. Res. 19 would give Congress or the states the power to prohibit groups like NRLC from communicating with the public about any matter legislators think might "influence elections," no matter how indirectly. Alerts, scorecards of votes, and legislative reports to the public could be banned. Another provision could restrict the right of private citizens to spend their own money to express their views on public policy issues. In practice, that means what you can and can't say, and through which channels you can say it, would be decided by politicians, the courts, and a whole new class of government speech police. This must have James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," rolling in his grave. The 1st Amendment makes speaking freely about our elected officials and their policies a fundamental human right. In a republic like ours, if every citizen isn't free to criticize their government by printing a book, copying some pamphlets, or building a web site, then the whole idea of a republic of free citizens is lost.
The amendment exempts the press from these restrictions, leaving only the government and a pro-abortion media with the right to free and unfettered discussion of our elected officials and their policies. Further, it leaves those same government speech police to decide which of their favored media outlets would qualify for the exemptions, and which would not! Placing our speech and commentary under the boot of a new class of government overseers of political speech is unacceptable in a free America and would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Limiting free speech needs to be made unthinkable again. In fact, the original purpose of the 1st Amendment was to put commentary about political issues beyond the control of government. That is even more important with the kind of government we have now that advocates the killing of innocent unborn babies. National Right to Life for years has been vigilant against the encroachments on free speech rights that pro-abortion advocates want to straightjacket us with. They know if they can limit our right to speak out for the unborn – while simultaneously leaving a pro-abortion media free to advocate for abortion – they will have won half the battle. Imagine if this amendment was in place and National Right to Life tried to inform you about the committee vote that occurred on it in July. If we publish the fact that the pro-abortion amendment passed on a party-line vote, with the Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing, we could be said to be trying "to influence elections". If we tell you which specific senators voted which way and some of those who voted are up for election this year, we'd be accused of the same thing – trying "to influence elections." It would literally take away our freedom to freely report on the actions, votes, and statements of the elected officials who represent you! Please help us tell the public about this threat to every American's fundamental rights before it's too late – before our right to even advocate against such a takeover of free speech is made a crime and shut down by government regulators. Your gift of $500 or $100 or $50 will help us win on the front lines of the right to free speech. When the day comes that no American has the right to effectively speak up for the unborn, how will their pleas be heard? Please help us fight . . . and speak up . . . for Life! 
Carol Tobias,National Right to Life President |
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National Right to Life, 512 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
