MAGGIE SMITH: How to Talk to Voters About Abortion
There will be some voters who slam the door in our face—the best thing to do is pray for them.
In today’s political world, one of the most sensitive topics Americans seem to point out is abortion. You have the far-left Democrats who follow the Cady Heron answer from Mean Girls known as “The Limit Does Not Exist” when it comes to Abortion Limits. Then, you have the Independents, who believe in some limits - varies for each state - or the correct answer from most conservatives and republicans known as life begins at conception. But how do we talk and communicate these stances to voters who may or may not know enough about the truth behind abortion?
One of the answers to that question is simply listening. Understanding what voters say first indicates what they think they know about abortion. For example, a voter in the state of Arizona may believe that abortion should not be banned entirely because there could be cases where the mom’s health or baby’s health is in jeopardy. The “comeback” or refute we should be discussing with these voters is that there are pregnancy treatment centers that we can list out so there is evidence that doctors, nurses, and OBGYNS can administer any treatment to help save the mother and her unborn child. Planned Parenthood will not assist with any of these treatments. Many organizations throughout the United States can help these women and their children during and even after they give birth. That is not talked about enough to voters.
Another answer I have received when talking to voters is “I don’t believe politicians would allow abortions up until birth” or “There’s no way any politician would allow late-term abortion.” The response would be, “Actually, there have been multiple reports that clarify that abortion has happened up until birth.” Some examples of evidence can be found in trusted pro-life organizations such as Liveaction or Susan. B Anthony Pro-Life America. In 2022, United States Senator Mark Kelly, who is a strong advocate for Planned Parenthood, was up for re-election in Arizona. When word got out that Kelly would support late-term abortion, I prayed to God about how I go about speaking to voters, and I found middle-ground facts that could sway voters to vote no on late-term abortions. One mention is that 6 out of 10 voters who are pro-choice would support a 20-week ban. According to KFF, 20-21 weeks is considered late-term abortion. Whenever I told that information to voters, they were shocked! You see it on their faces, realizing that the media and other so-called trusted medical sites will not disclose that information. Another example to bring up is the mental and physical effects that abortion has on women that Planned Parenthood won’t talk about. Issues include infertility, mental health issues, and PTSD. Talking through those points is a sympathetic way to help voters become open to discussion and potential persuasion to vote pro-life.
The final answer to communicate the issues of abortion includes examples of how our tax dollars are funding Planned Parenthood and abortion all around. The government will, in fact, take your tax money to fund abortions, and often, people either don’t care or don’t want to believe that. So, after explaining that to voters, I would like to suggest that the United States Constitution has religious liberty rights for all Americans, and part of those rights is the Hyde Amendment, which prevents tax dollars from directly paying for abortions. Democrat politicians want to eliminate that, so the best suggestion is to call your local representative, senator, or even governor to protect the Hyde Amendment.
I find that voters tend to be more open to discussion when I make suggestions of action or explain some facts with evidence. There will be some voters who will slam the door in our faces or hang up the telephone, but the best thing to do is pray for them. God created our lives and wants us to continue for future generations. Life is a beautiful thing, and it should never be perished in the womb. We must fight to protect life today and onward.
Editors' Note: The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pro Life Journal or its staff.
