november 6, 2006
Why Vote This Election Day?
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the partial birth abortion ban on November 8th, the day after the election. The ban on this grotesque and inhumane abortion technique went into effect in November of 2003 -- a procedure in which the skull of a fully-developed, partially-born baby is crushed and then the dead baby is removed from the womb. It's been 6 years since the United States Supreme Court has considered legal challenges to a ban on the practice.
But this time, things are quite different on the Supreme Court.
Since the last time partial-birth abortion was considered by the Court, it has lost former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who was the swing vote in 2003. She voted with the majority in the 5-4 decision striking down Nebraska's ban. But she has been replaced by Justice Samuel Alito who has pledged not to legislate from the bench. It is anticipated that Justice Alito, and new Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts, will vote for the 2003 ban on partial-birth abortion.
Elections have an impact.
Here are some key issues that will hinge on this election:
- Eight states are considering marriage protection amendments. Across the U.S., homosexual activists and their supporters are working feverishly to push the state votes their way;
- A new Eagleton/Rutgers poll of 809 New Jersey adults taken October 29-31 published last week showed that the citizens of New Jersey overwhelmingly disapprove of the state Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. By a margin of 54% to 38%, the citizens of New Jersey want a state constitutional amendment banning homosexual "marriages;"
- Eleven states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon and South Carolina) have measures to restrict the use of eminent domain in converting private property for public use in light of the Kelo V. New London Supreme Court decision last year.
- Judicial confirmations were key to tight Senate races in 2002 and 2004. Voters should not forget the issue this Election Day, when several moral victories may be in reach;
- Rumors are floating around in Washington, D.C. that Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is ill and may announce his retirement after the first of the year. Stevens is one of the most liberal members on the Court. His retirement would provide another opportunity to nominate a judicial conservative to the Supreme Court;
- Dozens of Circuit Court and District Court judgeships are currently vacant;
- The War on Terror and homeland security will be directly affected by the outcome of this election;
- There are clear differences between many candidates on raising taxes;
- The future of the school choice movement will be impacted;
- There is a great deal of political pressure to change our environmental policies to combat global warming. Adopting the restrictive Kyoto Protocol is one of the many hot button issues facing the new Congress, along with the push for alternative energy and domestic oil drilling;
- One of the most emotionally-charged issues is embryonic stem cell research. The uproar over the misleading Michael J. Fox political ads demonstrates the political firestorm surrounding this issue;
- Social Security reform will be another pressing issue facing the newly elected representatives and Senators in Washington;
- Congress will be forced to attend to the growing discontent regarding immigration policy;
- Many in Congress have sought to repeal the so-called "death tax" on personal estates. This effort has been blocked in the Senate, but will be resurrected with the new Congress.
These are only some of the many reasons why we must go to the polls and make our voices heard this Election Day -- and every Election Day. Your vote matters. Your opinion counts.
Please, take the time and go to the polls. Our future is in your hands.
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