As covered earlier by RedState’s fantastic streiff, Virginia seems to be following in the philosophical footsteps of New York when it comes to abortion (here, here, here, and here). And perhaps further.

Consider a state legislative debate Tuesday over Democratic Del. Kathy Tran’s bill repealing restrictions on third-trimester abortions, as described by Fox News:

Todd Gilbert, the Republican House majority leader, questioned Tran about the bill during a hearing Monday. He asked Tran if a woman who has physical signs she is about to give birth could request an abortion if a physician said it could impair her “mental health.”

“Where it’s obvious that a woman is about to give birth. She has physical signs that she is about to give birth. Would that still be a point at which she could request an abortion if she was so-certified — she’s dilating,” he asked.

“Mr. Chairman, that would be … a decision that the doctor, the physician and the woman would make at that point,” Tran replied.

“I understand that,” Gilbert replied. “I’m asking if your bill allows that.”

Tran replied: “My bill would allow that, yes.”

In a Wednesday radio interview with WTOP, the host asked Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam about the bill:

“[Tran] was pressed by a Republican delegate about whether her bill would permit an abortion even as a woman is essentially dilating, ready to give birth, and she answered that it would permit an abortion at that stage of labor. Do you support her measure and explain her answer.”

Northam’s response:

“When we talk about third trimester abortions, these are done with the consent of the mother, with the consent of the physician. More than one physician, by the way. And its done in case where there may be severe deformities, where there may be a fetus that is non-viable.

“So, in this particular example, if a mother is in labor I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”

Notice — the baby would be delivered, and then there would be a discussion on what to do.

In the words of streiff:

If anything, Northam’s explanation makes Tran’s bill seem positively humane by comparison. In Northam’s view, a healthy baby could be delivered but if the mother, at any time during delivery, said she wanted an abortion, the healthy baby would be killed after delivery.

Well, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sass had some words of his own for the governor, via a statement to National Review:

“This is morally repugnant. In just a few years, pro-abortion zealots went from ‘safe, legal, and rare’ to ‘keep the newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide.”

He then bore down:

“I don’t care what party you’re from — if you can’t say that it’s wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office.”

.@BenSasse on Gov Northam's comments: "I don’t care what party you’re from – if you can’t say that it’s wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office." https://t.co/c5wdVFKpk0 pic.twitter.com/aNM1eldy9Q

— James Wegmann (@jameswegmann) January 30, 2019

What is happening in this country right now? It seems that the Left has hit light speed on callousness toward the unborn. Yet, it isn’t as fast a plunge as it may appear: In 2016, Hillary Clinton stood before the nation as its potential leader and refused to condemn partial birth abortion (here). Still, something is happening in our nation. What is it? What is going on in the United States of America — a land promising “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”? One day, will the last of those wholly nullify the first?

Please share your thoughts with all of us.

-Alex

Relevant RedState links in this article: here, here, here, and here. and here.

See 3 more pieces from me: Covington goes to the White House, AOC & the New Deal, and GoScamMe.

Find all my RedState work here.

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