Support for taxpayer funding of abortion is outside the political mainstream in this country. Depending on the poll, between 60 and 75 per cent of Amerians oppose it (see here, here, and here). In other words, belief that the government ought to be in the business of funding abortions is roughly as mainstream as the belief that the United States Government was behind 9/11. Now, Planned Parenthood has tried mightily to avoid these results by dishonestly claiming that the funds they receive from the government aren’t used for abortions. This is one of the most idiotic arguments ever made since the defining characteristic of money is its fungibility. Nonetheless, as Lori noted earlier today, some percentage of people will be fooled by any idiotic argument – however, funding for Planned Parenthood is still soundly opposed by the American people by a 54-39 margin. Which is why it is a real mystery to find that it is supported by a 58-42 margin in the United States Senate.

It is inexcusable that these five Republicans in the Senate have embraced a position that is not only leftist but is outside the political mainstream on the left. It is as inexcusable (or worse) than Republicans publicly espousing trutherism. Not one of these five needs to take this extremist position in order to win election. The only explanation is that they really are outside the political mainstream.

These five alleged “Republicans” should be opposed in their next primaries by everyone, even libertarians. There is nothing libertarian about supporting the government spending hundreds of millions of dollars on Planned Parenthood. However you feel about abortion per se, neither Republicans nor Democrats should find refuge for supporting funding for Planned Parenthood from anywhere. We need to clean house of these faithless cowards so that this extremist position will no longer be “bipartisan” by any stretch of the imagination.

And by the way, Junior Casey and Joe Manchin, we are coming for you, too.