Congressman Mast burns abortion proponents with a $20 bill
During a debate on abortion, Florida Congressman Brian Mast placed a $20 bill on the desk and announced that “Any one of you or your colleagues wants to speak up and tell us when life begins, it’s sitting here for you.”
Mast knew his money was safe because in the 50 years that abortion has been a major controversial issue in America – since the Roe v. Wade decision – no advocate for terminating the life of an evolving human being has been willing or able to answer that question definitively – scientifically.
I know that from my research and from my own similar inquiry to abortion advocates. The essential question underlying the entire abortion is when is that magical moment when a developing human being transforms from a disposable piece of flesh to a person with all the inalienable constitutional rights of a human being? It is the difference between elective surgery and murder – potentially genocide.
The assumption of the pro-abortion community is that the life in the womb is valueless. It is not a human being. “It has no rights to LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” They will tell you that they do not see it as a human being. Well duh! If they did, they would be condoning murder. Personally, I do not believe those having abortions – or performing abortions – are guilty of murder in a civic and legal sense only because they have been led to believe the fetus is not a person.
BUT … to preserve their belief they must avoid, at all costs, any discussion or consideration that the unborn IS human and IS entitled to life as a basic right. They do not engage in that debate because they know that they cannot address the issue of when a developing human is imbued with the rights of personhood. They cannot win that argument. They cannot maintain their belief if forced to address the biological facts. They must remain in the vagueness of their delusion to maintain their belief … their decency … their proclaimed moral ground.
Like Mast, I have frequently challenged pro-abortion folks with that question – although not with a $20 bill. In friendly dialogue, they simply retreat to their belief and refrain from further discussion. In less friendly discussions, they blow up … distract … attack … and get out of the debate. In either case, it is the same result. Not only the avoidance of an answer but a personal fear of even considering the answer…
When does a developing human in the womb become a citizen with rights and protections is the singularly most critical question. Once that fetus in the womb obtains personhood, the entire justification for abortion-on-demand collapses. The economic situation of the mother or any inconvenience caused by the birthing process are no longer justifications for terminating the life of that individual – that person. The unborn child I suddenly imbued with all the rights and legal protections of the recently born child.
Our society terminates the life of evolving humans without any sound scientific specificity as to when that change takes place. In fact, the transformation point jumps around according to the arbitrary political and social zeitgeist of the day. What was once considered a legal abortion is later deemed to be murder. And you can see those willy-nilly determinations in court records.
Mast made an important point in again drawing attention to the pro-abortion lobby’s inability to fix a time in gestation when that thing in the womb becomes a person. As usual, none of his Democrat colleagues claimed the prize. As usual, they went on the attack.
It was reported that Mast’s challenge left Democrat Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California (of course) nearly speechless. Despite her self-proclaimed inability to speak, Speier had a lot to say.
“Uh… it gets more painful every single day. When you think about it, you’ve got an attorney general (Todd Rokita) in Indiana who has smeared a healthcare professional in that state who did exactly what she was supposed to do in providing an abortion to a ten-year-old. But he was gonna bring charges against her. We have a colleague on the other side of the aisle who is now putting down $20 bills as if we’re gonna race over there to get that $20 bill to answer his question. I mean, what are we doing here?! Have we lost it? This bill simply codifies what is interpreted in the Constitution in the 5th Amendment. Now, we have Justice Kavanaugh, who said, was asked the question, ‘may a state bar a resident of the state from traveling to another state? The answer is no.’ But interestingly enough, the right to travel – those words – are not in the 5th Amendment. So, if we have an originalist Court, we do have to pass this bill.”
That from a nearly speechless woman. It appears Speier has been taking word-salad lessons from Vice President Harris. But I digress.
Speier did not like Mast’s “theatrics.” Theatrics on the floor of the House? Heaven forbid!! Ah … wait. Was Speier part of a Democratic Party that interrupted the work of the House with a sit-in? If that was not “theatrics” it must have been an insurrection by today’s definition. Ooops! Again, I digress.
There are two problems with politically selecting an arbitrary day for the transition to personhood. The first is that it is arbitrary and subject to change. We once believed life began at birth. Medicine and technology now suggest personhood occurs when the fetus can survive outside the womb with general care. There are theories of brainwave activity, fetal heartbeat, and the presence of pain. None of these provide a definitive answer. And yet, there are those on the extreme edge of abortion advocacy who would rip apart a fully formed baby that is at full term.
The second problem is what I call the “previous day” issue. If you select any day in the gestation period, the fetus is essentially unchanged from the previous day. There is no distinction upon which to make a rational or scientific determination. The only truly exceptional moment I … conception. That I hen the male and female DNA and all … that I all … the trait of a human being are in place. There can be rational and moral arguments for allowing abortion where the mother’s life I at risk … in cases of rape and incest.
Mast struck at the heart of the issue. When does the evolving human in the womb attain the status of personhood – with all the rights and protections? Until that can be resolved in a scientific or rational manner, Speier’s indignant response to Mast’s question is irrelevant.
So, there ‘tis.
‘Have we lost it?’: Jackie Speier rips House Republican for flashing cash during abortion rights bill debate
© AlterNet’Have we lost it?’: Jackie Speier rips House Republican for flashing cash during abortion rights bill debate
United States Congressman Brian Mast (R-Florida) on Friday attempted to coerce Democrats in the House of Representatives into validating right-wing talking points about abortion by flashing cold, hard cash.
Mast performed his stunt during a floor debate over House Resolution 8297, which if it passes would protect the right to interstate travel to get an abortion.
“I got a $20 bill here. It’s not worth as much as it used to be worth. I’ll put it down here on the table. Any one of you or your colleagues wants to speak up and tell us when life begins, it’s sitting here for you,” Mast boasted.
Mast’s theatrics left Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-California) nearly speechless.
“Uh… it gets more painful every single day. When you think about, you’ve got an [attorney general] in Indiana who has smeared a healthcare professional in that state who did exactly what she was supposed to do in providing an abortion to a ten-year-old. But he [Todd Rokita] was gonna bring charges against her. We have a colleague on the other side of the aisle who is now putting down $20 bills as if we’re gonna race over there to get that $20 bill to answer his question,” Speier said in response.
“I mean, what are we doing here?! Have we lost it?” she exclaimed. “This bill simply codifies what is interpreted in the Constitution in the 5th Amendment. Now, we have a [Supreme Court] Justice, [Brett] Kavanaugh, who said, was asked the question, ‘may a state bar a resident of the state from traveling to another state? The answer is no.’ But interestingly enough, the right to travel – those words – are not in the 5th Amendment. So if we have an originalist Court, we do have to pass this bill.”
Watch below or at this link.
The left has no reasonings. Just rhetoric
Larry, try this:
Folks, the entire argument against abortion is based upon cultural upbringing, being influenced by church leaders, teachers, family and peers. There is nothing in the bible regarding when the spirit enters the body except some allusions pointing toward “first breath”. As a boy growing up forced to attend fundamentalist sermons and listen to the Baptist dogma, particularly, do as the preacher says or “burn in hell for eternity”, I found it necessary to look elsewhere for enlightenment. There were just too many unanswered questions or (man) made-up answers. I am 65 and in my lifetime of spiritual studies, it has become clear that before the soul enters the baby, a determination is made as to whether that soul wants to be born to that mother, family, at that time and place, based upon the life lessons that the being wishes to experience for spiritual advancement. The Bible says God is not mocked and this can be applied to the “baby killing” scenario in-as-much as the spirit being that is between incarnations will only enter the flesh if sustainment of the living being will be present (or if a lesson must be learned from a brief life – hence why children die young). Edgar Cayce, the leading Psychic and trance channeler in the 20th century offered over 14,000 detailed readings on an incredible range of topics and the readings often confirmed/supported themselves through cross referencing other readings as well as other schools of thought. How could a simple, uneducated, unworldly, Christian Sunday school teacher, when hypnotized – speak about things of which he had no earthly knowledge? His information came from the Akashic Records of the universe or as the Bible calls it “the book of Life”. This is the etheric record of everything that has happened or thought of, all through existence within the dimension we abide, as well as subtle or unseen dimensions of space/time. The answer is consistent – the soul is incarnated at the time of birth or shortly before/after. The neural system of the fetus is not yet developed to support the consciousness of a soul. Thousands of case studies involving hypnotic regression to time before birth reveal that some people have a remembrance of being in the womb – but at six months or later. Any earlier memories of the mother can be explained to be a visit by the discarnate soul to the fetus to see that all is well in their future physical body. If the mother is planning to abort, the soul will not seek to incarnate but would perhaps set intention to be born as the next child to that mother or may choose another relative in the soul group – or another family entirely. The most important conclusion of Cayce’s readings and many other mystic’s (or spiritually advanced entities) teachings is that we are all arguing over NOTHING of any consequence. Let’s concern ourselves with saving and improving life for the living, whether children or adults, and leave the unborn to the grace of God. Once again, God knows what she is doing.
The abortion so called pro choice crowd are cruel and heartless. Worse than Hitler
Ron … I do not base my opinion on abortion on religion any more than a law against murder or robbery.
You need to open up that Bible and READ IT!
The Bible is noticeably clear that we are created in God’s image and He knows us well before we draw our first breath.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb, I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.
Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
“Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3)
“You knit me in my mother’s womb . . . nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret” (Psalm 139:13,15)
“You have been my guide since I was first formed . . . from my mother’s womb you are my God” (Psalm 22:10-11).
And we know scientifically that life begins — the life of a unique human being begins — at conception.
Only three comment to Hitler……
Larry, I will take that $20. Please send it to: https://brigidalliance.org/ and post the receipt.
I may believe in theological determinism where all events that happen are pre-ordained, predestined by my God because he is omniscience. Therefore all life began when God thought it, well before people even met, even born, it was written.
Show us that receipt.
I am just curious what your reply is to the argument that there is no requirement for a person to donate a kidney to a person in need? Even if not doing so would result in the person’s death? Why is a woman forced to donate her womb? I was just wondering what the counter to this is. Thank you!
She should have thought of that before she did the deed that got her pregnant!
Believe it or not, they now know what causes pregnancy!
Yeah, and that’s two people. And even with the latest and greatest contraceptives, sometimes they don’t work.
I wrestle with a greater sense sometimes, unwanted, unsupportable, life of a child versus an early term abortion.
I detest the later choice, but if the former choice results in a life of war, sometimes one must get along with a lot one detest.
But when it comes to teens having babies, little kids being raped and being forced to have babies, or worse yet incest, I just cannot see God sending you to hell for that. Personally, even if that was the case, I might choose to serve the time for the crime.
But I know universe do I give you the right to judge what a woman does with her body, or the man that was 50% of the situation. And I am a palled that you feel you deserve the right to pass judgment, force the birth, and then basically drop all responsibility for your actions. No additional support systems, is just a crime.
Now those same Leftists who believe “no advocate for terminating the life of an evolving human being has been willing or able to answer that question definitively – scientifically.” now all of a sudden have no clue as to what a woman is!
Thus, proving time and time again, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that Leftism is a Transmissible Mental Disease!
Please, SPAY and NEUTER your LEFTISTS!
However, their “Transgender” movement and the end of Roe v. Wade, are doing a marvelous job of that already!
Where’s my $20?
Yea our sisters in Kansas voting to maintain the personal right of choice in their constitution.
A Republican State sends a national message as to the importance of choice no matter your personal stand on this issue.
No one is pro-abortion, a vile term Larry loves to spew. Most people are pro-life, who wouldn’t be. And a majority of Kansas is pro choice though. As is the nation.
See you at the midterms Larry. This matters. We need pro-choice across the land.