The Honorable Wendy Davis
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
Dear Senator Davis,
Upon your decision to run for Governor of the great state of Texas, I was compelled to write to you concerning your stance on the issue of abortion and how this may impact women’s lives statewide if you become Governor in 2014. Your efforts to support pro-choice activists were reflected on June 25, 2013 when you filibustered to block Texas Senate Bill 5 from passing. This bill was undertaking the challenge of banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, requiring hospital-style medical care, and demanding better healthcare for women wanting an abortion. Nonetheless against all odds, you stood for 11 hours non-stop on your quest to stall the passing of this bill.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road, you made statements such as, “I am pro-life, the goal that we should have is that we see zero abortions, and when I believe women’s health is in danger, I’m going to stand and fight to protect that.” These statements were reported by The Valley Morning Star. With all due respect, this is an attempt to confuse and deliberately mislead voters to be desensitized from your June filibuster. You are trying to be perceived as a moderate candidate. This tactics have also been seen from former President Bill Clinton in 1996 when he said abortion “should not only be safe and legal, it should be rare.” The positions that were made in these statements don’t reflect reality, and this is my biggest concern.
You are trying to wipe your hands clean from your ill intentions with your filibuster. How can you say you will stand and protect women’s health when it’s in danger, if it already was in June 25, 2013 and you were trying to stop safer conditions? The abortion industry is booming with business, however their services aren’t high-quality. Women are mistreated during the procedures, some end up infertile after an abortion, and many women are psychologically scarred for life. Technically, the bill still allowed for abortion to take place, but it was making it safer. You say you care about women’s health being in danger, and the bill supported that. Yet, you were against the bill, because it would reduce the number of abortion clinics. You were saying that it’s better to have many unsafe abortions, instead of fewer abortions under safer conditions. Although, no abortion method will ever be 100% safe or 100% fail-proof.
I’m trying to understand your mindset as you are an abortion advocate, but you have contradicted yourself. You’ve said that you began fighting this battle over women’s healthcare in 2011, when you say that there was a reduction for women’s healthcare decreasing women’s access for health care access for more than 160,000 women that included family planning, sexual education, and abortions. Texas had banned state funds for abortion, and consequently $200 million of federal funds that were originally for women’s healthcare without abortion were denied, according to The New Republic. In Planned Parenthood’s annual report, it was reported that they received $487.4 million in tax dollars. The kind of “healthcare” that you support was getting federal funds and there never was a reduction in that kind of “healthcare.” It was the programs like the Texas Women’s Health Program (WHP) that weren’t getting the federal funds, because it didn’t have abortions in its clinics. While, it is said that Planned Parenthood provides vital health examinations like breast and cervical screenings, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception, everyone knows their main concentration is abortion. Programs like WHP are indispensable, because they genuinely provide healthcare for women in Texas.
It’s mind boggling that you even support abortion. An unborn child is a living human being with equal right to a living human being. At just 6 weeks from conception, the unborn fetus does have a beating heart and it can be heard by ultrasound. North Dakota already banned abortions as early as 6 weeks once heartbeat of the unborn child can be detected. If a heartbeat, which is a sign of life isn’t conclusive evidence, what is? You also say this isn’t a battle you chose, but why make a deal with the devil just to get votes and hurt innocent life along the process?
Texas has been a superb role-model for the rest of America in the effort to make abortion almost obsolete. Don’t forget Texas is under the Bible belt. Thanks to honorable leaders like Gov. Rick Perry, who have embraced innocent life. Texas needs that right kind of leadership moving forward. You forgot to mention that your promises to care about the life of every child only applied to the living. I respectfully urge you to allow Texas to continue to esteem innocent unborn life, and to not lead a new culture of unnecessary deaths whether its as you being Senator or Governor. Give Texans peace of mind with your actions not words, and stop lying to us. We know the games you play.
I thank you and acknowledge the great work you perform everyday for the state, and for taking your valuable time to listen to the voices of Texans.
