U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinksi, D-Ill., was the last pro-life Democratic member of Congress. He lost his primary on Tuesday night to Marie Newman, who supports abortion.
He addressed the issue in a press conference he gave on Wednesday, conceding defeat.
“There was one issue that loomed especially large in this campaign: the fact that I am pro-life. I was pilloried in millions of dollars of TV ads and mailers. I was shunned by many of my colleagues and other Democratic Party members and operators because of my pro-life stance. The pressure in the Democratic Party on the life issue has never been as great as it is now,” Lipinski said.
“Over the years, I’ve watched many other politicians succumb to pressure and change their position on this issue. I have always said that I would never give up being pro-life and standing up for babies in the womb. Judy [Lipinski’s wife] and I, and tens of millions of Catholics, hold and live this belief. But it is not just based on religious belief. It is based on science, which shows us that life begins at conception. Knowing this, I could never give up protecting the most vulnerable human beings in the world simply to win an election. My faith teaches, and the Democratic Party preaches, that we should serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable. To stand in solidarity with the vulnerable is to become vulnerable. There is no higher calling for anyone,” he added.
That’s the courage of conviction. I applaud Congressman Lipinski for standing up for the unborn and not succumbing to the pressure he undoubtedly faced.
It’s unfortunate that the Democratic Party has made it abundantly clear that there is no longer any room for pro-life voters in their party.
