CHICAGO - The Democrat seeking to oust GOP Congressman Peter Roskam believes abortion is a medical procedure like gall bladder surgery - a comment Roskam immediately rejected during a debate last week in Chicago.
For the first time in several elections, the Illinois Congressional District once represented by Henry Hyde could fall into Democrat hands, political analysts are saying. Indeed, the current 6th CD map is starkly different that the one Henry Hyde represented. It contains a substantial part of Democrat-controlled Cook County and a portion of Lake County in addition to the eastern part of DuPage County.
But this time, Republican Peter Roskam faces the toughest challenge in 12 years - since he defeated now-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth - the first runoff after Hyde stepped down. Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in the district in 2016 and Democrats smelled blood in the water.
Last week, Roskam and his Democrat challenger Sean Casten debated on several issues, including abortion. Casten made an off-the-cuff remark that is likely to come back and haunt him during the last 100 days of the campaign. After Roskam confirmed that he was pro-life, Casten said abortion is like "gall bladder surgery" - and should be a woman's choice.
The debate comments set off a firestorm, with prolife organization Susan B. Anthony's Tweet:
Moderator: "Do you favor any limits at all on when or how an abortion should be available?"@SeanCasten: "For me this is entirely a matter of choice."
— Susan B Anthony List (@SBAList) July 27, 2018
WOW. Casten is so out of step with 68% of Americans who want abortion to be illegal in some or all circumstances. #IL06Debate pic.twitter.com/QfulCYt9hL
And Chicago NOW contributor Dennis Byrne wrote:
A gall bladder doesn't have its own DNA separate from his or her mother's. Gall bladder surgery doesn't end a human being's life. A mother can live without a gall bladder; "terminating a pregnancy" ends a human life. A gall bladder doesn't continue living as a person after the mother dies.
Casten is not alone in denying the humanity of a fetus. The callousness of those who claim they are the exemplars of compassion and sensitivity, but who treat a fetus--even up until birth--is stunning. Their claim to be the guardians of the "most vulnerable" among us is staggering hypocritical.
Sean Casten is endorsed by National Abortion Rights Action League and taxpayer-funded Planned Parenthood, who protested outside the debate venue.
