''According to the Associated Press on Dec. 21, following his vote, "Nelson was slammed by former allies opposed to abortion. He tells people he feels like he's been bitten by the family dog." That dog would be pro-lifers, which is such an insult. Actually, Ben Nelson is more like the family dog that inexplicably turned on and killed the family baby.''
I received this question from a friend on Facebook:
So, Jill, what happened with Nelson? You and other pro-life leaders were advising people to be "calm" and to thank him, and all indications now are that he prostituted his vote like so many others. How do you know who to trust?
My friend was speaking about a blog post I wrote Dec. 11 encouraging pro-lifers to maintain support of Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. In that post I relayed an e-mail received from Democrats for Life's president, Kristen Day, assuring everyone Nelson was unwavering in his refusal to vote for any health-care bill excluding a Stupak-like pro-life amendment:
Dear pro-life Friends,
Senator Nelson has been a strong leader on our behalf. … I have been assured that he has not changed his opinion and has not gone back on anything he has said. Senator Nelson has taken a very hard line with the Caucus, and they are trying hard to appease him because they need his vote.
I assure you that the senator has not backed down from his commitment, and I urge all comments directed to his office be words of appreciation and support rather than words of suspect and conjecture.
If we are going to spend time contacting an office, I think we should spend our energy on Senator Casey. …
Again, Senator Nelson has not changed his position. Please issue only words of support and encouragement. Senator Casey needs to change his position. Please contact him and urge him to follow Senator Nelson's lead.
Kristen
My response to my friend?
Ultimately, all pro-lifers have when dealing with politicians are relationships, promises and legislative history.
Human beings are fallible, and Nelson's duplicity was just another reminder our only hope is Jesus.
Up to the end Nelson was working with all the right people – Democrats for Life, Nebraska Right to Life, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, pro-life Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak.
But in the end, Nelson betrayed them all. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=119844