Smoking Roe

It has happened. Iowa will likely pass a law prohibiting smoking in public places. I am not a cigarette smoker and this bill will not have much effect on my dining experience. However, this legislation reminds me of the illogical connection that liberal Democrats make between the “public good” and “choice.”

Under the sacred liberal cow of “choice”, smokers could clearly argue they have a choice to smoke and do to their bodies whatever they want. Democrats throw aside the liberty interest of “choice”, and employ the “public health” rationale. “We’re doing this to protect the workers of Iowa,” State Sen. Matt McCoy said. At least Mr. McCoy and I agree on that—we should protect vulnerable individuals, and that a nexus exists between second-hand smoke and cancer. Democrats, however, refuse to carry this “public health” rationale and logic to its rightful end.

Why isn’t this logic and desire to protect innocent lives carried through to the issue of pre-born humans? Almost 100% of abortions end in death. (Barack Obama would prefer to see those unsuccessful abortions still result in death, see prior note “Barack: Candidate of Change”). The nexus between a woman's “choice” and serious health effects for a third party is a much tighter connection than inhaling second-hand smoke as you pass someone on the street or in a bar.

“I think it’s a common sense issue.” said State Senator Roger Stewart, D-Preston. Unfortunately, he was not talking about the human rights of the unborn.