From the day this battle began, the abortion lobby has understood two realities.  First, they do not have to convince the public that their position is morally superior to ours, only that it is morally defensible.  Second, that goal is much easier to accomplish when it is perceived that abortions are done out of need rather than out of want.  Every time we take the “common ground” bait, we help them sell both of those lies to the American people.

When we join them to look for ways to reduce the need for abortion, by definition we are agreeing there is sometimes a need for abortion.  After all, people don’t go looking for ways to reduce the need for something unless they believe that such a need exists.

The truth is, even studies conducted by hardcore abortion advocates prove that almost every abortion performed in America is for non-medical reasons and involves a healthy baby who was not conceived by rape or incest, and a healthy woman whose pregnancy does not threaten either her life or health.  In short, abortions are done for want, not need. 

Whenever we do or say anything that suggests otherwise, we support the abortion lobby’s position.  The fact is, for these baby killers to say that we should help them reduce the need for abortion, is like some pimp telling the vice squad that they should help him reduce the need for prostitution.    

The other problem is, we cannot look for common ground with these people without giving the impression that even we believe their position has some moral validity.  It is no different than if the Jewish people would have agreed to look for common ground with the Nazis while the ovens at Auschwitz were burning day and night.  To do so would have simply given credibility to the Nazi position.  

When people are threatening to do evil, discussions with them may be reasonable.  But once they have begun doing that evil, there is nothing more to talk about.  At that point, the only goal is to stop them.  Remember, prior to World War II we had intense discussions with the Japanese trying to avert the war.  But at Pearl Harbor, the talking ended. 

Another thing about “common ground” is that it always requires an acceptance of the fundamental premise of the abortion lobby.  In all such discussions, the opening statement is something like, “Everyone has agreed to set aside any discussion about whether abortion should be legal or not and simply look for areas of common ground and for ways to reduce the need for abortions.” 

If the real goal is common ground, it would be equally legitimate to say, “Everyone has agreed that abortion should be made illegal, so our goal today is to look for ways to reduce the incidence of illegal abortions once that happens.”  Of course, that is never the basis upon which we look for this elusive common ground because the abortion lobby would never agree to discuss their position on their opponent’s terms.  We seem to be the only ones who fall for that trick.  

The fact is, pro-lifers need to stop being so easily manipulated.  Our job is not to sit around the campfire and sing Kumbayah with people who torture and slaughter helpless babies for money.  Our job is to stop them.