Libertarian Group Condemns Sarah Palin for Not Killing Disabled Baby in Abortion

Libertarian Group Condemns Sarah Palin for Not Killing Disabled Baby in Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com
September 17, 2008

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A writer for a libertarian group has written perhaps the most scathing attack on pro-life vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin since the Alaska governor was announced weeks ago as John McCain's running mate. Nicholas Provenzo condemns Palin for the birth of her baby Trig, who has Down syndrome.

Provenzo, who writes for the Center for the Advancement of Capitalism, not only bashes her for allowing Trig to be born, but says she should have made the so-called morally justifiable decision to kill him in an abortion.

The Center for the Advancement of Capitalism bills itself as a group "dedicated to advancing individual rights and economic freedom through Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism."

"Like many, I am troubled by the implications of Alaska governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's decision to knowingly give birth to a child disabled with Down syndrome," Provenzo writes.

"Given that Palin's decision is being celebrated in some quarters, it is crucial to reaffirm the morality of aborting a fetus diagnosed with Down syndrome (or by extension, any unborn fetus)—a freedom that anti-abortion advocates seek to deny," he adds.

Provenzo advocates not only a discriminatory, but apparently a pro-eugenics view of the disabled that rivals that of Nazi Germany.

"A parent has a moral obligation to provide for his or her children until these children are equipped to provide for themselves," he contends. "Because a person afflicted with Down syndrome is only capable of being marginally productive (if at all) and requires constant care and supervision, unless a parent enjoys the wealth to provide for the lifetime of assistance that their child will require, they are essentially stranding the cost of their child's life upon others."

Provenzo goes on to condemn National Review writer Michael Franc, who sees Down syndrome's victims as "ambassadors of God" who "offer us the opportunity to rise to that greatest of all challenges."

In a rebuke that smacks of selfishness at its worse, Provenzo says, "for many" potential parents of disabled babies, "that opportunity for challenge is little more than a lifetime of endless burden."

Fortunately for Trig, Palin decided otherwise.

While as many as 80-90 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome become victims of abortion, Palin didn't let her child become a statistic. Palin, who has deeply-felt pro-life views, gave birth to her fifth child in April and the baby was diagnosed with the condition.

"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us," Palin said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained at the time.

"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives," she said.

'We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed," the 44 year-old governor added.

Trig was born one month before his due date, and he weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

ACTION: Contact the Center for the Advancement of Capitalism with your condemnation of his remarks at http://www.capitalismcenter.org/Feedback or info@capitalismcenter.org