“Eugenics is the self-direction of human evolution”: Logo from the Second International Eugenics Congress, 1921 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s tough to keep track of how many times nearly everyone in America believes an action to be clearly morally wrong, but Democrats’ strongly held philosophy of limited government forces them to vote on principle against that action being outlawed. No, I’m kidding, that only ever happens with abortion.  As reported by The Hill:

The House on Thursday rejected a Republican bill that would impose fines and prison terms on doctors who perform abortions for the sole purpose of controlling the gender of the child, a practice known as sex-selective abortion.

The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA), H.R. 3541, was defeated in a 246-168 vote. While that’s a clear majority of the House, Republicans called up the bill under a suspension of House rules, which limits debate and requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass. In this case, it would have required more support from Democrats.

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee said of the bill:

“This bill is a direct intrusion into the relationship between patient and physician.”

Yes, the bill is an intrusion. In the same way as laws against organ harvesting are intrusive. So are any of the countless healthcare regulations guiding many of the interactions between patient and doctor or heavily influencing that interaction via “draconian” regulations on insurance companies.

Ms. Jackson Lee then states that the Democrats believe sex-selective abortions are inhumane. But in taking this position, the Democrats are a bunch of intellectual grapes caught between a rock and a hard place. As Representative Trent Franks, who put forward the legislation, observes: Continue reading →