From the moment of conception to natural death, all life is a miracle. As a heart surgeon, my whole career has been about saving lives. I have literally held a baby’s tiny beating heart in my hand. And in that very moment, it is impossible to deny how precious every life is.
Just one human life presents endless possibilities to bring boundless joy and change the world for the better. But far too often across our country, the flame of life is tragically snuffed out through abortion. And despite long-standing rules in the U.S. Senate against federal funding for abortion, we know the sad reality is that one abortion procedure occurs every 97 seconds in taxpayer-funded facilities.
Once upon a time, the consensus was that every abortion is a heartbreaking and incalculable loss. But recently, there has been a disturbing, seismic shift in how the Left talks about abortion in America. Now, many on the Left, including Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, support on-demand abortions right up until birth.
Instead of celebrating the blessings of life, liberals are fighting to destroy it.
As state legislatures nationwide have taken action to protect the most vulnerable among us, Democrats in Washington and the Biden administration are hell-bent on nullifying these laws to impose their pro-abortion agenda.
This assault on the right to life comes after Democrats in Congress passed the dishonestly named “Women’s Health Protection Act,” which should really be called the “Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act.” Fortunately, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation from passing in the Senate this week, which would have removed nearly all protections for the lives of the unborn at both the state and federal level and turned every state into a late-term abortion state.
The Democrats’ agenda has continually become more radical and dangerous in recent years. To combat these pro-abortion extremists, I think it’s clear the pro-life movement needs more doctors in our ranks. In the Senate, I will be a leading pro-life medical voice.
Sadly, the pro-abortion movement has been writing the public narrative on abortion by creating a tragically false choice between standing for life and supporting women. We can and must do more to promote pro-life values in the court of public opinion because standing for life is about protecting innocent babies, not threatening women’s health. As a medical professional, I know the distinct difference.
Sitting back and pointing out these tragic policies from the Left won’t save lives. We need to fight back with prominent voices representing the movement. We must be ready to continue advocating for the right to life. We know pro-abortion activists aren’t going anywhere.
I know full well that as a senator, I will be in a critical position to fight for innocent unborn children. I will support judicial nominees who base their legal decisions on the Constitution — a sacred document that enshrines the most fundamental and God-given right of all: the right to life.
I will be a bold voice in the Senate and a proud champion for the pro-life movement. I won’t ever shy away from sharing my pro-life beliefs, even as pro-abortion advocates in medicine, the media, and Big Tech try to silence me. I’ve taken on the establishment countless times before, and I am ready to do it again for the most vulnerable. I will always defend the sanctity of life.
Mehmet Oz is a television celebrity and a candidate for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania.
