Jerry Shenk: The counterfeit morality of the American left

The American left invariably assumes a sanctimonious, albeit counterfeit attitude of moral “superiority” and “authority” on political, social and cultural matters.
But, progressives are so inept at crafting coherent, logical arguments that they generally substitute verbal abuse, slander and/or insults for persuasion, while attributing evil intentions to those with whom they merely disagree.
Liberals have developed an inventory of harsh epithets to silence critics, stifle argument, impose their political will and delegitimize adversaries. Progressives who cast normal, guiltless Americans as “stupid,” “Nazis,” “deplorables,” “bitter-clingers,” “racists,” “misogynists,” “xenophobes,” “homophobes,” or “haters” are actually insecure bullies hiding behind false “virtue.”
In fact, their smug sanctimony obscures a remarkable lack of self-awareness. American progressives’ wealth of self-assumed moral superiority often stands in stark contrast to their obvious moral poverty.
For example, progressive Democrats’ attempts to limit Americans’ Second Amendment constitutional right to “keep and bear arms” usually come with the emotional appeal, “If it saves just one life…”
But, closer examination reveals that the left’s gun-control rhetoric extolling the sanctity of human life is merely an insincere, even cynical device mismatched to their moral indifference elsewhere.
In February, Senate Democrats had an opportunity to help pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Instead, Democrats filibustered and killed a Republican bill requiring medical treatment to save babies who are born alive — alive — following botched abortions.
Abortion industry and activist euphemisms no longer apply once the “embryonic pulsing” of “lumps of protoplasm” or “foreign uterine objects” become born-alive children with beating hearts.
Pre-vote Senate testimony included: “Data that the CDC collects … confirms babies are born alive after attempted abortions. Between the years 2003 and 2014 there were somewhere between 376 and 588 infant deaths under the medical code…which keeps track of babies born alive after a ‘termination of pregnancy.’
“The CDC concluded that, of the 588 babies, 143 were ‘definitively’ born alive after an attempted abortion and they lived from minutes to one or more days, with 48% of the babies living between one to four hours. It also admitted…it’s possible the number is an underestimate.”
Possible? Philadelphia butcher Kermit Gosnell, alone, delivered alive and killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, none of which he reported. Who doubts that other Gosnells commit similar atrocities?
Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse implored his colleagues “… to picture a baby that’s already been born, that’s outside the womb gasping for air. That’s the only thing that today’s vote is actually about … babies that have already been born. Nothing in this bill touches abortion access. […]
“This hearing is not about overturning Roe v. Wade. In fact, this hearing is not … about limiting access to abortion at all… [It] is about making sure…every newborn baby has a fighting chance — whether she’s born in a…delivery ward or … in an abortion clinic.”
The fact that the only children it would protect already survived one proves the bill placed no limit on abortion — not one. No matter, forty-one filibustering Senate Democrats were having none of it.
Democrats —  anyone — please explain, what is “moral” about letting innocent babies die?

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