Single issue

Regarding “Abortion foes have a real friend in Trump” (Page A15, Friday), the reason that evangelical Christians stick with Donald Trump, despite the fact that he is otherwise the polar opposite of every virtue they profess to admire, is that he (now) consistently promotes the anti-abortion agenda. (He used to be pro-choice.) For abortion foes this single issue is of such overriding importance that they are willing to support a serial adulterer and philanderer who was caught on video boasting in vulgar terms about abusing women.

A joint statement issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics and six other professional medical and nursing associations estimates that the restrictions on Title X will put more than 40 percent of Title X patients in danger of “losing access to critical primary and preventative care services.” More women losing access to reproductive health care services will inevitably mean more unwanted pregnancies and more medical problems for mothers and babies. Hurting mothers and babies is hardly pro-life.

Further, the new restrictions will impose a gag rule that prevents doctors from communicating medically relevant information to patients. Evangelicals, as conservatives, supposedly oppose the intrusions of government, but Trump wants to put government into the exam room and interfere with the freedom of women to make decisions informed by their physicians.

When you are obsessed with a single issue, you tell demagogues which button they need to push to get your allegiance, so don’t be surprised when you find yourself manipulated into supporting schemes contrary to your professed principles. Keith M. Parsons, Friendswood