Written by Kelly Kinkade | 23 April 2010

What we do in Michigan impacts the nation. While Michigan currently is not leading America's economy, as we have in the past, and we currently are not leading the defense of freedom as the Arsenal of Democracy, we are again center stage when it comes to the most important issues of the day.

For example, consider Michigan's first congressional district. US Representative Bart Stupak announced on Friday, April 9 that he will retire and not seek reelection this November. He cited a couple reasons:

According to his press release, "I promised the people of the First District that I would not accept the insurance that Members of Congress receive - the Federal Employees Health Benefit Package - until all Americans could have access to that same quality of care. For the last 18 years, I have kept that promise."

Something about that did not sound right. As SRN News indicated, "Ironically, though, Congress' own insurance policy prohibits abortion coverage." What Mr. Stupak brought into law was not "the insurance that Members of Congress receive." So why did he indicate that it was? There was more to the story. First, there was another interesting point from his statement.

See if you can detect the irony in his further comment, "As a result of that work, today we are on a path to provide health insurance for 32 million more Americans, including 38,000 people living in Northern Michigan."

The irony comes from the children his vote guarantees will never receive health care. Every year in the United States abortion terminates 1.3 million beating hearts. Mr. Stupak's law guarantees that at least 1.3 million Americans can be denied care because they are unfortunate enough to have a preexisting condition called conception. Due to Mr. Stupak American tax dollars will pay to make conception a serious and teminal illness.

Presidential orders are changed by the stroke of a pen. If America is to have rule of law rather than rule by presidential fiat, then the law matters more than executive orders. The fact is, what Mr. Stupak voted into law allows federal funding to subsidize insurance plans that pay for elective abortion.

When a person's words do not make sense, there is more to the story. Something Mr. Stupak did not mention was the civic storm of opposition by voters. SRN news reported, "Family Research Council Action - which up until Stupak's vote was an ally of his - began running radio ads on the abortion issue in his district Thursday criticizing his vote. FRC Action said it planned on spending $500,000 this year in the districts of 20 pro-life Democrats who voted for the bill. The Susan B. Anthony List, another pro-life group, said it was going to spend $150,000 to run ads in the districts of Stupak and other pro-life Democrats."

The Tea Party Express targeted Mr. Stupak as a high priority target to unseat in the Novermber elections. They pledged $250,000 toward the effort and encouraged local citizens to join their efforts. He made his retirement speech as the Tea Party Express buses were thundering toward Escanaba.

"When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." (Joshua 2:11)

What you do matters. If you ever doubt that, remember Michigan's first congressional district. Something is going on here -  something greater than the sum of our efforts. You can feel it. Join us and feel for yourself the growing gales. Join the gathering storm and do your part.