Republican Leader John Boehner Chokes Up Receiving AUL Pro-Life Award

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 5, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Republican Leader John Boehner Chokes Up Receiving AUL Pro-Life Award

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 5
, 2010

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Republican Leader John Boehner choked up last night as he received an award at a reception sponsored by Americans United for Life. Boehner received the 2010 Henry J. Hyde Defender of Life Award for standing up against government-funding of abortions in the new health care program Obama signed.

Boehner became emotional during his acceptance speech as he talked about his family and Hyde, the pro-life luminary whose name still adorns the annual amendment to stop taxpayer funded abortions outside the health care bill.

"Look, Henry Hyde was a hero of mine," he told the Washington Post.

"I’ve always believed that life begins at conception. I’ve always thought abortion was wrong, and speaking out against it was never difficult. It was a moral position I felt very strongly about," he said.

Boehner was repeatedly moved to tears in a video clip of his statement afterwards recorded by conservative writer Robert Stacy McCain.
“This will be great on your video,” Boehner said, drawing laughter.

He lost his composure telling the crowd he has 11 brothers and sisters, saying, “I know it wasn’t convenient for my mother to have 12 of us.”

“But I’m sure glad they’re all here,” he said, as he left the stage, unable to continue.

AUL spokesman Matthew Faraci talked with the Daily Caller about the event.

“One of the reasons we wanted to give the award to leader Boehner is because he’s been an unheralded stalwart on this issue and as you could see last night, it’s not just something where he happens to be pro-life,” he said. “The pro-life issue is of great significance and importance to him.”

“It’s neat to see in a town like Washington where people become so cynical,” he said.

Before the event, Charmaine Yoest, president of AUL, told LifeNews.com: "The Henry J Hyde Defender of Life Award – memorializing the life and work of Representative Henry J. Hyde, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee – is given to an elected official who demonstrates outstanding leadership in the cause of Life."

"This year’s award will be presented on May 5th to House Minority Leader John A. Boehner for his courageous efforts and extraordinary leadership in the fight to prevent taxpayer-funded abortion during the health care reform debate," she added.

Numerous key pro-life advocates attended the event, including Congressmen Trent Franks of Arizona, Chris Smith of New Jersey and William Lipinski of Illinois, one of the handful of pro-life Democrats to oppose the health care bill because of the abortion funding.

During the health care debate, Boehner focused on the new "abortion premium" fee — with the Obama proposal directing insurance companies to assess the cost of elective abortion coverage and charge a minimum of $1 per enrollee per month.

"President Obama’s health care proposal is an affront to the American people and drastically moves away from current policy. The American people deserve more from their government than being forced to pay for abortion," he said.

Related web sites:
Americans United for Life – https://www.aul.org
Video of Boehner speech –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRAzg43RQic

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