We do not know whether he is as extreme as Professor Singer, but despite his credentials as an admirable family man, Barack Obama in 2002, at that time still an Illinois legislator, voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which would have protected babies that survived late-term abortions on the grounds that it would encroach on Roe v. Wade. On the other hand, John McCain — who often infuriates conservatives with his maverick policy positions on issues like campaign finance and immigration reform — nonetheless, has a record of voting fairly consistently for pro-family values legislation; if only he had a record of having lived a life consistent with traditional family values.

With the advances in ultrasound technology, which shows so clearly the development of the baby in the womb, the general public is increasingly uncomfortable with late-term abortions (particularly the barbaric procedure called partial-birth abortion, which a majority opposes). Nonetheless, many of these same individuals are prepared to turn a blind eye to the intentional destruction of an early fetus in the womb. Somehow, this selfish, life-destroying act has become socially acceptable under the label of a “woman’s right to choose.”

Today, we are inundated by brilliant polemicists promoting a culture of death and ever greater domination of our lives by the state, made all the more insidious by the subtlety of a stealth campaign. Liberals do not intend for the average voter to see the full, long-term consequences of the changes that are part of the agenda they are peddling. That’s assuming they have a clear understanding of those consequences themselves — a huge assumption.

A great unanswered question looms before us today. This election will test whether alternative means besides the mainstream media can be mobilized so that the public can see what is at stake and make their choice in an informed, educated fashion. Obviously, the candidates want to market themselves so as to appeal to as many voters as possible. More often than not, they operate on the principle that the more general you can keep your message the broader your appeal. But, of course, the Devil is in the details.

The media elites have become little more than cheerleaders and have no interest in forcing a debate in which the issues before us relating to life, family, and the reach of government power become clearly and sharply defined. It remains to be seen whether the voting public can be educated to see the full ramifications of the social changes being proposed in such glowing terms - changes that most certainly will be initiated and controlled by big government. This election will provide a referendum on these proposed changes, whether they are understood or not. It is impossible to say at this point how large a segment of the general public will be seduced by slick Utopian theorizing which promises and promises and then promises some more. We can only hope that there are a majority of Americans who still thirst for the freedom to build their own future. We can only hope that most are tired of seeing all evidence of religious devotion and moral standards ripped from the public square.

Is there a voice today to rouse the public to turn from the culture of death? Will leaders emerge to decry the ever growing encroachment on religious freedom through the agency of judicial tyranny? And is there a way to make these voices heard above the cacophony of campaign rhetoric?

Mark well: The 2008 election will set the course of the nation for decades to come. I greatly fear that the voting public does not understand the zero-sum choice they face: one way holds the promise of greater security and easy benefits from the State, but it carries a price tag of expanded governmental power at the expense of every individual’s liberty. My fervent hope is that voters will choose the harder path of personal liberty and a renewed demand for a government of limited reach so that the culture of life may prevail.