Josephine's Notebook

Despite many claims to the contrary, life does not begin at conception: It is an unbroken chain that stretches back nearly to the origin of the Earth, 4.6 billion years ago. Nor does human life begin at conception: It is an unbroken chain dating back to the origin of our species, hundreds of thousands of years ago. Every human sperm and egg is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, alive. They are not human beings, of course. However, it could be argued that neither is a fertilized egg.

In some animals, an egg develops into a healthy adult without benefit of a sperm cell. But not, so far as we know, among humans. A sperm and an unfertilized egg jointly comprise the full genetic blueprint for a human being. Under certain circumstances, after fertilization, they can develop into a baby. But most fertilized eggs are spontaneously miscarried. Development into a baby is by no means guaranteed. Neither a sperm and egg separately, nor a fertilized egg, is more than a potential baby or a potential adult. So if a sperm and egg are as human as the fertilized egg produced by their union, and if it is murder to destroy a fertilized egg—despite the fact that it’s only potentially a baby—why isn’t it murder to destroy a sperm or an egg?

There was a time it seemed impossible you could get elected. There was a time when everyone who had lost hope rose up one last time to stand in defense of change. We opened ourselves up to you, opened our wallets, and gave ourselves one last chance to believe our government could work. Frankly, Mr. President, we thought we changed the world, and so far the only thing that’s changed is my belief in you.

Still, I want to believe. I want to be a guy who can vote with confidence in a man who will keep his promises. In lieu of that, I want to hear why you told me you could and would do so many things that you haven’t done. Unlike many of my contemporaries who will stick by their team no matter what, I’m the type of guy who simply won’t be used twice. I believe that you and I are still aligned philosophically, but I simply can’t and won’t support a man who tells me he will do something and then doesn’t do it.

And so you asked me this morning, “Are you in?”

Am I in? Here’s the simplest way I can put it, Mr. President: You might get my vote.

You will not get my money or my heart again.