See, here in Arizona, our leaders are very concerned about children.  Until those children are born, that is.

In all of our recent legislative sessions, bill after bill has been introduced to protect kids — unborn kids.

A flurry of bills to limit abortion go through the House and Senate each year, some reaching the Gov.  Who signs most of those into law.

Why?  We have to protect the children, and as “pro-life” legislators, we will pass laws to do so.

But once they’re born?  Every man for himself.  Good luck, kids.  Hope you’re born into a good family with no serious problems.

If you are, though, we hope you find a way out of that, because we just aren’t gonna help  you.

An editorial in today’s paper reveals the hypocrisy of those Republicans who are the first to say they are “pro-life.”

CPS continues to be a trainwreck.  Woefully underfunded, it has a caseworker turnover rate of 31%, 9% higher than the national average.  It is currently 200 caseworkers shy of what’s needed.  It has 10,000 cases left dormant in the last 60 days.

Why?  In part, because the legislature doesn’t fund it adequately, its director does little to advocate for it,  and the Governor doesn’t argue for more money.  

Meanwhile, the force that makes sure our legislature focuses on the children is strangely silent about the suffering of the kids neglected by CPS.

That’d be Cathi Herrod, who runs the Center for Arizona Policy, and who is the anti-abortion enforcer during legislative sessions.

Her Center’s website says this about its (her) mission:  ”Center for Arizona Policy is a nonprofit research and education organization committed to promoting and defending the foundational values of life, marriage and family, and religious liberty.”

It goes on to say, “Center for Arizona Policy is dedicated to the protection of human life from the time of conception to the end of natural life.”

But she doesn’t seem concerned about protecting the lives of kids in troubled homes, since you will not find her on record saying anything about the state’s inability to protect those kids once they get into the system.

Except for this little nugget, from an article last year.  Which reveals just how concerned Herrod is about kids living outside their mothers’ wombs.  

Her solution?  Privatization of course.

“More government bureaucracy isn’t the answer, said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative Christian-based group.

“‘It’s time for church and community to step up and take care of these needs,” Herrod said. “There’s a tremendous opportunity for the private sector and the faith-based sector.’ “

So where is Herrod on record pushing for that with the same passion she pushed to protect the kids in utero?

Nowhere.  Oh, you can find her saying how much she’s concerned about children as “a mother,” but to actually help those kids?

Nothing.  Plenty of lip service (you can see her slick YouTube video here) but no action.

Pathetic hypocrisy at its worst.