George Carlin’s stand-up routine on anti-abortionists from 1996 remains as relevant as ever

The controversial new anti-abortion laws that have been introduced in the state of Texas has opened up a wave of criticism and opposition to the new sanctions which prevent women from terminating the birth after six weeks of pregnancy.

Everyone from Greta Thunberg to the Satanic Temple has voiced their anger and concern about the oppressive law, known as The Heartbeat Act, which was signed into law by governor Greg Abbott in May.

Earlier this week the US Supreme Court chose not to vote against the law which allows citizens to take legal action against doctors or anyone else who helps terminate a pregnancy. Those who win their cases could be entitled to at least $10,000.

Although this radical new legislation has shed new light on the abortion debate in the United States, the topic of who gets to decide what a woman does with her body, especially men, is unfortunately not a new one in the US.

Take for instance this stand-up comedy routine from the late, great George Carlin which he performed in 1996 on his HBO special Back in Town. The astute and witty comic rants against the hypocrisy of social conservatives who have campaigned against abortions and birth control for years but have also lobbied against social programs that would have supported low-income and struggling families.

“They’re all in favor of the unborn”, Carlin says. ‘They will do anything for the unborn. But once you’re born, you’re on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don’t want to know about you!”

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Carlin’s routine resurfaced on Twitter earlier this week and despite being 25 years old remains more pertinent than ever.

The clip has been viewed more than two million times on Twitter since it was shared on Saturday with many praising the comedian, who died in 2008.

President Joe Biden has since called the law ‘extreme and claimed it would violate “Americans’ constitutional rights.” He has also called for the Justice Department to stop people from acting like ‘vigilantes’ now that the law is in place.