Nineteen pro-life House Democrats signed a letter last week to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressing their opposition to any health care reform that includes abortion funding.

“We cannot support any health-care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan,” the letter read.

The 19 representatives are:

Dan Boran (D-Okla.), Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Colin Peterson (D-Minn..), Tim Holden (D-Pa.), Travis Childers (D-Miss.), Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Mike Mclntyre (D-N.C.), Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), James Oberstar (D-Minn.), Bobby Bright (D-Ala.), Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Charlie Melancon (D-La.), John Murtha (D-Pa.), Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), and Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-Pa.).

Dear Nineteen:

You have NO right.

You have no right to tell me, nor any other woman in this country, how to live my life, how many children I may or may not have, nor how to conduct myself in the pursuit of limiting the size of my family as I see fit.

You have no right to limit, negotiate, or hold for ransom healthcare coverage from ANY American citizen for ANY reason. And the reasons you have set out – as personally sacrosanct, sincerely felt, and dearly held as they may be – have no place in the execution of your jobs as elected representatives.

Over twenty years ago, I had an abortion. I say that not with pride – but I say it without shame.

You might wonder why I chose to terminate a pregnancy. Well, you can wonder until the cows come home, because the truth is my reasons are none of your fuckin’ business.

If you find my choice of words obscene, so be it. I can only respond that I find your position on the topic obscene beyond all imagining. I based my choice – a choice that is guaranteed me by law – on criteria that affected myself and my family. You, on the other hand, are basing your choice to withhold support of vitally important healthcare reform, which will affect millions of Americans, on your personal beliefs, religious ideology, or a position that may or may not benefit you in being re-elected – hardly the kind of criteria an elected representative should be considering in the circumstances.

You have NO right.

You have NO right to dictate to others as to how they go about their lives.

You have NO right to use your office as a means of supplanting the will of your constituents with your own will, of substituting what is right for the many with your own sense of what is right for all – not according to the law, but according to you.

If you sincerely believe that you cannot, in good conscience, represent the best interests of those who elected you, when said interests go against what you personally believe to be ethical, moral, and right, there is a simple solution to your dilemma: resign.

Just DO it.

A teary-eyed photo-op, a heartfelt speech about how sad you are to be leaving office, a well-attended press conference full of statements about following your own conscience – yadda, yadda – will no doubt garner the sympathy of those who, like you, believe that healthcare for all Americans should come with strings attached, and that people like you should be in control of those strings, notwithstanding the consequences.

Just DO it.

I’d almost respect you if you did.