That is a large number, and its enormity becomes even more staggering with the revelation that it is the number of abortions since Roe v. Wade was adjudicated 39 years ago. The number, 54,559,615, is a new estimate published by the National Right to Life Committee based on data from both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, a former Planned Parenthood research arm.

Looking at this massive number in a different way, the number means there are more than 3,300 abortions every day and 137 abortions every hour in the United States. In other words, a preborn child is aborted every 30 seconds in the United States.

The annual March for Life took place on Monday, and as has been the case the last five years, the New York Times failed to cover the event. This despite the fact that between 100,000 and 400,000 pro-lifers descended on the nation’s capital to call for an end to the genocide.

Meanwhile, around the corner from the marchers, President Obama released a statement that said, in part, that the Supreme Court decision “protects a woman’s health and reproductive freedom,” and he recommitted to “protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right.” The most provocative part of the statement was its ending: “We must continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”

In other words, President Obama believes that young women need the right to abortion in order to fulfill their dreams. What about that preborn child’s right to fulfill his or her dreams? What about the tragic consequences that the young woman could experience because of the abortion, such as depression, breast cancer and the inability to ever have children?

Next year will commemorate 40 years of legalized abortion-on-demand in the United States. This will be a grim anniversary, made even worse if we as a nation continue to elect leaders who refuse to defend the right to life. MFI encourages all our supporters and all voters to find out where candidates stand on abortion, whether they are running for state representative or president. While life is not the only issue that is important today, especially with the economy and the job market, it must always be taken into account. The most vulnerable in our nation are counting on us.