Wendell Ford, described in this obituary as “the last Democratic U.S. senator from Kentucky” (let’s hope that proves right!), died yesterday. I’m in no position to comment on Ford’s life and career, but would like to highlight one lesson I learned from him that has some bearing on this week’s pro-life fiasco in the House over a reporting provision that is unobjectionable.

Back in 1994 or so, when I was a Senate staffer, Ford was early in his fourth term as a senator. In addition to his two decades in the Senate, he had served one term in the state senate, one term as lieutenant governor, and one term as governor. He was, in short, an experienced politician.

Ford was the Senate Democratic whip in 1994. He was also pro-life. (Yes, back then it was still possible for a Democratic senator to be pro-life and to hold a senior position in the party.)

One day, when some pro-life amendment was pending in the Senate, I found myself with Ford and one or two pro-life lobbyists just off the Senate floor. I don’t remember the details of the amendment or the discussion. What I do remember is that Ford saw fit to express his position in these infelicitous words: “I’m fer rape and incest.”

What Ford meant, of course, is that he supported rape and incest exceptions in pro-life legislation. But the clumsy way in which this veteran politician expressed his view struck me as an especially stark reminder of how inept pro-life politicians can be in talking about abortion. The reason, I think, is that so many are eager to talk about it, and think about it, as little as possible and thus never develop a facility for discussing it in an intelligent and winning way.