I get what you're saying, I think -- that the government should not be in the business of making philosophical choices (such as the value of motherhood) for the people. I agree.

However, this isn't just a philosophical matter. There are practical aspects to it that I think need to be stated, when it comes to government, rather than merely assumed.

If motherhood is important, then we're going to legislate at least a little bit differently than we would if motherhood were not important. If that's a real factor at all, then it should be stated up front. It's fluffy but even fluff isn't meaningless when most of the people involved have law degrees.

Putting it into practical terms, let's look at something like welfare. If motherhood is important, and has been established by congress to be so, then how we treat mothers who are poor or homeless might be a little bit different than if it's been established that motherhood isn't important.

Honestly, I don't think that was a great article. It works hard to be overtly evil to Republicans -- the only effect of which is that Republicans are less likely to read it. In a weird way, that article helps to conceal the actual underlying issue.