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Romney elected would mean the end of Roe v. Wade and the criminalization of abortion…
From this morning’s editorial in the NY Times:
Mr. Romney has called for overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that recognized a woman’s constitutional right to make her own childbearing decisions and to legalized abortion nationwide. He has said that the issue should be thrown back to state legislatures. The actual impact of that radical rights rollback is worth considering.
It would not take much to overturn the Roe decision. With four of the nine members of the Supreme Court over 70 years old, the next occupant of the White House could have the opportunity to appoint one or more new justices. If say, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the oldest member, retired and Mr. Romney named a replacement hostile to abortion rights, the basic right to abortion might well not survive.
The result would turn back the clock to the days before Roe v. Wade when abortion was legal only in some states, but not in others. There is every indication that about half the states would make abortion illegal within a year of Roe being struck down, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which challenges abortion restrictions around the country, puts the number at 30 states. For one thing, abortion bans already on the books in some states would suddenly kick in. And some Republican-controlled state legislatures would outlaw abortion immediately.
Even with Roe and subsequent decisions upholding abortion rights, more than half the states have enacted barriers like mandatory waiting periods, “counseling” sessions lacking a real medical justification; parental consent or notification laws; and onerous clinic “safety” rules intended to drive clinics out of business.
We do not need to guess about the brutal consequences of overturning Roe. We know from our own country’s pre-Roe history and from the experience around the world. Women desperate to end a pregnancy would find a way to do so. Well-to-do women living in places where abortion is illegal would travel to other states where it is legal to obtain the procedure. Women lacking the resources would either be forced by the government and politicians to go through with an unwanted or risky pregnancy, attempt to self-abort or turn to an illegal — and potentially unsafe — provider for help. Women’s health, privacy and equality would suffer. Some women would die.
…and women still have the ability to get Obama re-elected and protect their right to choose. I’m always amazed at middle-class Republican women who support Romney. Essentially they are making themselves potential victims.
Related articles
- NYT Editorial on Romney and a Future Without Roe v. Wade (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
- Romney: I Want the Supreme Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade via Life News.com (loopyloo305.com)
- Romney: Abortion is not ‘part of my agenda.’ Romney campaign: Oh yes it is. (dailykos.com)
- Romney Needs a Groin Shot (boomantribune.com)
- Ryan’s Roe v. Wade Bombshell (thedailybeast.com)
- Debate Moderator Candy Crowley Calls Out Romney ‘Then and Now’ on Abortion (politicususa.com)
- Women: Don’t Be Fooled by Mitt (thedailybeast.com)
- Mitt Romney’s Constantly Evolving Stance On Abortion Rights (thinkprogress.org)
How in hell can we understand what Mittens stands for when he changes direction daily?
Like on the question of abortion and a woman’s right to choose:
It’s too bad this is funny, because it’s really very disturbing. To elect a man President we have to confirm our trust in what he believes in and what he says about those beliefs.
Romney leaves us confused. If you vote for him you get what you deserve.
Related articles
- Newly Moderate Mitt Romney Says He Won’t Pursue Abortion Laws (theatlanticwire.com)
- Mitt Romney Abortion Stance Changes, As Candidate Says He Won’t Push To Restrict Access (democraticunderground.com)
- Romney promises no abortion legislation (news.yahoo.com)
- Romney Abortion Quote Angers Dems (abcnews.go.com)
- “Reproductive Autonomy Is A Privilege”: Why The Culture War Is Crushing Mitt Romney (mykeystrokes.com)
Enough of Todd Akin. How about a bigger player: Paul Ryan
We’ve spent so much time talking about Todd Akin lately and his extreme position on a woman’s right to choose an abortion in the case of incest or rape. But Akin is a small player, here. What about the Republican pick for 
Vice President? In the past 15 years in the Congress, he has mad his position on women’s rights very, very clear.
Ryan sponsored a bill that would potentially allow rapists to stop their victims from having an abortion: The Sanctity of Life Act. Not only was ANY reason for abortion eliminated, but rapists could sue women who WANTED an abortion. The fact that it did not pass doesn’t change his viewpoint… and he has also worked with Akin several times in creating such legislative weaponry.
Here’s a very good summation of Ryan’s abortion legislation as explained by David Pakman on his television show:
Question: How can Ryan continue to say that he supports the rights of all Americans when he sees women as nothing more than breeding animals?
Keep in mind, there are solutions to what Ryan and his like represent:
Related articles
- Paul Ryan To The Right Of Todd Akin On Abortion (alan.com)
- Is Ryan going rogue? (salon.com)
- Ryan on abortion exceptions: Rape is just another ‘method of conception’ (rawstory.com)
- In Exclusive Interview, Paul Ryan Distances Self From Todd Akin (pittsburgh.cbslocal.com)
- Paul Ryan Is ‘Very Proud’ Of ‘Forcible Rape’ Bill He Co-Sponsored With Todd Akin (mediaite.com)
- Reps. Todd Akin And Paul Ryan Co-Sponsored Bill Using Term “Forcible Rape” (alan.com)
- The Star’s editorial | GOP can’t avoid Todd Akin — or abortion (kansascity.com)
- Paul Ryan pretends he doesn’t agree with every ‘outrageous’ thing Todd Akin said (dailykos.com)
- Paul Ryan and Todd Akin Partnered On Radical ‘Personhood’ Bill Outlawing Abortion And Many Birth Control Pills (thinkprogress.org)
- Just How Anti-Choice is Paul Ryan? (persephonemagazine.com)
How the Southern GOP sees Women…
From Tengrain over at Mock, Paper Scissors:
Meet Georgia’s state Rep. Terry England, who is debating Georgia House Bill 954, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks even if the baby is not expected to live. So naturally England recalled the time he had spent with livestock.
Rep. Terry England compares women to cows, pigs and chickens. from Bryan Long on Vimeo.
It’s what I was saying yesterday about the advanced education levels of conservatives in the south. They’re just not there.
I’m not sure why women would ever vote for a southern conservative (unless her husband told her to… 
)
Virginia Governor signs Ultrasound law…
This from the L. A. Times:
Maybe this will get him the VP nomination.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed into law a controversial bill requiring women to have an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion.
The bill sparked a national furor among abortion rights activists who argued that the intent was to make it more costly and more difficult for women to receive abortions.
So here we have a medically unnecessary procedure being forced on women (and their doctors) in a not-so-secret effort to discourage women’s choice. There’s another problem here with serious legal complications:
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said the law might place an undue burden on women, making it vulnerable to legal challenge. Enforcement could also be problematic, he said, because it could violate doctor-patient confidentiality.
“How is the state going to verify that there’s been compliance by a doctor unless they see records?” Tobias said in an interview last week. “I don’t know how you can prevent the state from seeing the names” of patients, he said.
As I have said before, free women should stay out of Virginia.
BTW – Happy International Women’s Day.
Related articles
- Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Signs Virginia Ultrasound Bill (kayceeweezy.wordpress.com)
- Va governor signs pre-abortion ultrasound bill (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Planned Parenthood Condemns Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Signing Mandatory Ultrasound Law (yubanet.com)
- Va Governor Signs Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Into Law (abcnews.go.com)
- Gov. Bob McDonnell Signs Abortion Ultrasound Bill Into Law (washington.cbslocal.com)
- Va governor signs pre-abortion ultrasound bill (sfgate.com)
- Va. Governor Signs Ultrasound Bill (myfoxphoenix.com)
- Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signs Virginia ultrasound bill – CBS News (cbsnews.com)
- Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell signs controversial abortion bill (calgaryherald.com)
- Va. gov. signs bill requiring ultrasounds for abortion (foxnews.com)
- You: Va. Gov. Signs Ultrasound Law (thedailybeast.com)
- McDonnell Signs Ultrasound Abortion Mandate (lezgetreal.com)
- Why Virginia’s New Mandatory Ultrasound Law Still Sucks (alternet.org)
- If I were a woman, I wouldn’t live in Virginia… (underthelobsterscope.wordpress.com)
I haven’t seen anything as politically humorous as this…
I saw this in The Political Carnival and couldn’t stop laughing…
VIDEO: Virginia delegate’s wife refuses sex with him after vaginal ultrasound bill discussed on TV
That War on Women? Well, it looks like the womenfolk are fighting back.
A Visit with Margaret and Helen
I don’t know if you read Margaret and Helen, but I do.
These two “friends for sixty years” bring their experience to bear on almost every contemporary situation… like Helen’s recent comment on Rick Santorum and his views on faith and sex:
He was in Texas this week talking about his faith… which always leads him to talk about abortion and gay marriage. I swear that man worries more about vaginas and who is sleeping with whom than any normal person should. I don’t think he is right in the head. He told his audience that his faith is a part of who he is and it will guide him in his presidency. Well good for him.
..and on the question of Republicans vs. Planned Parenthood:
If you really, honestly want to reduce abortions in this country, the last
And then I found this on line
thing you want to do is vote for a Republican. If you want to reduce abortions start in your own home by educating your children. Teach your sons to respect women and arm your daughters with information about birth control. If you are so outraged by abortions that your only criteria for a presidential candidate is that he be obsessed with my uterus, then arm your daughters with all the information she needs to protect herself from all those sons who were raised by politicians in Texas and Virginia. And if you really care, make a donation to Planned Parenthood or this other organization called Annie’s List. My grandson says that if you “click” on the underlined words in the previous sentence it will take you to a place you can make a donation on the internet. It couldn’t be any easier than that.
… to which Margaret responds:
Clicking on those words and you can make a donation? How fancy. I hope they know what to do with yours and my checks when they arrive in the regular old mail. Don’t forget. Stamps have gone up to 45 cents dear. Why isn’t anyone outraged about that?
So, my dear ladies, keep up the good work. I find you inspiring.
Related articles
- Maybe Margaret and Helen will join in (maureenholland.wordpress.com)
- Pink Razors – Margaret and Helen (crackerboy.us)
- Pink Razors (margaretandhelen.wordpress.com)
- Cheers and Jeers: Rum and Coke FRIDAY! (dailykos.com)
- Tell Republicans to Get Their Planned Parenthood Facts Straight (forcechange.com)
- Some People Listen To Rick Santorum And Hear The Voice Of God (crooksandliars.com)
- Conservative Group Releases Unintentionally Hilarious Vid, Claims Planned Parenthood Is Hooking Kids On Sex (clutchmagonline.com)
- The Margaret and Helen blog – anyone have definite proof that they’re real? (ask.metafilter.com)
- Now Rick Santorum is bragging about supporting funding for free birth control at Planned Parenthood (dailykos.com)
- American Life League Says Planned Parenthood Is Turning Kids Into ‘Sex Addicts’ (blisstree.com)
- Apparently Rush Limbaugh Also Thinks Planned Parenthood Is Just Trying To Get Your Kids Hooked On Sex (mediaite.com)
If I were a woman, I wouldn’t live in Virginia…
Two days ago a couple of the strictist anti-birth control and abortion bills were passed by the predominantly Republican Virginia legislature and endorsed by their Republican governor.
According to CBS News:
“One bill, Republican Del. Bob Marshall‘s House bill 1, would define personhood at conception and “provides that unborn children at every stage of development enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of the Commonwealth.” The second bill requires that women be required to undergo an ultrasound procedure prior to having an abortion.
The personhood bill, which passed by 66-32 in the Virginia state House, does not ban abortions, the legality of which are protected under the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. It would, however, make illegal certain types of contraceptive measures, including emergency contraception. Women’s health advocates say it could also open the door to banning birth control pills and intrauterine devices (IUD).”
This means that the unborn child, at every stage of development, has rights. For instance, at fertilization, any and all fertilized eggs may have the right to be tax deductions, thus shorting the state on money from taxes. And of course there are many more ludicrous circumstances.
It is the second bill which will cause the most anxiety to women. This bill has as
Plug it in, Plug it in
“its requirement that some women undergo a transvaginal ultrasound probe, which is considered more physically invasive than other procedures.
While the bill does not explicitly mandate the use of transvaginal ultrasounds, many women would inevitably be required to undergo them; in the early stages of pregnancy, that procedure is often the only form of ultrasound that can detect a fetus’ heartbeat.
Republicans argue that the ultrasound bill will protect women from complications during abortion procedures, and that providing a woman with the gestational age of the fetus is crucial to her “informed consent” to have an abortion.”
This is, of course, only a procedure designed to scare a woman away from an abortion, even if she has been illegally assaulted and become pregnant or if there is a medical danger in the pregnancy. Since, without her permission, any invasive technique is no better than rape itself.
Why is this man smiling?
Republican Governor Bob McDonnell (who looks like he’ll be the mighty Mitt’s choice for Veep) is expected to sign these bills when they hit his desk, making Virginia the first major bastion of Sexual Fascism.
An amendment designed to require the woman’s right to give permission for the invasive exam (promoted by a Democratic delegate) was voted down by 100% of the Republic delegates.
Ladies, get in the car and head for the border… and don’t look back
Related articles
- Virginia Advances Anti-Abortion “Fetal Personhood” And “Transvaginal Ultrasound” Bills (thefrisky.com)
- Women Beware: Republicans Will Probe Your Privates (duanegraham.wordpress.com)
- Va. GOP Demands Invasive Vaginal Ultrasound Procedure Before Abortion (littlegreenfootballs.com)
I can’t bear to write about this…
…but you should click on the headline below and go to Think Progress and read this for yourself. I don’t know if it cuts into my disgust with Republicans or with Religion…probably both.
Virginia lawmaker: Children with disabilities are God’s punishment to women who previously had abortions.
Women raped in Idaho can forget about abortions… it’s God’s will.
The Idaho House has passed legislation already approved by their Senate which bans abortions even in the case of rape.
God's Agent in Idaho
The bill’s House sponsor, state Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, told legislators that the “hand of the Almighty” was at work. “His ways are higher than our ways.”
12 states are now considering similar legislation.
This clip is from PoliticsUSA… go in and read the whole thing (and try not to vomit).
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Someone referred to the Republicans in Idaho as the “Idaho Taliban” and it’s a name that I think will stick.
Related Articles
- Idaho legislator: No abortions should stay the ‘Hand of the Almighty’ (dailykos.com)
- in Idaho, if you get raped, it was GOD’s doing, apparently (hahayourefunny.wordpress.com)
- Idaho GOP: If Women Are Raped, It’s ‘The Hand of the Almighty’ At Work (littlegreenfootballs.com)
- Your body isn’t yours, it belongs to the conservative Christians (scienceblogs.com)
- Idaho lawmakers send 20-week abortion ban to Gov. Otter (deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com)
The House has voted to bar Planned Parenthood. Don’t let them get away with it.
Stand With Us
Did you hear? The House voted to bar Planned Parenthood from federal funding (this, of course was a Republican move.)
They cut funding for HIV tests, cancer screenings, birth control, and more, putting millions of women and families at risk. We can’t let it go unanswered. It’s time for you and me to stand with Planned Parenthood.
Sign the open letter to the reps who voted for this bill — and to the senators who still have a chance to stop it.
http://www.istandwithplannedparenthood.org
Related Articles
- I Stand With Planned Parenthood (benjaminste.in)
- The Evil Men Do (feministphilosophers.wordpress.com)
- House Votes to Stop Funding Planned Parenthood: What This Means for You (self.com)
- Planned Parenthood Speaks Out on GOP Attack – The Root (news.google.com)
- House Votes to Strip Planned Parenthood of Federal Funds (slog.thestranger.com)
New GOP Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Let Women Die Instead Of Having An Abortion
It is hard to believe that “Pro-Life” does not include the life of the Mother. Republicans once again show their lack of morality and ethical consideration of living people.
This is part of the article from Talking Points Memo:
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Subject: Help protect the right to choose
Hi,
Republicans in Congress are pushing bills that would severely erode
a woman’s right to choose.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney called one bill “the deepest attack on a woman’s
right to choose in my lifetime.” A second bill would allow hospitals to
turn away a woman seeking an abortion, even if she’ll die without it.
It’s reprehensible. I signed a petition urging Congress to oppose these
attacks on the right to choose. Can you join me at the link below?
http://pol.moveon.org/wontgoback/?r_by=26019-5593088-5u.70Ix&rc=mailto
Thanks,
- Bill
Related Articles
- The next anti-woman shiny object: Allowing hospitals to deny abortion care (dailykos.com)
- Anti-Abortion Lawmakers Back Off Crazy Rape Redefinition, Find New Way To Marginalize Women (huffingtonpost.com)
- GOP changes rape language after uproar (politico.com)
- GOP To Drop “Forcible Rape” Language From Abortion Bill (outsidethebeltway.com)
- GOP Blinks on ‘Forcible Rape’ But Bill Still Cuts Deeply at Abortion Rights (mediaite.com)
- Judge Blocks Doctor From Filling Vacancy Left By George Tiller Murder (huffingtonpost.com)
- GOP Removes “Forcible” Rape Provision From Bill, Retain Other Anti-Woman Language (lezgetreal.com)
- Huff Post (americablog.com)
- The poorly-named ‘Protect Life Act’ (washingtonmonthly.com)
Here’s a great piece from “I Tried Being Tasteful…”
You can go to her site for links: http://youcallthatart.wordpress.com
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Related Articles
- Pence preaches social issues in Iowa (politico.com)
- Fetuses trumpt finances…. (tagg-lines.com)
- Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life champion receives award for courage :: EWTN News (deaconforlife.blogspot.com)
- Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Honors ‘Champions of Choice’ at Politics, Sex & Cocktails (prnewswire.com)
Cartoon of the Week
Jim Morin in the Miami Herald:
… the only change I’d make is that the person with the sign would be male.
So Republicans can have Abortions… but they won’t let women buying Health Insurance have one?
This article turned up in Politico, which I feel more and more is a publication of the Right.
Here’s a quote:
The Republican National Committee’s health insurance plan covers elective abortion – a procedure the party’s own platform calls “a fundamental assault on innocent human life.”
Federal Election Commission Records show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna. Two sales agents for the company said that the RNC’s policy covers elective abortion.
Informed of the coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told POLITICO that the policy pre-dates the tenure of current RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
“The current policy has been in effect since 1991, and we are taking steps to address the issue,” Gitcho said.
If you’re done laughing, read the rest of it HERE.
Quote of the Day
President Obama in a conversation with ABC News reporter Jake Tapper:
I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill. And we’re not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions. And I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test — that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we’re not restricting women’s insurance choices, because one of the pledges I made in that same speech was to say that if you’re happy and satisfied with the insurance that you have, that it’s not going to change. So, you know, this is going to be a complex set of negotiations. I’m confident that we can actually arrive at this place where neither side feels that it’s being betrayed.
Sam Stein in HuffPo commented: “The only line in the sand the president has drawn is that the bill not violate his pledge to not tax families earning less than $250,000.”
Keep an eye on Florida’s anti-contraception move…
Salon has a very good article on what they call the “personhood” movement, ie: life begins at conception, therefore both abortion and contraception should be banned. The next target is the state constitution of Florida (the movement failed to get a change in the Colorado constitution last year).
From the article:
Yes, opposing abortion and contraception is like opposing rain and umbrellas, but you know the drill: The contention — which is made of wrong — is that certain contraception is abortion. More broadly, as Marcotte puts it, “The organized anti-choice movement is hostile to contraception, and especially hostile to female-controlled contraception. This gives lie to their claims that they’re indifferent to women’s liberation and sexual behavior, and only interested in saving fetal life.”
This is one worth reading… especially if you are in Florida and can come out against the proposal.
Read the whole article HERE.
Cartoon of the Week
Lee Judge in the Kansas City Star:
Conservatives seem to be heading us back to American manufacturer’s solutions for illegal abortions. Are we ready for this?
