Abortion

From Planned Parenthood:

Over the past 72 hours, a 21-year-old woman in Florida was raped, jailed on an outstanding warrant (for a 2003 juvenile arrest), and blocked from taking emergency contraception because a jail worker had "religious objections" to the medication. This is an absolute outrage.

According to the St. Petersburg Times,

"A doctor had given her Plan B, the so-called ‘morning-after pill' approved by the FDA, to prevent pregnancy. But Moore [her attorney] said a medical supervisor at the jail refused to let her take the second of the two pills on Sunday."

The woman was not allowed to take the second pill until Monday afternoon. For emergency contraception to work, the second pill must be taken within 12 hours. This woman was refused for 36. Only after media inquiries did the jail allow the woman to take the second pill. After surviving assault and rape, this woman was denied access to the care she needed and deserved. This is clear violation of a woman's right to make her own health care decisions.

Yet how dare those Muslim cab drivers refuse to transport people with alcohol because of "religous objections". So how much of a hypocrite was Jesus? If there really is a Hell, then everyone of these fuckers will certainly burn in it. If they don't then send me there because Heaven must be really fucked up!

Here in Ohio, today marked a day that could generate the strictest abortions laws yet in the country. The bill would have basically eliminated all abortions in the state. The bill was discussed in the committee and now is apparently dead:

A bill that would ban all abortions in Ohio is expected to draw enthusiastic audiences and spirited debate to the Statehouse today for the first, and likely last, hearing on the proposal.

After dozens of supporters and opponents of abortion rights spend a good six hours making their cases, House Bill 228 is expected to be placed back in a file cabinet and left to die at the end of the year.

"I don’t see it coming back," said Scott Borgemenke, chief of staff for Speaker Jon A. Husted, R-Kettering, adding that an abortion bill is not among the priorities this year for Republicans, who control both branches of the legislature.

What is amazing is that even a number of right to lifers opposed this bill because it would eliminate all abortions. There would be none at all. That means if a mother was going to die if she did not have her 12 week old fetus aborted, she would die. It was purely a political move and one that has died.

Tom Brinkman, the man who introduced this legislation, is a full blown neo-con. He follows in the same footsteps as Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman. You can read more about Brinkman here.

Here is a very interesting article that somewhat slipped under the radar last week. This one is out of the U.K.:

Blogger puts guide to abortion online

 By Andrew Buncombe in Washington

Published: 17 March 2006

 A blogger has added fresh fuel to the abortion debate that divides the US by posting online detailed instructions on how to perform such an operation. She said she had received death threats as a result.

The blogger, who uses the pseudonym Molly Blythe, said she was inspired to post the abortion guide after the recent signing of legislation in South Dakota that outlaws abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception to the law would be if the woman's life was threatened if she continued the pregnancy.

This exposes us to something not yet really considered - a world without Roe but with the information super highway. Those dark alleys could be quickly replaced with a living room and WiFi. No matter what the outcome is still one of great danger and is more evidence why abortions should be legal - so they can be performed in a safe and sterile environment. Even if it is truly a baby that dies isn't the loss of that life better than the loss of the baby's and mother's lives?

Of course these are things not considered by the religious right, who is so good at seeing the world in only black and white. For people who claim to be so "spiritually enhanced" they certainly are close minded.

President Bush said Tuesday that democracies only reach their potential when women are allowed to fully participate in society, singling out Iran, North Korea and Myanmar as nations that are suppressing women's basic rights.

"America will help women stand up for their freedom, no matter where they live," Bush said at a White House celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day.

Via the AP

He sure can sound good saying things like that but does he mean it? What about the freedom of women here? Those are under attack. Just look to South Dakota and their ban on abortion.

So since Bush is calling for the freedom of women, will he publicly oppose the abortion ban? I would guess not. After all "religion" is more important than "women's rights" in the eyes of the idiot in chief.

Here is our turn back in time from the AP

S.D. Governor Signs Abortion Ban Into Law
 By CHET BROKAW, Associated Press Writer

Gov. Mike Rounds on Monday signed legislation banning almost all abortions in South Dakota.

The Legislature passed the ban late last month, focusing nationwide interest on the state as the governor decided what to do about the measure.

The law, designed to raise a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, is scheduled to take effect July 1.

Under the law, doctors in South Dakota will face up to five years in prison for performing an abortion except when the procedure is necessary to save the mother's life.

Rounds issued a technical veto of a similar measure two years ago because it would have wiped out all existing restrictions on abortion while the bill was tied up for years in a court challenge.

South Dakota Planned Parenthood said it planned a quick court challenge.

Seems like the race is on for states to try and test the waters with our conservative Supreme Court. If this does happen and Roe gets overturned I hope the people who decided to stay at home in November 2004 realize what has happened. The people mostly influenced by such a decision are the same people who feel their vote doesn't matter. Well this will be proof that they are so wrong.

 UPDATE:

John McCain says he would of signed the bill into law given a few conditions. McJoan has more details on it.

The New York Times reported today that a "scant" drop in abortions are seen in states where parental notification are required.

This is something that people should really take notice on. Now that more states are pushing for legislation that could make it to the Supreme Court and try to get Roe overturned, a study like this becomes that much more important. One thing I think of is drug use. While drugs are illegal in the United States, people still use them. As matter of fact their use is more dangerous because the drugs aren't regulated.

Abortion will be the same way. You can overturn Roe and all we will see is an increase in back ally abortions and that will even lead to higher health care costs as people suffer the side effects from those butcher tactics.

Hopefully people will notice the study done by the NYT and use is for the valuable weapon it is when fighting for pro-choice rights.