The end of choice
Submitted by James Protzman on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 12:48pm
As you probably have heard, the US Supreme Court today upheld the federal abortion ban. Reminiscent of Bill Frist in the sad Terry Schiavo case, we now have a cabal of privileged men stepping in to overrule the judgments of front-line physicians. This ruling could mean the end of medically necessary abortions for women who are only 12 weeks into pregnancies that could cost them their lives. For more on the issue, you can go here.
And if that weren't bad enough, the Theocrats here in North Carolina are also getting in on the act to impose their moral judgments on women who - for whatever reasons - choose to have abortions. Under a new bill submitted by Party of Greed Representative Linda Johnson, North Carolina would trundle back to the dark ages with a host of paternalistic restrictions that tell women they are too stupid to know what they're doing with their bodies. Here's the sorry piece of legislation, and here's the email address of the sorry person who submitted it: lindajo@ncleg.net
There are so many things wrong with this bill that I don't even know where to begin, and I suspect Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina will be taking Johnson to task very shortly. But in the meantime, here's one particularly odious clause:
Any person upon whom an abortion has been performed and any father of an unborn child that was the subject of an abortion may maintain an action for damages against the person who performed the abortion in knowing or reckless violation of this Article. Any person upon whom an abortion has been attempted may maintain an action for damages against the person who performed the abortion in knowing or reckless violation of this Article.
So if you happen to be impregnated as a victim of rape or incest, and you have an abortion without enduring the 24-hour waiting period and counseling mandated by this bill, the physician can be sued by the "father" for damages? How fucking twisted is that?
And by the way, Linda Johnson: There is a medically appropriate term for what you call an unborn child in this anti-freedom bill. It is a fetus. Get your goddamn facts straight.
Please contact Speaker Hackney and let him know where you stand on protecting a woman's right to freedom of choice.
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Out of control
It's hard to see whom these people hate worse---poor, young mothers or gay folks.
This is vile.
Can anybody tell me when the GOP was taken over by people who believe in no abortions under any circumstances? It seems like they used to say---oh, it's ok in cases of rape, incest, and health of the mother. Now, there's zero regard for the health of the mother (see the new supreme ct decision) and they could give a shit about rape/incest victims.
Write a quick note:
Here's mine to Speaker Hackney:
Maybe I had my head in the sand
But it shocked me to read this.
Of course, we've had Alito and Roberts on the court for a year now. We were all waiting for the other shoe to fall, but I just really really thought that Anthony Kennedy would moderate to the side of Ginsburg/Breyer/Stevens and not side with the authoritarian theocrats.
Not shocked at all here.
Frustrated and saddened, but not shocked.
Shocked, or numb?
As a followup, it reminds me of waking up after Election 2004. I had been up all night watching the results come in.
Similarly, I knew Kerry *could* lose, and I didn't expect us to fare well in the house, but I didn't think we'd be hosed across the board, falling to 55-44-1 in the senate.
You know, in the sense of, that yes I know in a given set of circumstances something could go terribly wrong -- hell, maybe its even probable -- but it's still hard to believe just how bad it can get until something drastic happens.
I'm a cynic
and I know that the Religious Reich has been gaining political power for years, and is very influential in the current administration. Outlawing all abortion has been one of their top priorities for years. Now the door's open a little further.
It's shocked a lot of people
And when the first doctor performs the procedure to save a woman's life and then gets charged with a crime, it'll shock even more.
The damage George Bush has done to our society and our culture will be with us for generations to come. I hate that son of a bitch.
Fortunately
This doesn't have a chance. It's just grandstanding/pandering/whatever
How do you overturn SCOTUS rulings?
Other than wait for natural causes to take its course and hope a progressive is in the White House?
Can sitting justices be impeached?
Personally, I think any of them that voted to give Bush the election should be and anyone who Bush put there should be excused from service also.
--
Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
Funny you should ask
As I recall, after Lawrence v Texas our own Howard Coble introduced legislation to allow a super-majority of Congress to overturn the SCOTUS.
I remember joking with friends at the time that the court would just overturn Coble's silly law as unconstitutional.
Oh, and yes, sitting justices can be impeached. I'll point you to the only Supreme ever to be impeached, Samuel Chase
Sorry
I wasn't clear. I was talking about the bill in the legislature. I wasn't thinking about the SCOTUS as it is water under the bridge at his point.
Fortunately, you're right, SPLib
But it highlights why we have to keep up the fight to have reasonable people representing us in our state legislature, and not idealogues.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
A very good
Story on kos of someone whose mother would be dead if this SC ruling had been in place 30 years ago.
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33
Of course it's twisted Anglico
It's the Old Testament.
Reads like Exodus 21:22 to me.
Planned Parenthood better stock up on chickens, because that was the fine of the day, and about all a fetus was worth in biblical times.
The bible is pretty clear. Breathe of life = soul. There's no person (or eye for eye required) until it breathes. Too bad modern religious types ignore the true word of GOD.
Thanks Rant.
It's good to know someone who can quote from Exodus.
:)
nice post
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33