Roberts' wife's anti-abortion group takes stands on other issues

[DoYouEverWonder]

July 21, 2005

Early reports on the life and work of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts revealed little about his wife, Jane Sullivan.

We learned that she is a lawyer, that she's a mother of two young children adopted from Latin America and, according to The Boston Globe, that she belongs to a group called Feminists for Life.

<snip>

The organization was founded in 1972, reportedly by two women who left the National Organization for Women because they disagreed with making abortion rights the focus of NOW's platform. Foster took over when the group moved to Washington, improving its national profile and pushing its slogans "Refuse to Choose" and "Women Deserve Better Than Abortion."

Both slogans are emblazoned on trendy black hats, totes and T-shirts on the Web site.

Feminists for Life's mission includes the lines: "If you believe no woman should be forced to choose between pursuing her education and career plans and sacrificing her child. If you reject violence and exploitation. Join us in challenging the status quo. Because women deserve better choices."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/nation/epaper/2005/07/21/a14a_femforlife_0721.html

[Justice]

1. I read the website years ago

The actress Patricia Heaton is their spokesperson. I was intrigued because for me the issue is not just abortion - and wanted to know more about the organization. I know they say they are about more than just abortion but it is hard to find much on their website that shows what else they stand for and do. A couple of sentences here and there, but not much action.

[RatRacer]

26. There are some things on there

I think it's mainly that their website is poorly organized.

Patricia Heaton visited Washington, D.C., in April to talk with members of Congress about resources and support for pregnant women and parents.
http://www.womendeservebetter.com/news/Heaton%20visit%200405.htm

Speaking out on the issue of sex trafficking
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050428-095319-7893r.htm

Lobbied MN legislature in favor of the Positive Alternatives Act which among other things had these aims:
1. Nutrition programs for the mother and the child.
2. Family finance programs that will help the mother to do more with less economically.
3. Continuing education courses to make sure the new mother can get back into the work force.
4. Educational opportunities to have the new mother receive her GED or High School Graduation equivalent.
5. Drug and alcohol addiction counseling for pre- and post-natal care.
http://www.womendeservebetter.com/news/winnMNtestimony0305.htm

[Demeter]

2. Sounds Like A Rich Bitch Group

Pardon my bluntness, but legal choice concerning pregnancy is the only option for women who are denied all other options by other people and the government and society: marriage that is strong enough for childraising, jobs that pay enough, safe and affordable daycare, basic healthcare for all the family.

What bothers me most about this nomination is that neither the Judge nor his wife appear to have had any diversions on their silver spoon lives, nor have they shown any innate tendency to empathize with people who have been derailed by one of those life-changing catastrophes. With no practical experience in life as we who are not blessed with unending fortune live, we are going to trust our life, liberty, health and futures to this man?

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. One of the things I don't understand about the Roberts

is why did they have to go to South America to adopt white children?

[bleedingheart]

20. ever see The Boys from Brazil?

...just joking...

[Sequoia]

38. Adolph? Where are you...did you paint these

bent crosses on the wall?

[Cassandra]

6. I was just thinking that.

"If you believe no woman should be forced to choose between pursuing her education and career plans and sacrificing her child."

That's a very luxurious statement. It suggests not only a stable family with plenty of money for child care but also a flexible and understanding workplace; something that is increasingly rare. Even women who have power jobs may not be able to hang onto their career path unless they are particularly well connected. These women are living in a fantasy land of their own or their husbands' making.

[HockeyMom]

16. Exactly

Knew a girl from my daughter's soccer team who got pregnant her first year of college. She didn't marry the father, had the baby and kept it. Her father was a corporate vice president at a Fortune 500 company. They hired a full time Nanny to take care of the baby while she was going to school.

[Bluerthanblue]

18. my question to them- and

their reply-
(me)
"You offer NO answers to my question of how women who have NO spouse, or
job are supposed to 'choose' life-???"
(them aka.'info')
Yes, the response explained that Feminists for Life is dedicated to
systematically eliminating the root causes that drive women to abortion
--primarily lack of practical resources and support-- through holistic,
woman-centered solutions. If you are interested in learning more about the
nonviolent solutions we work on, please visit our website.
(me)
"Abortions will be gotten by those who see no clear alternative"
(them)
Perhaps you should read what was emailed. These are the women we serve."


i explained that i HAD visited their website, and found NO answers, hence i contacted them by e-mail

(how else would i have gotten their contact? duh)

i don't know what their point is- they aren't reaching the 'real' need- the 'elite'? maybe, but in what way????- what a sham-

[BrklynLiberal]

22. Do you know how to spell self-serving H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E?

[northzax]

37. but isn't that the point?

the no one should have to make that chouce? If there were decent family protections in the workplace, if day care was affordable and avaliable for working parents and studetns, like it is for the wealthy then no one would have to choose. right?

it's not luxurious to say that it is not right that women are put in these situations.

[Bluerthanblue]

17. Truth is often

blunt- i emailed their group twice yesterday after reading about her- asking what CONCRETE efforts and actions they were taking to make the choice of continuing a pregnancy a reality and not a 'stigmatizing' and hopless choice for women who didn't have the 'educational advantages' or the 'partner who would be paying support' ie. those who are often mis-labeled 'welfare queens'.
What i recieved in return was the equivelent of a form letter- i wrote again angry this time, asking if they'd even bothered to READ my questions, or if it was simply a computer generated response- and asked that they give me a 'human' response- "info" replied, of course they had read my questions, that's why they had 'answered' my reply.

Their answer? was pure fluff- i told them not to waste either of our time by bothering to reply further-

What pisses the heck out of me, are the thousands upon thousands of children who are being raised in a series of foster homes- and those numbers would only swell in a nation where abortion was not a legal option.

Also, as an adoptive mom, i can tell you, white babies CAN be had if you have the money and the influence- i've been very blessed (and to be Honest, tested) with the precious opportunity to be the mom of wonderful son, who was considered 'unadoptable'- due to many 'issues'- and have had him since he was 6 days old- he isn't 'white' and wouldn't be caught dead in 'saddle shoes' but he is more of a joy than i could ever have thought, and more like me than the son born of my womb. And, as life would have it, i've raised my children as a single mom, with no 'support' from my 'once upon a time' spouse.

[baldguy]

3. Where do you get two aryan kids in Latin America?

[wishlist]

5. There are many Latin Americans of German ancestry

It is not that unusual to see Latinos with light complexions due to ancestors from non-Hispanic European countries.

[BrklynLiberal]

21. They looked high and low in SA for kids that looked like that!!!!

Boys for Brazil...Great analogy!


I thought women were supposed to stay home and have lots of children and wash the kitchen floor!!!

[TankLV]

47. A big pre-1900 Ukrainian population in S. America, also.

Not many people know of this. They immigrated there at the same time many were immigrating here.

[LiberalFighter]

56. Especially from the time of WWII when many escaped

to avoid being connected with the Nazis.

[KyndCulture]

7. That boy needs to grow up and slap her silly..

for putting him on TV in short pants and saddle shoes...

[KittyWampus]

8. haha.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. That might even qualify

has child abuse.

[livinginphotographs]

10. That's what I thought.

That poor kid. I hope he gets used to getting his ass kicked once he gets of school age.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. I would assume he's home schooled

but that's just an educated guess.

[livinginphotographs]

13. For his sake, I hope so.

[leftchick]

14. home schooled by a Nanny

or an au pare would be my guess.

[Sequoia]

39. He'll be homeschooled

[DemBones DemBones]

29. Oh, for God's sake, he's a little boy, not a pre-teen, and he

looks cute. Jackie Kennedy dressed her son in short pants and saddle shoes, too.

[Demeter]

34. Yes, but that was 50 years ago

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cassandra]

27. Does that little girl remind you slightly of...

Christine Crawford? Just asking.

[KoKo]

32. Who dresses little kids like this pix shows, anymore? This looks old

fashioned. :shrug: Are you sure this is his wife and those are their children? The picture looks like from the 1950's when little boys wore short pants and little girls wore "mary janes" with little white sox.

Anyone else think this looks odd? Makes me wonder about his wife if this picture is current. Does she live in the past or is there a retro-look in kids clothes that I don't know about. :eyes:

[mark11727]

36. Argentina? Very European-looking folks from down that way.

[DanCa]

12. Didn't Bush promise a non judicial activist on the bench?

Yeah another day another broken promise.

[underpants]

19. BREAKING: SC nominee's wife outed

the press has dropped everything to find out who let this vital piece of information to be known by the general public.

No link yet

[Toots]

23. Because women deserve better choices."

"Refuse to Choose" :crazy:

[CBHagman]

24. I see their ads maybe once a year.

They'll put up a poster in the Metro or on buses, and it'll use the "Women deserve better than abortion."

But I've never seen them advocate for, say, universal health coverage or at least prenatal care for all pregant women, regardless of ability to pay.

[endarkenment]

25. I just wonder

if their 'better choices' include BIRTH CONTROL? SEX EDUCATION?

[HockeyMom]

52. Nope

All these christian family organizations fall in the line with the Bush policy: Abstinence Only Until Marriage and Faithfulness in Marriage.

Besides, if they are faithful, practicing Catholics there is no artificial birth control.

[ticapnews]

53. Faithfulness in marriage?

Like Newt? Strom? Hyde? Hutchinson? Bush?

Oh, that's right: Do as I say, not as I do.

[Zorra]

28. Sounds like an organization for abused women that would like to be

feminists but can't choose to be feminists because their husbands forbid it.

[DemBones DemBones]

30. Why is it that some DUers are so intolerant of people who are different?

You're trashing the wife and children instead of focusing on the SCOTUS nominee. That's freeper behavior. Grow up.

[DoYouEverWonder]

31. No one is trashing the kids

the wife is a political activist in the Pro-life Movement. Her public life should be subject to scrutiny.

[PassingFair]

58. Heh,heh...

"the wife is a political activist in the Pro-life Movement"

...so is that poster, DYEW....

:rofl:

[Lars39]

35. Sounds like you were swayed by the "pretty in pink" pic.

His wife is actively anti-choice,helping a group called Feminists for Life.

[JNelson6563]

46. Bingo!

:toast:

[iamjoy]

57. The Wife's Political Activities Are Fair Game

her looks are not.

The children are off limits.

Who cares why they adopted two Caucasian looking children from South America?

Her political activities may be relevant because politically active people usually marry people with similiar idealogy. A noted exception being the Carville/Matlin duo.

[LizW]

33. They must have let their kids write that mission statement.

The first sentence is nonsensical and doesn't (I hope) say what they mean, and the rest aren't sentences.

Way to impress, Ladies!

[Child_Of_Isis]

40. The underlying assumption here

is that all women want children.

[stanwyck]

41. I'm pretty smart

and I don't get the "Refuse to Choose" slogan.

[Mandate My Ass]

43. Refuse to Choose

Huh?

Oh now I get it. Let men make all your important decisions for you, honey. You weren't put on this earth to think. Get me a beer, pronto!

[stanwyck]

44. and, yet

that's still a choice, isn't it? Women who "choose" to let the men be the head of the household, their lord and master.
But...refusing to choose...means you've totally locked up. You're catatonic. You're a pillar of salt.
That is just one stupid slogan.

[Mandate My Ass]

45. yes, I agree and said that on another thread in GD

It's a choice to be a doormat and allow men to exploit them.

[KamaAina]

42. Remember Susan Carpenter McMillan? Paula Jones', um, handler?

She was once president of Feminists For Life.

No, not partisan at all, no sirree. :sarcasm:

[DoYouEverWonder]

48. Has they say

you are the company you keep.

Yet the media wants everyone to believe that this guy is the greatest thing since swiss cheese. Such a nice guy, so middle of the road.

[Lindacooks]

49. "Refuse to Choose"???

What the hell does that mean? "Do What You're Told"?????

[leQ]

54. my thoughts exactly.... are we to become robots now? (eom)

[Megahurtz]

50. Oh God No!!! n/t

[Erika]

51. No one is attacking the Mrs - just her affiliations

She's into controlling other women's lives based on her beliefs. That's extremism.

These radical right wing groups would be viewed with less hostility if they would ever show concern and care for the born children and their families. Poverty is increasing and the number of uninsured families are skyrocketing.

[RPM]

55. She's a lawyer - I wonder if pRick Santorum approves n/t