LAT: South Dakota Foes of Abortion Ban Petition for a Choice (public vote)

[DeepModem Mom]

Foes of Abortion Ban Petition for a Choice
Both Democrats and Republicans in conservative South Dakota want to bring the law to a public vote and thus put it on hold.
By Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer
April 9, 2006

STURGIS, S.D. — Volunteers pushing to overturn the nation's most far-reaching abortion ban are surprised and delighted by the response as they circulate petitions to put the law up for a public vote.

Even in the most conservative corners of this conservative state, both Republicans and Democrats — including some voters who say they oppose abortion — are eagerly signing the petition. In two weeks, volunteers have collected a third of the signatures they need to get a November referendum on the ban.

Some voters dismiss the abortion-rights activists as out of touch with South Dakotan values. "People here have a sense of morals and ethics," said Darcy Patterson, 40. "I don't want to change the law."

But others say their legislators went too far when they voted last month to prohibit all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest, unless the mother's life is at stake....

***

Even opponents expect the campaign to easily collect the 17,000 valid signatures needed to put the referendum on the ballot. That would put the abortion law into legal limbo, on hold until the November election. If voters reject the law, it will be stricken from the books. If they uphold it, abortion-rights activists can still sue to block its enforcement....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abortion9apr09,0,3844002.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[DanCa]

1. Damn

I am so mad I can't even come up with something remotely funny.

[rodeodance]

2. I think the lawmakers stepped out of bounds and will be called for it!!

[Erika]

3. It appears that voters want the government to stay out of private

lives. How many trust big brother government more than women's decisions?

The anti-woman activists who trust government more than women to make decisions on women's reproductive rights, will lose big time.

[More Than A Feeling]

4. This is the best part of the article

Supporters expected the measure to draw an immediate court challenge from Planned Parenthood, which operates the only clinic providing abortions in South Dakota. Abortion opponents wanted a legal fight that could lead the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion.

But abortion-rights forces chose not to sue. Instead, they're appealing directly to voters.

On college campuses, in tiny farm towns, in tanning salons, on golf courses and in city parks, more than 400 volunteers are circulating petitions. They are organized by the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, which in turn is funded by major abortion-rights supporters such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

I love to see these organization flexing their political muscles rather than doing the court challenge. They'd probably win in court, with the current make-up, but this is even better. This way, there will be no conservative blubbering about "activist judges". Instead, this law can be the proverbial head on the pike, warning anti-women politicos that this is still a pro-choice nation.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Wonderful news. It's excellent seeing the better part of the people

becoming more active, isn't it? They've had to sit back and see Republicans run the country right into the ground. It's time they started acting on their own beliefs.

We've been taking open insults and tantrums, filthy tricks, and hypocrisy since Reagan's time, and before that, Nixon's.

It's beautiful seeing good people organize. Hope they get some mo going.