Say Sayonara to Abortion-Time to get that Abortion you've been putting off

[truthpusher]

Great Article from Ted Rall...read on...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20050727/cm_ucru/saysayonaratoabortion&printer=1

SAY SAYONARA TO ABORTION
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By Ted Rall
1 hour, 48 minutes ago
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NEW YORK--Now is a superb time to get that abortion you've been putting off.

Officially, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' opinion of Roe v. Wade is "opaque," "mysterious," or--my favorite--just "unknown." But if I'm no genius, it doesn't take one to suss out how Roberts will vote when the next big abortion case hits his docket.

Three facts indicate that Roberts' confirmation spells the end of Roe v. Wade, the decision guaranteeing American women the right to an abortion.

First: Despite repeated denials, it's clear that Sandra Day O'Connor's shoo-in replacement is an active member of the Federalist Society, the far-right cadre of scary college kids who worship Ayn Rand, dress like Tucker Carlson and care deeply about your sex life. "Many key policymakers in the Bush administration are acknowledged current or former members," reports the Washington Post. "In conservative circles, membership in or association with the society has become a badge of ideological and political reliability." The group takes a hard line against abortion, comparing Roe v. Wade to the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision defining slaves as property.

Second: Roberts' wife is a militant anti-abortion activist, a member and ex-board member of a Catholic group called "Feminists for Life." She performs pro bono legal work for the group's pro-life agenda. Democrats, Republicans and even NARAL Pro-Choice America say that that doesn't mean anything--"My wife has opinions on things that may or may not conform with mine, and I think most couples are in that situation," says GOP Senator Rick Santorum--but it does. Even before being tapped for the high court Roberts was an ambitious, well-connected judicial up-and-comer in right-wing Washington political circles. If he felt annoyed or embarrassed by the sight of his wife waving bloody fetus photos outside Planned Parenthood clinics, he would have asked her to cut it out. (Pun intended, yet undeleted.)

Third: Americans, including many Republicans, are pro-choice. The ABC/Washington Post poll says the numbers haven't changed since 1995--55 percent say abortion should be "legal in all or most cases," 25 percent "in some cases," and only 17 percent not at all. And pro-choicers are more likely to consider the issue when voting than pro-lifers. Given the popularity of abortion rights, the Bush Administration would have told us if Roberts were neutral or pro-choice. They're not. He's neither.

(snip)

In a sick way, the end of Roe v. Wade may turn out to be a net positive for America. For one thing, Roe was a legally dubious decision based on flawed constitutional logic. Rather than pass abortion rights into law, 14 cowardly congresses and seven weasely presidents have relied on the 1973 ruling to avoid taking political fire from the Bible-thumpers.

(snip)

link to the rest: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20050727/cm_ucru/saysayonaratoabortion&printer=1

[Erika]

1. Good point about the Bible-thumpers

The Constitution was not for the purpose of mandating religious views on the "people". Let the Bible-thumpers try to explain why their religious views must become law. They are no different than the Taliban.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Somehow I doubt that Mrs. Roberts has ever

taken part in "waving bloody fetus photos outside Planned Parenthood clinics."

That's a stereotype of pro-life people that actually applies to very few.

[kestrel91316]

3. I smell that ol' apologist again somewhere around here...........

[OKDem08]

4. If anything could wake up the masses,

I am sure that reversal of Roe v Wade would do it

[barb162]

10. too bad it will be too late

[Scout]

15. That's a stereotype of pro-life people that actually applies to very few

they must have all hung out at the same clinics where I escorted then, along with the ones who chased us in the parking lot with their van...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. -snippety snip-

Every news story about a cheerleader bleeding to death in an Alabama high school locker room will remind Americans, especially the women who make up an increasing share of the swing vote, that the fundamentalist Christianists are happy to replace the necessary evil of legalized abortion with the optional horror of despair.

[dsc]

6. This sentence is demonstrably false

And pro-choicers are more likely to consider the issue when voting than pro-lifers.

In every election since 1996 more pro choicers have voted for the Republican candidate than pro lifers have for the Democrat. In both 2000, and 2004 pro lifers split 75 to 25 in favor of the GOP and pro choicers split 67 to 33 in favor of the Democrats. No way the above sentence is true with a split like that.

[BlueEyedSon]

7. I personally guarantee that R v W will never be overturned

It's the only leverage that the right has. Those idiot fundies will vote for candidates that promise the overturn of choice ad infinitum regardless of whether they actually deliver......

[Erika]

9. They can dump R v W through the fanatic judges

and then go after birth control. Santorum has already said he believes birth control is wrong and the legislatures should address it.

This is the right's big chance to destroy our form of government completely by blending the supposed independence of the Congress, Executive branch and the Judicial branch. They can turn this country into a corporate theocracy and a great deal of our citizens won't know about it until it's too late.

Why do you think Roberts hasn't yet removed that silly grin?

[barb162]

13. The religious radicals will then turn to having prayer in

schools, bibles in every classroom, teaching of creationism, the ten commandments in front of every federal building, etc

[MichiganVote]

8. Roe v. Wade provided the freedom for women to choose

to control their reproduction. It did not guarantee a woman's right to an abortion. It is questionable whether Roe v. Wade was based on "flawed" constitional logic. Roe has stood the test of a myriad of challenges since it's inception. If reversed, freedom to choose will continue to be a legitimate legal, social, and moral issue with or without the "moral majority's" approval.

The issue surrounding the SC is whether and to what extent it will or should interpret the constitution in a literal biblical sense or respond to cultural morays as well. The difficulty lies in the failure of this legalistic society to continue to rassle with the either / or mentality; either an entity is a person or an entity is property.

For the religious right, I think we can guess what form of thought they are comfortable with.

[Erika]

11. It gave women the right to PRIVACY

in making those decisions. Per the 14th amendment.

[MichiganVote]

12. Privacy is under fire these days too

[Erika]

16. True - But privacy is priority

Do women have the privacy to make decisions affecting their own life and body or does the government invade her right to privacy?

Abortion is an emotional issue with pros and cons. But the number of abortions are decreasing through education and availability of birth control. The right wing fanatics are using the emotions of the issue just to push their theocratic agenda.

Privacy should never be an issue. It is a right.

[MichiganVote]

17. I think privacy will always be an issue whether it should be or not

What exactly is it that you are reacting to in my initial post? I think we are on the same page but I have the feeling you think we are not. Please take the time to re read it if you have concerns.

[Scout]

14. get that tubal ligation you've been thinking about....

NOW, before it's too late. I'm sure glad I've had one.