Democrats announce 2nd bill aimed at reducing number of abortions

[ck4829]

"Just six days after a group of Democrats from the House of Representatives announced legislation aimed at reducing the number of abortions in the United States, a second bill with the same goal was presented by another House Democrat.

The proposed legislation, Pregnant Women Support Act, was unveiled during a Sept. 20 press conference on Capitol Hill by Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn.

The bill has the support of the U.S. Catholic bishops, unlike the similar legislative proposal, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act, announced Sept. 14 by Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio. The newest legislative proposal does not include expanded contraception access, a component of Ryan's proposal which drew objections from the U.S. bishops' pro-life spokeswoman.

...

Both bills were prompted by a legislative proposal known as the 95-10 Initiative announced last year by several Democratic members of Congress and the organization Democrats for Life of America. The proposal seeks to reduce abortions by 95 percent over a 10-year period through legislation encouraging adoption, funding pregnancy prevention, prenatal care and day care and prohibiting insurance practices that discriminate against pregnant women."

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=21349

Pro-Life means more than totalitarian bans on abortion, where are the so-called 'pro-life' Republicans and Right Wing groups on this?

[brentspeak]

1. If this doesn't affect a woman's right to choose, then it's not a problem

In fact, it could be a solution.

[madfloridian]

2. "does not include expanded contraception access"

The 2nd bill mentioned. They are objecting to the first on the grounds of contraception...which IS taking away the rights of a woman.

No church should control what a woman does with her body.

[DaveJ]

3. I'm glad Dems are getting support from the Catholic Curch but...

I do not think legislation should need to meet the approval of their bishops. Unfortunately sucking up to the Catholic church is a necessary to go up against the Repukes sucking up to the extreme evangelicals.

[madfloridian]

4. No, it is not necessary.

We are pandering to the right wing by using women's rights.

There is nothing right about it. This proposal was set up by the Third Way/Democrats for Life groups...and I resent it.

[pat_k]

5. Everybody is pro-life. We just don't want to put frightened women and the

frightened women and their doctors in jail.

The word "abortion" has become a powerful "stimulus" that provokes a rigid, emotional response. That conditioned response is a barrier to any sort of dialog. If we don't want to evoke the conditioned response, we have to stop using the term. Figure out, and practice using, alternate words and phrases.

And why do we continue to allow "them: to have sole custody of the term "pro-life" -- a term that applies to all of us? I say screw them. It is not pandering to tell the truth: We are all pro-life.

If we are all pro-life, how do we convey the Democratic position?

The short version:

Everybody is pro-life. The difference is, Democrats don't want to put frightened women and their doctors in jail.

Long version:

We are all pro-life. The difference is, Democrats don't think that frightened women and their doctors should be thrown in jail. Democrats believe women should never have to face such desperate circumstances -- no health care, poverty wages – that the only option they see is ending a pregnancy.

Democrats are fighting to guarantee access to health care for every single American. Democrats are fighting to guarantee a living wage for every American worker. Democrats are fighting to make it possible for families to have confidence they will be able to give their children, and their children’s children, the life they deserve. Democrats are fighting to give women more options, so they can be assured that when they bare a child, that child will be loved, protected, and provided for, even if they are unable to do so themselves.

Democrats are committed to true individual freedom, which cannot exist without freedom from fear of economic hardship. Democrats know that a vigorous private sector cannot exist if work is not valued. Democrats know that economic security requires access to quality education and medical care. Democrats know how critical those first months are in the life of a child; they know paid family leave benefits all of us. Democrats know that private industry can only flourish and create prosperity for all when the power of the people to protect their interests is embodied in strong public institutions.

We are all pro-life. The difference is that some of those who call themselves pro-life think throwing frightened women in jail is the solution. The threat of jail did not work before 1967. Democrats know we can do better than that.


Key Points
The word "abortion" has become a powerful "stimulus" that provokes a rigid, emotional response. That conditioned response is a barrier to any sort of dialog. If we don't want to evoke the conditioned response, we have to stop using the term.

Never concede that the Democratic position is NOT pro-life. Assert the fact that the position is pro-life – and assert it with confidence. Simple truths are expressed with simple words. Instead of saying something like “Democrats don’t want to criminalize abortion”, say “Democrats don't want to put frightened women and their doctors in jail.”

Examine your assertions. Feelings and imagery shed light too. If your statements are "dry," are there more evocative ways to convey your assertions?

Stop evoking knee jerk response to the word "abortion" -- Figure out, and practice using, alternate words and phrases.

Putting it in action
I don't know if I changed any votes, but when I put this to the test while doorknocking for Kerry and other democratic candidates, I definitely get some thoughtful looks when I made these points to the people who identified themselves as pro-life.

My standard response to people who say they are voting for <Republican candidate> because they are pro-life, was "So am I. Probably the only difference is that I don't think frightened women and their doctors should be thrown in jail. <Democratic candidte> believes women should never have to face such desperate circumstances -- no health care, poverty wages – that the only option they see is ending a pregnancy."

Sometimes this led to a brief discussion -- sometimes with very encouraging results. But, as I said, even people who cut off the exchange often looked thoughtful. There were a few that looked very taken aback, or sort of blanked, like a circuit shorted out.

It may be hard to fathom, but I'm convinced that many have never thought through what they are fighting for. All they know is that they don't want women to end unplanned pregnancies. They believe it shouldn't happen -- ever. They want it to stop. Period.

Of course, making it illegal doesn't actually accomplish their goal. The notion that they are fighting to put people in jail is a notion they don't seem to have internalized.

Words are important. Simply putting the emphasis on the word "never" seems to make the points more effective (perhaps "never" connects with the attractive simplicity of all or nothing thinking).