How should "pro-choicers" counter the South Dakota initiatives?

[kentuck]

It looks some Repubs want their cake and eat it too. A couple of Repubs, Allen and Frist, would not commit to supporting the initiative. But, they would like to reap what they think is a right-wing reward for what SD and other states have in mind with the "anti-choice" initiative. What should be the strategy to counter these fence sitters? In my opinion, they should be forced to take a position. Are they for the "anti-choice" initiative or not? We would like to know.

[yurbud]

1. buy billboards at the border going in: "Now leaving women's rights"

and coming out, "Now entering women's rights."

[johnaries]

3. "Abandon all hope, Women who enter here..." n/t

[valerief]

5. Excellent

[physioex]

7. Offer vouchers for bus fare and hotel to another state......EOM

[RoBear]

2. How should "pro-choicers" counter the South Dakota initiatives?

One thing they should not to is to wait for the court cases filed by the big pro-choice groups to make their way through the system. It's going to take some grass-roots organizing and electing people to office who won't stand for this tyranny. Some pro-choicers are organizing trips to the state to deal with the situation on the ground. Others of us are going to work like hell for pro-choice candidates.

I do believe this will eventually backfire on the Republicans, but we have to organize to make sure that it does. Then we have to make sure people capitalize on this backlash.

Women who are in their child-bearing years have to take responsibility for assuring that reproductive rights remain intact. If those women don't care, then no one else will.

[kentuck]

4. The more emotional it gets before the November elections...

the more the Republcians like it. People that may not have voted will vote on this one issue, they believe. Maybe they are right and maybe not?

[AndyTiedye]

10. Start Building an "Underground Railroad"

Roe v. Wade is the only reason abortion is still legal in many of the red states covering a vast swath of the country
(including most of the same states that made the original "Underground Railroad" necessary).

Once Roe v. Wade is overturned, things will start happening very quickly.
Very bad things.
Abortion-ban states will attempt to restrict the travel of pregnant women out-of-state to prevent them from obtaining abortions.
Women who successfully obtain an abortion may not be able to return to their home state without prosecution in some places.

We will need to move quickly ourselves to help these women if we cannot head off such draconian measures.

Even if they don't pass laws like that, they have restricted the availiability in these states very severely already --
some have only one clinic in the whole state. What if something happens to that clinic?

[MissWaverly]

6. How about "Pro-Life. but not for everybody"

Pro-Life, this does not apply to anyone who inhabits the Gulf Coast, Iraq or any area
where there is a large democratic majority.

[RC]

13. It needs to be developed more

An example: Several pictures of New Orleans post Katrina flood waters with dead bodies floating in it. Caption: Brought to you by the same Pro-life people that killed New Orleans.

The same can be done for their Iraqi war or their so called war against terror.

[MissWaverly]

14. That's a cool idea

I hope someone picks up on it.

[Nobody]

8. Bombard the SD legislature with the following demands

1. For a law that requires easy and free availability for contraceptives. This will also include accurate information on how to use for maximum safety and effectiveness. This will include all contraceptives, including Plan B. Easy and convenient to get. Easy and convenient to find out about how to get. Easy and convenient to learn how to use properly. And FREE.

(Let's reduce unwanted pregnancies to start with, shall we?)

2. For a law that requires the State of SD to pay for all pre-natal medical care, deliveries with any and all requested or needed anesthesia, and hospital stay at the discretion of the attending doctor. Furthermore, any and all complications will be covered by the State of SD.

(If a woman was planning to abort due to economic reasons, this might help, especially if she is planning to give it up for adoption.)

3. For a law that prosecutes all rapists vigorously and disallows what I call the "she's a slut" defense. Minimum sentence is to be 20 years. No man brought up on rape charges is to have any contact with any child that may have resulted from this heinous act of violence.

(Rapists are the scum of the earth and no WAY should the law just passed benefit them in any way.)

[niyad]

9. in addition, each and EVERY one of those moralizing jerks has got to

sign a statement of personal financial responsibility for every child born in SD, and its mother,until that child is 21 or through college. they want them born so badly, let them pay for them.

[eauclaireliberal]

11. New RW logo

I hope it shows up this time. Its a gif file.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. Um.. Democratic candidates should point out that one party Republican

rule has brought us to the threshold of banning abortion, so that they can mobilize the 60 percent or more of voters who favor preservation of choice. Republicans as individuals and as a party are responsible. Electing Democratic officeholders to Congress and the WH is the only way to have a chance to arrest or reverse this process.

Why is it the "wedge issue" thing has to go only one way? Sheesh!

[Warpy]

15. Paint the GOPs as the antiwoman extremists they are

and let it play out in the courts.