Palin backs parental consent abortion bill

[babsbunny]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/62931.html

By Lisa Demer | The Anchorage Daily News

Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday threw her support behind a controversial bill that would generally require parental consent before girls under age 17 could get an abortion.

She called a press conference Thursday and surrounded by a dozen lawmakers including state Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, and Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, said

[Flying Dream Blues]

1. Oh, and where are the teenage BOY's parents? This whole thing truly pisses

me off. If your religion tells you abortion is a sin, then DON'T have one! But as long as they're legal, stop punishing the GIRL while the boy and his parents are off scot-free. This religion-based government has got to stop.

[vadawg]

2. I gotta say im conflicted on this one, if it was my daughter her mother and myself would

sure as hell want to know. so i got to go with gut check and say i agree with the bill.

[SteelPenguin]

3. It's about protecting those girls

...and your daughter.

What if it's a girl who was raped by her step-father, and her mother won't sign off on her getting an abortion? Questions like that are the ones where this bill really comes into play. It's hard to say why a 16 year old girl might or might not want to tell her parents that she needs an abortion. I'd be for requiring counseling of the girl with her options before getting an abortion, but not requiring parental consent.

While you and I both would want our daughters to talk to us before hand, requiring it can put our daughters in danger. If for some reason, that they can't tell us, then parental consent could force them into even more dangerous situations like illegal backroom abortions, or worse....suicide or serious phyiscal injury to themselves.

It's up to me as a parent to communicate with her and let her know that whatever happens we will love and help her, after that it's up to her.

[vadawg]

4. i agree with you to a point, there should be a guardian of some sort for the girl

But due to my beliefs this is not a subject i am going to get into, it will just drag into a flame war. you have a great day though mate.

[Ohio Joe]

6. Well said - nt

[MurrayDelph]

5. But at the same time, if it were My daughter

my biggest hope is that she would feel comfortable-enough to come to me WITHOUT it being mandatory.

[indie_voter]

7. Exactly. I hope my daughter

would come to me if ever faced with this.

Making it mandatory, mho, could be dangerous for those children who do not have loving relationships with their parents.

Some kids may be afraid for good reason to tell their parents, and I'd rather they have access to safe options than resort to dangerous back alley solutions.

[Generic Other]

8. The daughter is the one who will be responsible for the child

When she turns 18:
she will be charged with neglect if the child is not provided for.
she will have her name on the birth certificate.
she will be expected to provide support for the child.

This is a major part of her adult life. If she has any reason to feel this decision should not involve her parents, then I support her right to keep them out of the process. That being said, I suspect most teens do involve their parents in this decision. Just as they do when they decide to keep the babies.