The past year has been marked (and continues to be marked) by a battle over women’s reproductive rights and health issues. As the election approaches, women’s health issues seems central to who will win and of course, who will lose the election.
Why it is that men and women alike get all hot under the collar by what women choose to do with their bodies? The answer lies in the fact that reproductive rights touches on all areas of life- the economy, religion, society and culture. In other words- your wallet, your faith, your community values and your inherited family dynamics. What a delicious spicy cocktail- clearly shaken and not stirred.
In fact, if you’re "pro-choice", you must be a (secular) slut and if you’re "anti- choice", you’re a righteous radical. Those sticky labels, just can’t shake ‘em!
But with our strong beliefs, we look to our potential leaders and see if they’ll mirror them back. The more emotional the topic, the more intently we look. And when we do look, we can be guaranteed a nice show of ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’. But some evasion and attack techniques can be distracting; Romney’s criticized for being “out of touch with the average woman’s health issues” (Obama campaign Ad) and the President is apparently waging a “war on religion” (Romney’s campaign Ad).
So what is true? Here’s the skinny on Obama and Romney:
President Obama is a very strong supporter of reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood. He believes in a woman’s right to choose. Obama is pro-choice, though he says he’s not pro-abortion.
According to Mitt Romney’s website, he is pro-life and wants to prevent roughly a million abortions a year from happening. He believes that life begins at conception and believes the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade. Romney then believes that each state should be empowered to determine their own abortion laws. He also supports the Hyde Amendment, which generally bars the use of federal funds for abortions. With respect to Planned Parenthood, he advocates for an end to federal funding.
These are our presidential candidates’ views. But promises, promises, promises (insert yawn) are empty unless there’s a voting record:
According to On the Issues, Obama’s voting record around women’s repro rights is as follows:
- Blocked Illinois law: Born Alive Infant Protection Act. (Oct 2011)
- Opposed born-alive treatment law because it was already law. (Oct 2008)
- Supports Roe v. Wade. (Jul 1998)
- Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
- Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
- Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
- Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. (May 2006)
- Rated 0 percent by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
- Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
As for Romney, here’s what On the Record says:
- Would be delighted to sign federal ban on all abortions. (Nov 2007)
- 2005: Vetoed availability without Rx of morning-after pill. (Aug 2007)
- Defining mistake: supported abortion law despite opposing it. (Aug 2007)
- Would welcome overturning Roe v. Wade. (Mar 2007)
- Committed to not change law on abortion as Gov., and did not. (Mar 2007)
- Opposes Roe v Wade, but won’t tamper with abortion laws. (Dec 2006)
- Vetoed emergency contraception for rape victims. (Jul 2005)
- Endorsed legalization of RU-486/ the abortion pill. (Mar 2002)
It seems that with Obama, there’s some consistency in his voting record. But Romney’s voting record is not.
Some argue that politicians should never have been involved in the legislating women’s health care issues. I suppose in the light of Todd Akin's recent remark stating that pregnancy rarely results from "legitimate rape" is exactly why. But the fact is, even though women’s reproductive rights (intertwined with religion) may have no place in politics, it seems to be taking center stage.
So don’t get distracted by the argument that men are under women’s skirts making all the policies. Women have a strong voice and can vote to make the impact they want. Now is the time.
Fenella Das Gupta is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist ( #47275) working in Northern California,specializing in fertility counseling. She works with individuals and couples as they make their way through the fertility maze
And I don't "sustain" from the government. My government is there to provide the infrastructure (roads, hospitals, etc.), and protect me from idiots like you (law). You are confusing sustenance from self provision. My mouth doesn't grow food. neither does my hand or brain. but working together I can feed myself. Grocery stores are a business, created by people. They aren't the government. the government doesn't sell us food, and my grocery store doesn't make roads. See? its easy to keep track of if you pay attention. My government creates opportunity for a store to exist. When Obama spoke about how roads and fire stations and those things - how the businesses "didn't build that".. that was what he was referring to. Infrastructure creates the opportunity for you and i to start a business that (with any luck) satisfies a need. Now, back to your logic: Help from others is what we lack. not ENTITLEMENT - not what someone OWES US - but what we owe ourselves as good citizens and responsible humans. care for each other - don't expect someone else to do it for you. if you see a hungry 2 yr old with an open hand - try offering them some food. And if you see a 15 yo having unprotected sex - try offering them an alternative to bringing another unwanted child into the world.
Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008) He approved the law in 2009: http://bit.ly/NF0gM5 Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008) After allowing for exceptions for family-member rape, he approved, and this bill was approved in 2008. Voted YES on research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007) Yesterday scientists were able to grow a horse's jawbone back from its own tissue after illness. I'm diabetic, like millions of Americans, and I hope to one day be able to repair my pancreas from stem cells. Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005) He was a principal effort behind later legislation towards this effort, and continues with Michelle to be a powerful advocate for pregnancy and contraceptive education. Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. (May 2006) What the hell do you think is wrong about that??! Want more children being born to poor people? Rated 0 percent by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006) News: Life is not a right. and nobody really cares what the NRLC thinks. Their leadership has fallen apart since it was the ACCL - when it was formed in response to Roe v. Wade. When it became a lobby-tool for evangelicals to define birth, they jumped the shark. Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007) Wait - whic way do you want it?!
Ya, nobody ever dies in the name of religion. Oh, except every major war since time began. advice: grab a newspaper, read about the Middle East. And then tell me that faith and reason don't kill people. I can't actually believe that you typed that. It affirms what others have said here - you're just trying to provoke. You have no consistent POV, and most of the time you don't even make sense.
How many people that feel that a woman's choice is her own has blown up a clinic? exactly. There is no equality in how the two sides of the argument behave. Right to life folks blow things up, kill doctors, out patients.. they are extremists - and among the largest domestic group that is actively monitored by the FBI. (http://bit.ly/NF4Xpc) People that resort to killing to communicate their point are called: Terrorists. Pro choice people? have control of their bodies. Nothing more.
NONE of our laws are based on the premise of life as a right - our Declaration of Independence was. The Constitution rather was more specific to keeping god and other faith-influenced decisions OUT of government. I think it refers to something like "secure the Blessings of Liberty"...? You sound like you're confused with the "Right to Exist" - a creation of Thomas Payne's as he differentiated between a human being and a government (Where was he when Citizens United went to the SC?!) So the Declaration of Independence says you have a right to live. Great. What if I'm not an American? Is it up to each nation to decide who has a right to live? Or if I'm from another country - do I have to follow your law? What about MY countries laws? Let's say it's illegal in my country to kill a cow. Are all my laws are centered on the cows right to life? You're like a little child that runs to mommy's skirt when something requiring independent thought occurs. Things are complicated, and there are usually more than one "right" answer. The simple answer: Do your thing so long as it doesn't affect me. I'll do the same, 'k?
But, I kinda had to speak out about this one... I am a veteran of two wars. My father two, grandfather three. I don't "Fly a flag 24/7" because I don't question my patriotism, nor does anyone I know. I own two flags - the first flown above the US Capitol on the day my son was born. The other, a memorial flag that once covered my grandfathers coffin. Don't even start to tell me why we are at war in the Middle East. Aside from being a veteran, I am also Jewish. And not the "Jews are always right" kind. But if you think that we are at war so that we can "be on here in the middle of the day and debate someone" you are dangerously stupid, woefully uninformed, and at best obsequious to the polarizing voices of our time. You honestly believe that Faith and reason don't cause murder and war... You're absolutely clueless. Or just stirring the pot.
So stop creating these extended scenarious - if the child was in a room alone and the door locked and all but one window faces south, and the birds are in the elm tree and the doorknobs were greased, THEN but THEN you can make your feeble point. Look. Its simple. You are a right to lifer living in N cal. A minority, so instead of simply understanding that your vewpoint is 1) misinformed by s-c-i-e-n-c-e (its what describes how the world works - not just if enough people agree with you its reality) and b) so narrow and poorly supported that you resort to other people's ideas in place of your own. You jave no original thought. You have no contribution. You are noise.
get up off the floor, off of your back, and stop pretending someone is hurting you. If your ideas and opinions don't stand in the public forum, your not so much the rhetor you think you are.
".... it is much much too easy to seek revenge on people. Just a bit of advice for you since you seem to think you are made of steel...." That's called a veiled threat, and is actually prosecutable. Let me make this simple for you. My Name is Doug Strickland. My email address is strickland.house@gmail.com My phone number is 415-684-8737. Call me and I will give you my physical address (or look it up online) and any other information that you need. If you prefer, search for business' under my name - they have everything from contact info to photographs. But let me be super clear about this: If you tell me again the risk that I am in by arguing with you, I am reporting you to the police. No threats, no dangers around hidden ip addresses. Real simple. Break the law, and I will have you arrested. That is your final warning.
It is disingenuous for you to suggest that women's reproductive rights are not a huge issue because Roe v Wade is in the hands of the Supreme Court Justices because: 1) The next President will select new Justices -- how much longer do you think Ginsberg will be able to serve? 2) The GOP has a plank in their platform outlawing all abortion --- even in cases of incest, rape, and life of the mother. 3) The GOP and Mitt Romney have explicitly targeted Planned Parenthood for defunding, eliminating the ACA, and consider most forms of birth control abortions because they either keep the fetus from implanting in the uterus. I think they are OK with condoms and the rhythm method. 4) You indicate that "the role of government in our lives" is your 3rd concern. If you're pregnant with a child you can't afford for whatever reason....the GOP is going to compel you to carry it to term and then you're on your own. Have any members of the GOP considered not how bad things still are in this country but how much better off we are than Europe, that in spite of the obstructionist tactics of the Tea Party how much Obama and the Democrats have accomplished, and that if only they'd cooperated a little bit how much better off we would all be?
Do I need to say anything else? When he is faced with a real question, he starts making threats and calling people names (I believe he called me an 'illegitimate primate', which, when asked for a definition of that interesting combination of words, he threw some other nonsense at me). Doug - please be careful - it appears Right may not only think he is always right, but when people tell him he is not Right, he could potentially have a pretty bad temper.
PLEASE, refrain from threats, bad mouthing each other and stick to the issue. We are not children. Fenella
I don't understand why the same kind of rich dialogue can't be had in the public forum. I realize that there are always the users like Right, who essentially was just trying to inflame and polarize, but how do we elevate the dialogue - the meaningful exchange of values and ideas - to bring some of the vitriol, hate, and fear out of the discussion? I believe that it comes down to a fundamental difference that has little to do with the Issues of an infant being brought into the world, and much more to do with personhood (as suggested by Henry) and the religious rights intention to run the government through narrow moralistic ideals. But I'd love to hear from people that disagree with me :)
You bring up a very important point, namely, the majority of women do not make the decision to have an abortion lightly. Most women do not forget this experience and MANY tears are often shed, sometimes for many years following. As a specialist in this area, I have yet to sit with someone who has not experienced agony over what to do. But let us not forget the other side for a moment- Are there women that use it as a form of birth control? Yes, it has certainly been the case that SOME women, ( in my experience, those in their early twenties- younger psychologically) have " used" abortion to selfish means. BUT these women do not form the majority.
Anyone but Obama or Romney 2012!
Until that happens, they're just trying to own our bodies, and the rest is just smoke.
www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Tennessees-deadbeat-dads-The-men-81-chil... Jun 14, 2012 – Tennessee's deadbeat dads: The three men who have fathered 78 children with 46 different women... and they're not paying child support to