South Dakota Becomes Abortion Focal Point
From The Washington Post:
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Kayla Brandt had an abortion three years ago and instantly hated having done it. Now, hoping to stop other women from making the same choice, she is a public advocate for the most severe abortion ban in the nation.My Comments:
"I don't want anyone to feel what I did," Brandt says.
Maria Bell is a Sioux Falls obstetrician-gynecologist who also joined the political fray for the first time, but on the opposite side. Appalled by the attempt to shut the state's only abortion clinic, she says she would not be able to live with herself unless she worked to overturn the law.
"To think passing a law will stop abortion is incredibly naive," Bell said.
South Dakota is the unlikely home of this year's most intense duel over abortion, a Nov. 7 referendum to decide the future of HB 1215, a measure that would institute a broad ban on the procedure. No exceptions would be allowed for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest -- abortion would be permitted only when the mother's life is in jeopardy.
Partisans across the nation are delivering money and tactical advice on an issue that has divided residents of the state. South Dakota's fight could be a harbinger of political battles across the country should the Supreme Court strike down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
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"... hoping to stop other women from making the same choice ..."
No bias at all exhibited in the Post's decision to utilize the abortion advocates' "word of choice" [pun intended] right there in the opening paragraph.
Funny, but the only time the author of the piece mentions the word "life" is in reference to abortions being allowed in S.D. where the mother's life is in jeopardy.
Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Poll: South Dakota Voters Against Abortion Ban
Move to Overturn S.D. Abortion Ban Gains Ground
The GOP's Abortion Anxiety - Why GOP Leaders Worry About Pro-Life Wins
Why Abortion Bans May Not Be the Answer Now - Clarke Forsythe on Judicial Strategies
A Strong Argument in Favor of the South Dakota Abortion Ban
Justice Scalia Agrees with Former Mayor of Columbia, VA on Roe v. Wade
South Dakota Abortion Ban Becomes Law
Joseph Bottum: South Dakota Anti-Abortion Legislation a "Tactical Error"
Fidelis Urges South Dakota Governor to Protect Women and Sign Abortion Ban
Bill Introduced to "Stop Abortion in Ohio"
South Dakota Passes Abortion Ban
posted by Pro Ecclesia 7:59 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Prediction: the voters of South Dakota will overwhelmingly support this law.
Let's pray so.
I was originally against the SD legislature enacting this ban (see the links at the bottom of my post for my reasoning). But now that it is law, it needs to be fought for.
The SD vote seems like a no-win situation to me. Either one of the most pro-life states in the nation popularly votes down an abortion ban, which would be crushing for the movement, or else it goes to the Supreme Court before we have even a potential majority to overturn Roe and the Supreme Court will reaffirm Roe for another 15-20 years.
It's looking less and less likely that there will be a liberal vacancy before 2008 and even if we do, it is iffy that the GOP will keep control of the senate. Even if it does, losing even a few seats could put the nuclear option out of the question, which means it will be much harder to get a decent nominee through even if there is a vacancy.
Also, I would feel a lot more comfortable with Roberts if they had a chance to take several good whacks at Roe before revisiting in toto. He seems more inclined to take a bad precedent apart piece by piece than all at once.
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