Women pregnant from rape are no more deserving of access to safe, legal abortion

[cali]

than those who become pregnant through consensual sex.

With all the emphasis on the small number of women who become pregnant from being raped, I worry that we're marginalizing women who seek an abortion for all the other reasons.

All women are entitled to access to safe, legal abortion services.

[RainDog]

1. Exactly n/t

[MAD Dave]

2. My personal view on abortion is irrelevant!

All women should have access to affordable contraception and abortion services. It is a simple equality issue - Women must have the choice to bear children.

[deadbrokediva]

3. It gets on my nerves too

when everyone points out these insidious "exceptions" to abortion. Either we own or bodies outright or we rent them out to the fucking government on a "need" basis - which is it going to be, ladies?

I'd like to think that one of the reasons people like Rachel Maddow (who I love) continues to push the exception bit is to point out just how vile and misogynistic these assholes like Akin, Ryan, Mourdock, and all the other scum like them are when it comes to respecting women. Which is a big fat ZERO.

[classof56]

8. Well said--and welcome to DU!

A lot of battles were fought for women's rights that I never anticipated we would fight again. Those of us who lived through the pre-Roe v Wade days know what's at stake and we will not let the likes of Akin, Ryan, Mourdock, etc. prevail. If they can't respect us, let them fear us!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

[CitizenPatriot]

14. She pushes that because this is the first time

since Roe v Wade that Democrats have been on the mainstream side of the issue not playing defense. Ever since RvW, Republicans have been pushing back with the morality angle. When confronted with exceptions, even mainstream America balks. I agree with you that it's an issue of freedom, but this is a good way to peel off the independent voters. If discussed properly, it also highlights the personal part of the decision, which can be broadened out to all abortion/health issues.

Politically it's smart, but I agree that it irks me to hear it over and over again instead of hearing that it's a matter of personal liberty. Frankly I can't believe we even have to have these discussions anymore. state mandated birth for God? Really, America?

[Motown_Johnny]

4. It is simply a wedge used to split the anti choice crowd.

We all agree with you but we need to get people who don't agree with you/us to vote as if they did.

[redqueen]

19. That is a very good point.

But, still

[WinkyDink]

5. Like the old "donkey" joke: First, you get its attention.

[mgardener]

6. republican rape panels

yes.
We need to drive the argument and not constantly respond to these religious people.
Their argument is religious based and has no place in our country.
We also nee to make sure they do not touch women's access to contraceptives.

If they do get elected, then what will they have, rape panels? Women will have to prove rape?
Good God, how can women refuse to believe that the republicans are not declaring war on women?

[Sadiedog]

7. Yes

[handsomebwonderful]

9. Absolutely right

I'm so tired and angered by "what about rape?" questions. The question of "why only rape" is never asked, to hear it in their own words; however we know it is fueled by anti-women belief, where only good, married women have sex.

Further, if one believes in exceptions for rape, think of the problems that could arise from that. What is the rapist says it was consensual? (And hey, what if it's your wife or daughter?) But they probably wouldn't bother anwering "hypotheticals" like these.

[CitizenPatriot]

16. That's the whole reason why Republicans have been

redefining rape over the past 2 years. It's the basis for "legitimate rape" because no woman will be able to prove she was raped, and therefor they can deny her an abortion.

This is already a problem for low income women who need an abortion after being raped, records show that they can't prove they were raped and they give up trying to get the funds due to the restrictive proof needed. This assault has been going on for years, it's just getting press now. They have also already come for contraception (personhood amendment and obamacare "religious liberty" etc) and Romney wants to defund PP.

[SCVDem]

10. We cannot fight for womens rights overseas

while we legislate them away at home!

This cannot stand!

[Doodler71]

28. May I have your permission to use that on twitter? (Nt)

[SCVDem]

29. Please do. nt

[redqueen]

11. Hell, the Dem party platform makes me worry that we're marginalizing women, full stop.

All that wording about how it's an 'intensely' personal between her (and her family, and her doctor, and her clergy)... wtf?

How is that personal anymore? If her family members, her doctor, and her clergy are already invited (by other people!) to 'help' her decide, well why not politicians and the government, too?

[leftstreet]

13. +1

Very nicely stated

[PeaceNikki]

12. agreed.

[morningfog]

15. It just shows how far right the debate has moved.

[EC]

17. I think

it shouldn't even stop at abortion. I think we should be telling these men to stay out of our health care, period. No one is telling them which health services men can or cannot have. They are attempting more than just stopping abortion rights. For whatever reason they want to take away the very idea of a right to privacy, as in Connecticut vs Griswold (the pill and privacy)...that is what decided our right to abortion - a woman's right to privacy. So it wouldn't be just abortion rights they'd overturn - it would be our rights to privacy, which in turn will give the state a right to rule our lives.

We should be framing this as a privacy matter and a responsibility for our own health matter.

[PeaceNikki]

18. exactly. women on birth control for medical reasons are no more entitled than those

Who take it to prevent pregnancy

[redqueen]

20. Excellent idea.

How many other health issues would people like the radical right to get involved in?

[justiceischeap]

21. This is exactly what the GOP wants us doing

If we all are in agreement that "abortion should only be for victims of rape or incest" then we aren't talking about that abortion is legal in ALL instances. They are winning the battle of framing this discussion and we must stop it now. It's like the anti-choice/pro-life discussion. By saying pro-life it intimates that pro-choice people are also pro-death.

So, though we should continue to have the discussion about these idiotic remarks, we also need to continue stating that all abortions are legal and should stay that way.

[SalviaBlue]

22. Agree.

All women are entitled to decide for themselves.

[gollygee]

23. Women own their bodies

and get to decide what to do with them. All of them.

[Grammy23]

24. I think that any woman facing an unintended pregnancy should have the choice of

whether to continue the pregnancy or not. However, people who believe that there are NO exceptions to allowing abortion are firm in their beliefs, too. Many of them base it on FAITH which is a powerful motivator for them. The whole subject is laden with emotion and, for many of them, is reinforced by a faith that they have practiced since childhood. In addition, many of them have ZERO capacity for thinking critically. So how do you get through to them to even begin the conversation of why individual CHOICE should be the law of the land?

You have to approach the subject with an equally powerful emotional argument to get past all the walls they have built up to deflect anything that conflicts with their view of the world and how it SHOULD be. It is when you bring a situation like pregnancy as a result of rape that you may begin to have a starting point for them. You have to demonstrate to them that it is possible that there might be a situation that IS the exception for when abortion might be allowable.

Once you get them accustomed to the idea that we do not live in a black and white world, one rule applies to all, then you might have a chance to suggest that CHOICE for the individual is the LOGICAL path. But you cannot do that until you've knocked down some of their barriers to this argument.

I know that some would go straight to the argument that CHOICE is the best path, but if you're failing to get them to hear you, your words are wasted and sometimes only reinforce the very beliefs you are asking them to question.

And finally, if you can convince them there really are exceptions to the rule of no abortions---period----then you can move on to the idea that CHOICE in all situations should be the law of the land.

[cali]

27. wong as could possibly be.

buying into the right wing frame is a losing proposition- and we should know that by now.

[SidDithers]

25. "All women are entitled to access to safe, legal abortion services."...

Abso-freakin-lutely.



Sid

[AzDar]

26. Bravo!