Dem Congressman Announces Change Of Heart On Abortion

[ashling]

Ryan said he has talked to women throughout Ohio about their experiences with pregnancy and motherhood, leading him to support pro-choice policies.

"These women gave me a better understanding of how complex and difficult certain situations can become. And while there are people of good conscience on both sides of this argument, one thing has become abundantly clear to me: the heavy hand of government must not make this decision for women and families," he wrote in the Akron Beacon Journal.

The congressman noted that he was raised Catholic and held pro-life beliefs from a young age, but he said that he can no longer support legislation banning abortion.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tim-ryan-pro-choice

[Autumn]

1. Well bless his little heart.

I can't imagine any Democrat EVER supporting any legislation banning abortion.

[CTyankee]

2. It sounds to me like he went through a process, starting with listening to women.

Since he was open to that, he found out that simple truth the pro-choice movement has always stressed: women are moral agents and can make these decisions themselves and that it isn't always an easy decision (tho for some women it is easier than for others).

The first step was listening to women and he did...

[jeff47]

5. I think the process was much shorter

"How many Democrats in the exit poll were anti-abortion?"

[CTyankee]

7. sometimes it takes a good kick in the pants, too

[Orsino]

17. But he started with the political position...

...that seemed safe, then allegedly began listening to women only in recent years, "evolving" as his new-found principled stance looks politically expedient. He's a weasel, and his evolution is bullshit.

Hope his sudden lip service to women's rights doesn't come too late. I hope he'll actually work in accordance with his stated position, and actually accomplish something.

Until then, he remains a weasel.

[CanonRay]

3. That story makes this a good day.

[Ilsa]

4. So we need to drag anti-choice troglodytes

to support groups explaining why their idea of big govt controlling every woman's uterus is a bad idea. But I doubt they'd be open-minded. It is not in the nature of a conservative to be openminded.

[JaneyVee]

6. Gee, who woulda thought, listening to women?

[Brickbat]

8. Kudos for him to actually listening. Too bad listening to women is news.

[JDPriestly]

9. Seems to me that if God trusts a woman with a pregnancy, He also trusts her to know when she

can handle the pregnancy and maybe the baby. Abortion is between a woman and her conscience. And carrying the baby to term is not always the conscientious thing to do.

[Oldtimeralso]

10. I wish my Dino congressman...

would at least read this (D. Lipinski). As Congressman Ryan, Lipinski was raised Catholic and inherited his seat from his father (William "Bill" Lipinski).

[mountain grammy]

11. I always get flack when I say this, but men have no business in women's business.

When one of my son's went through a short Republican phase and started making noise about abortion restrictions, I told him to not speak of the issue, it would never be his problem and was none of his business. He was quite insulted (as was I by his position) and started babbling about father's rights when I left the room. I pretty much stopped speaking to him until he came to his senses.

Men who want to control women's lives should be ostracized by all of us. Cut them off, to hell with talking to them.
What do I have to do, grovel to the guy? Oh please, please, let me make my own decisions. Fuck that shit.

[hifiguy]

12. ^This^

Speaking as a male, I couldn't agree with you more.

[riqster]

15. As a guy, I firmly believe that I have no rights in this matter.

And unless/until men can get pregnant, we never should have a voice when it comes to abortion.

[Snow Leopard]

16. agreed

as long as in negating his desires, he doesn't have to pay for it

[Wounded Bear]

13. Bottom line...

Believe anything you want, and act accordingly in your own life.

But DON'T force your beliefs on others.

[AtomicKitten]

14. Welcome to the light, Tim.