Tag: Barack Obama

As expected, the Uruguayan President vetoed legislation that would have decriminalized abortion for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, which passed in parliament last week, despite a majority of citizens supporting legalized abortion: (via BBC).  

Abortion provider Merle Hoffman writes that abortion clinics around the nation should be on heightened alert for clinic violence during the Obama administration since anti-abortion activists may feel powerless and turn to more violent action, which she believes is the reason the Clinton administration saw the most clinic violence in history: (via RH Reality Check).

RH Reality Check writer Lynne Glassner believes Senate majority leader Harry Reid is keeping the Congressional session open to prevent President Bush from making last minute federal judge appointments.

Statistics like 1 in 3 Australian boys think it is ok to hit a girl and one-third of sophomore-aged high school girls have experienced unwanted sex are among many disturbing facts about violence found in a recently released large-scale study in Australia: (via News.com).

A recently released radio ad by the Obama campaign on John McCain's position on abortion: (via CBS News).

In a syndicated column appearing the Seattle PI, writer Bonnie Erbe questions Sarah Palin's policies on sex education and her ability to separate church and state, as well as wondering if she was properly vetted by the McCain campaign.

An alarmingly high rate of C-sections in Washington state has prompted other problems to arise with the health care of pregnant women, specifically if a woman has one C-section she may be forced to have another during her next pregnancy, whether she wants to or not: (via Seattle PI).

Cindy McCain disagrees with VP candidate Sarah Palin on abortion and abstinence-only sex education, claiming to support abortion for rape and incest victims and comprehensive sex education: (via the Olympian).

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington has issued a press release criticizing the clear anti-choice politics of John McCain and his recently selected running mate, Sarah Palin: (via ProChoiceWashington.org).

Barack Obama gave a historical speech last night at Invesco stadium in Denver, Colorado accepting the Democratic nomination for President, briefly touching on reproductive issues by stating that while all Americans may not agree on abortion, we can all support reducing unwanted pregnancy: (via TPM Election Central).

Mexico City's law allowing abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is upheld by the Supreme Court of Mexico. In a statement for the majority, Justice Genaro Gongora Pimentel said, "Human rights systems cannot require states to defend a right to life from conception. It would mean imposing ideologies and subjective values that could sacrifice other rights that are fully identifiable.": (via LA Times).

The New York Times Editorial Board sees Lily Ledbetter as a crucial campaign tool for Obama, being that McCain voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and equal pay for equal work may be a big drive for women voters this November.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has appointed anti-choice justice Charles T. Canady to the Florida Supreme Court, one of four justices the governor will be able to appoint: (via the New York Times).

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, spoke at the DNC last night discussing why John McCain is a dangerous anti-choice candidate and Barack Obama will protect women's rights: (via Women's Health News).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not backing away from comments she made about the Catholic Church's historical disagreement on when life begins, despite contrary responses by Catholic officials: (via The News Tribune).

The new Massachusetts law that prevents anti-choice activists from protesting within 35 feet of abortion clinics was upheld as constitutional by a federal judge: (via Boston Herald).

Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry and 12 other anti-choice protesters were arrested yesterday after blocking a security entrance near the Democratic National Convention: (via Bellingham Herald).

New York Times Op-Ed contributor and former Joseph Biden intern discusses the senator's experience during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, and how Biden was intent on focusing on the nominee's judicial philosophy and not their private lives: (via the New York Times).

Anti-choice Pennsylvania senator Bob Casey Jr. spoke at the DNC last night saying that despite differences in abortion policy, he supports Barack Obama because Obama respects differing opinions and more importantly will work to change failed Bush administration policies: (via the New York Times).

The New York Times recaps speeches given by prominent convention speakers and includes a quote by Nancy Keenan on John McCain's pledge to elect Supreme Court justices that will overturn Roe v. Wade.

Democrats adopted a new party platform yesterday at the convention that "strongly and unequivocally" supports abortion rights and aims to ensure all women the care they need during pregnancy: (via Philly.com).

In contrast, the Republicans debating their party platform intend to strengthen support for a constitutional ban on abortion: (via Seattle P-I).

A guest columnist to the Seattle P-I expounds reasons why Washingtonians ought to vote for Initiative 1000 (Death with Dignity), saying ideals of democracy and self-determination are reasons to support this initiative.

Anti-choice advocate Jill Staneck has been getting a lot of air-time over her false claim that Barack Obama supports infanticide, but this Media Matters piece exposes Staneck's extremist and discredited views on reproductive rights: (via Media Matters).

RH Reality Check blogger Marjorie Signer says democrats at the DNC can be both pro-faith and pro-choice and should be stressing the need for a pro-choice candidate because the next president will likely appoint Supreme Court justices who may have the opportunity to uphold or overturn Roe v. Wade.

John McCain Is No Choice for Women!

John McCain has an alarming history of disrespecting women and their contributions to society. He's violently opposed to womens' reproductive freedom, has voted against women's access to health care, and has repeatedly opposed women receiving equal pay for equal work. None of us can afford to vote for a person like John McCain, who shows such utter disrespect for women.

John McCain Opposes A Woman's Right to Choose

John McCain clearly opposes a woman's right to choose. John McCain would appoint Supreme Court Justices who would overturn Roe vs. Wade, and support radical religious extremists' efforts to ban birth control. Meanwhile, Barack Obama strongly supports a woman's right to choose, a position shared by a majority of Americans.

Drew Westen writes a piece for the Huffington Post giving Obama some advice on how to address the abortion issue with more conservative audiences by stressing the need for religious freedom and less government intrusion.
Although Amie Newman of RH Reality Check criticizes Westen for framing the issue by using some anti-choice language which reinforces anti-choice messages.

Melissa McKwan of the Guardian analyzes the studies used to support the American Psychological Association's findings on the mental health implications of abortion and comments on the many reasons women may or may not feel "mental distress" after an abortion.

A memo released by the Obama campaign outlines John McCain's "woman problem", citing his lower approval rating by women and showing the numerous ways McCain's policies are anti-woman.

A Census Bureau report finds women are waiting longer to have children and many more are choosing not to have kids at all, though demographic factors such as education level and ethnicity make a big difference.

A New York Times piece points out that Obama's pro-choice stance may drive away some Catholic voters, but that other issues Obama supports, such as ending the Vatican-opposed Iraq war and more support for immigrants and the poor, may be reasons for Catholics to vote for Obama.

The Stranger provides a comically charged endorsement list for the August 19th primary, supporting NARAL Pro-Choice Washington endorsed candidates such as Gov. Gregoire, Darcy Burner, and John Ladenburg among many others.

RH Reality Check blogger Elisha Dunn-Georgiou is concerned that the conscience clause included in Bush's reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) codifies discrimination by allowing for U.S. funded organizations to opt out of providing "care" for any person they find morally objectionable.

Several Latin American and Caribbean countries met prior to the Mexico City International Conference on AIDS to discuss a health and education plan that would include comprehensive sex education as national policy in order to reduce HIV/AIDS infections: (via RH Reality Check).

A district attorney in Alabama is attempting to use a law designed to prosecute parents with meth labs in their homes to charge pregnant women with child endangerment if they test positive for drugs, which opponents fear may prevent women from getting prenatal care if they believe they will be prosecuted: (via AP/Google).

The Seattle P-I sums up some of the latest polls in Washington state political races, including a new Elway poll that puts NARAL endorsed Gov. Chris Gregoire 16-points ahead of challenger Dino Rossi.

An RH Reality Check article is critical of the Department of Defense's policies in regards to sexual assault victims in the military, but offers advice on how to increase prevention and improve treatment of such crimes.

RH Reality Check discusses the maternal mortality rates in several Latin American countries, noting Colombia's recent improvements for maternal mortality, but also how illegal abortions in Colombia lead to serious health consequences for many women.

Amanda Marcotte writes about the anti-choice movement's attempts to reduce access to contraception by using the same strategies employed to chip away at abortion rights, and how complacency on the pro-choice side could lead to devastating consequences for rural and low-income women's access to birth control: (via RH Reality Check).

The Christian Science Monitor breaks down the kind of communities more likely to support abortion access, and how those are battleground areas which Obama needs and will likely find support.

A Justice Department report finds that Civil Service laws were broken by senior aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales when qualified applicants were denied nonpartisan positions due to their supposed liberal beliefs, learned, in part, by aides using internet searches with words such as "abortion" and "homosexual": (via The New York Times).

RH Reality Check provides a nice round-up on McCain's anti-woman positions, including a Keith Olbermann report on his off-color jokes and articles on his anti-birth control and abortion stances.

The New Mexico Independent covers more in-depth the story of three NARAL volunteers denied entry to a John McCain town hall meeting in Albuquerque and states that the activists intended to ask McCain a question relating to his recently scrutinized position on birth control.

The Seattle P-I published an opinion piece on the dangers of Colorado's proposed "Human Life Amendment" which would establish a fertilized egg the same legal rights as a human being.

Judith Warner writes that despite John McCain's attempts to persuade women voters he supports their issues his voting record shows strong evidence to the contrary.

Politico.com covers an increasing trend of Obama followers who define themselves as "spiritual" and also pro-choice, incorporating their faith with progressive positions on abortion and sex education.

Susan Wood discusses the serious flaws of the Bush Administration's proposed HHS rule to define some contraception as abortion and the dangerous implications that follow.

Starting today, doctors in South Dakota will be forced to tell women seeking an abortion the procedure "will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being", and that abortion may cause them psychological harm, including thoughts of suicide: (via The News Tribune).

This action flies in the face of sanity in that the pro-choice movement is seen as stabbing its friends in the back...a friend named Hillary Clinton.

Their action created a firestorm last night on the NARAL Blog and many others have come forward to disagree vehemently with NARAL's ill-chosen action.

Abortion providers have alot to thank the Clintons for, as the Clinton administration did everything it their power to protect abortion rights and use their Justice Department under Janet Reno to protect the lives of providers.