House Democrats Seek Moderate Ground on Abortion

[schonste]

Democratic House members from both sides of the abortion debate are introducing legislation aimed at trying to reduce the number of abortions around the country.

Introduced by Representatives Tim Ryan of Ohio, who is anti-abortion, and Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who is for abortion rights, the bill would, among other aspects, increase access to

Comments

[asoneill]

Family Research Council, have sharply criticized the bill.

Well yes. I imagine they wouldn't, because the bill tries to be all logical and compromise-y, and doesn't say "Abortions are evil and totally illegal and any woman who would get them just needs to shut her legs and mouth, and get back in the kitchen to start working on our pie!"

*headdesk*

[asoneill]

From the perspective that it's got anti-abortion and pro-choice co-sponsors, is backed by leaders from both sides of the debate, and tries to reduce abortions not by making them illegal, but by increasing sex ed, access to contraception, and health care coverage to expectant mothers. I call that a compromise, or the start of one. My opinion, of course.

Edited to add:
Basically, I see it as people from both sides realizing that the best way to curb abortion numbers is not by making abortion illegal, but by dealing with the issue of pregnancy prevention in the first place.

[j_daisy]

If only there were a word such as "compromising." That's ok, asoneill, everyone has those days.

[happythree]

Obama's abortion stances (as well as Rahm's) are, going off their stances when they were in the legislature, always with consideration to the rights of the mother. And if the Family Research Council is complaining and Republicans are offering no support it's usually a good thing where abortion rights are concerned. It sounds like the changes made to make the bill 'open for support from all quarters' are useful, really, considering the state of sex ed.

[queenweasley]

Introduced by Representatives Tim Ryan of Ohio, who is anti-abortion, and Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who is for abortion rights, the bill would, among other aspects, increase access to contraceptives for low-income women and expand adoption programs.

This reminds me of one of the times I was discussing contraceptives with one of my Republican friends. I said that I wished more insurance companies would cover the pill. He said, "I dunno, I think that would just encourage women to be promiscuous."

...........................................WHAT?

[ragnor144]

I add a double WHAT!? that this implies that sex and birth control are only women's problems.

[modelrockets]

Haha I love this argument. Because people are totally always like, "Well, birth control is pretty expensive, so I think I'll wait until marriage!!" Yeah, no.

[nothingmuch]

Yeah this is why our teen pregnancy rate in the US is the lowest in the developed world, right??

OH WAIT NO IT'S ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST.

[ragnor144]

I hope Ryan's career doesn't take a big hit over this. Rational approaches should be encouraged, but if he goes down in flames, what other Republican is going to try anything like this?

[schonste]

Ryan's a Democrat.

[ragnor144]

Oops. Still, anyone who is openly anti-abortion is risking his career on something like this.

[nothingmuch]

He was kicked out of Democrats for Life for supporting birth control.

[modelrockets]

This sounds pretty decent, actually.

This “proposal is fraught with funding for abortion providers and provisions that further encourage promiscuous sex and discourage parental involvement,” Mr. Perkins said in a statement.

...You just don't get it, do you?