Republicans–at state and Federal levels–hate welfare for mothers too poor to support their families.
But they love fetuses.
And to make sure there are plenty of them available, Republicans have launched an all-out war against a woman’s right to abortion–and even birth control.
On June 13, 2012,, the Michigan House of Representatives, by a 70-39 vote, approved sweeping legislation to add regulations and restrictions to abortion practices in the state.
Specifically, the omnibus bill:
- Criminalizes all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- No exceptions are made for rape victims, the health of the woman or in cases where there is a severe fetal anomaly.
- Permits a narrow exception when a doctor determines that the mother’s life is at risk.
- Requires health centers that provide abortions to have surgery rooms, even when they don’t provide surgical abortions.
- Requires doctors to be present for medication abortions and to screen women for “coercion” before providing an abortion.
- Creates new regulations for the disposal of fetal remains.
- Bans “telemedicine” abortions, or the use of technology to prescribe medication for abortion services and the morning-after pill.
The Michigan State Senate hasn’t yet ruled on the measure, though it is expected to ultimately approve it.
Republicans not only oppose abortion, they oppose free speech when this is used to defend a woman’s right to reproductive freedom.
During debate on the above-mentioned bill in June, Michigan House members Lisa Brown and Barb Byrum were forbidden to speak on the House floor about this legislation.
The women were silenced based on a trumped-up charge of “lack of decorum” after Brown told her colleagues, “I’m flattered you’re all so concerned about my vagina, but no means no.”
On August 19, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) justified his opposition to abortion by claiming that victims of “legitimate rape” rarely get pregnant.
“From what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.
“But let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist, and not attacking the child,” said the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate from Missouri.
“Don’t worry, Wonder Woman. You can’t get pregnant if it’s legitimate rape.”
Earlier, on August 8, he had said during a radio interview: “As far as I’m concerned, the morning-after pill is a form of abortion, and I think we just shouldn’t have abortion in this country.”
On November 6, “Mr. Legitimate Rape” lost to Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill.
Nine days later, on August 28, the official Republican platform demanded a total ban on abortions when the party assembled to nominate Mitt Romney as its Presidential candidate in Tampa.
Specifically, the platform:
- Stated that “the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.”
- Called for the passage of a Human Life Amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade and thus ban all abortions.
- Supported “the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.”
- Opposed using public revenues to promote or perform abortion.
- Opposed funding organizations that perform or advocate abortions.
- Stated that the party will not fund or subsidize health care that includes abortion coverage.
On October 18, Rep. Joe Walsh, (R-IL) running for the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinoi against Democrat Tammy Duckworth, said that abortions should not be allowed even when the mother’s life is at risk because of advances in medicine.
“This is an issue that opponents of life throw out there to make us look unreasonable,” Walsh told reporters about the “saving-the-life-of-the-mother” exception.
“There’s no such exception as life of the mother. And as far as health of the mother, same thing. With advances in science and technology,” he said that it’s almost impossible for a woman to need an abortion to save her life.
“Health of the mother has become a tool for abortions anytime under any reason.”
Walsh had been sued by his ex-wife, Laura, who claimed he owed more than $100,000 in overdue child support and interest.
On November 6, Tammy Duckworth defeated Walsh 55%-45%.
Yet another Republican to embrace the fetus fanatics cause was Richard Mourdock, the Indiana state treasurer who pined to be that state’s U.S. Senator.
On October 23, he declared: “The only exception I have to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God.
“I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
Mourdock was defeated at the polls on November 6.
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, both supported abortion rights–and demanded their repeal.
During his 2002 campaign for Governor of famously liberal Massachusetts, he promised to “preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose.”
But as a Presidential candidate in 2012, he had to appeal to a different–and fascistic–constituency. So he supported a “Human Life Amendment” to overturn Roe v. Wade and promised to “get rid of” Planned Parenthood.
