Roundup: Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Touts Pro-Choice Position
August 11, 2009 - 9:56am (Print)
Abortion rights-related rhetoric is heating up in the Virginia gubernatorial race, reports the Washington Post. "Surrounded by female activists and lawmakers, Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds on Monday launched an assault on his opponent's record of working to restrict abortions, calling it evidence that the Republican has the wrong priorities for the state." The Post observes that Deeds's democratic predecessors, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, did not elevate abortion rights as an issue in their campaigns. Deeds's Republican challenger, Robert F. McDonnell, initiated a number of abortion restrictions while he was a delegate from Virginia Beach; reports the Post, "While in the General Assembly, McDonnell successfully sponsored bills banning late-term abortions, requiring a 24-hour waiting period before the procedure is performed and requiring that minors receive parental permission for an abortion."
How a Public Option Really Works
The Des Moines Register offers a clear description of how a public option works, explaining that it would not necessarily cover abortion services:
First, a refresher on how the public option would work. As currently crafted by Congress, imagine a pool of health-insurance plans containing private plans, plus a public option. The public option would be managed by the government. None of the benefits is directly funded with tax dollars, in contrast with the way Medicare and Medicaid are funded...
In terms of specifics of coverage:
So what will the plans cover? Current drafts of legislation outline general guidelines for coverage. For example, plans could not discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, but the specific services covered are broadly defined. Plans must cover emergency care, mental-health services, maternity care and prescription drugs.
But the legislation does not require coverage for specific procedures — including abortion.
According to House legislation, plans in the pool — including the public plan — will have to meet benefit standards to be determined by a committee chaired by the U.S. surgeon general. Also on the committee would be private members appointed by the president and representatives from federal agencies. Obviously, details have not yet been determined, so there is no way of knowing whether or not abortion will be covered.
"40 Days for Health Care Reform": Religious Community Supports Health Care Reform
ABC News
reports on a planned "40 Days for Health Reform" conference call held
by the pro-reform religious community, which President Obama will
join. The calls' speakers are making it clear that they do not want
funding for abortion to become a stumbling block for reform. "The key
thing is we don't want abortion to enter this debate and
sabotage health care reform," said the Rev. Jim Wallis. "Neither side
should try to win
political gains on abortion during the health care debate."
Reuters adds,
"I think that the Democrats were surprised by the strength of the religious right and the insurance companies and those opposed to healthcare reform when they got their grass roots efforts going," said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
"So it took awhile for the Religious Left to get their national campaign going and we'll see whether or not it has the same emotion and intensity," he said.
Other News to Note
August 10: Feminists for Choice: The Ethical Debate Behind Abortion
August 10: Creative Minority Report: Gov't: Catholic College MUST Cover Contraception
August 11: Denver Daily News: NARAL: Address unintended pregnancies
August 10: Suzy B: Planned Parenthood of Spokane, WA Fined $700,000
August 10: Politics Daily: Euthanasia and Health Care Reform: What is the Truth?
August 11: My SA News: Longoria meets pro-choice resistance
August 11: Express India: Docs sound alarm as pill becomes the preferred contraceptive among girls
August 10: Feminists for Choice: Why I’m a Clinic Escort
August 10: Baptist Press: Obama silent about provisions for abortion
August 10: Feministe: Abortion and Health Care: Is there common ground?
August 9: District Chronicles: All sides weigh in on the pregnancy prevention bill
August 11: Canberra Times: Greater access to abortion drug
August 10: Miami Herald: Kansas eliminates state funding for abortion alternatives
August 10: Optimum Population Blog: Not just pills and condoms
August 10: LifeNews: New Petition Launched to Stop Leroy Carhart Late-Term Abortion Center in Kansas
August 10: Live Mint: No sex education please, we’re Indians
August 10: HuffPo: Why Indie Voters Don't Make California Purple
The key thing is we don't want abortion to enter this debate and sabotage health care reform," said the Rev. Jim Wallis.
This from a man who a few weeks ago was shooting off his mouth and saying that he could never support a public option which included abortion. This says far more about this pathetic old charlatan's priorities than I'm sure he is aware.
