Poll: Question For Pro-choicers?.

[BJean 16]

gadget you very eloquently proved my point. It looks like there are some people who do appreciate hearing it. They probably have not had the benefit of hearing it so many times like I have. If you have won some people over to join in your fight to save lives, I commend you.

My hope is that no one mistakes me for being what you label as "pro-abortion" - and I hope that if people are anti-abortion they do not mistake that for being anti-choice. There is a place for all of us - IF and only IF one side does not move to take away the rights of the other side here at this debate.

[gadgetlady 4]

I agree that women need to know the truth. They need to know fetal development, and all the facts, and then be able to make an informed decision without being pressured one way or another.

Did you know that Obama has said the first thing he'll do is sign the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA), which would remove all restrictions on abortion, including partial-birth abortion, parental notification laws, and informed consent laws?

[Carrie_C 9]

Did you know that Obama has said the first thing he'll do is sign the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA), which would remove all restrictions on abortion, including partial-birth abortion, parental notification laws, and informed consent laws?

No, I didn't know that. But I am still voting for him anyway.

[BJean 16]

gadget you are great at locating links for us. Can you find the link showing Obama saying that the first thing he will do is sign the Freedom of Choice Act?

Since I believe that this question of women's rights is the core of this issue, I believe that if he does take that action, it is probably right and good. Although I do admit that I have not seen the FOCA proposed legislation.

[Carrie_C 9]

Yes, I would like to see that link as well.

[gadgetlady 4]

BJean, I'm surprised you didn't know about it. Here's a link to a commercial showing the words coming right out of his mouth:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__ctD48nfQ&feature=related]YouTube - Barack Obama, Planned Parenthood, and FOCA[/ame]

If you need more info about FOCA, lmk. It was brought to the Senate by Barbara Boxer and calls for, among other things, federal funding of abortion, a ban on providing fetal development information to mothers, a ban on parental notification laws, and a ban on laws requiring that the only ones able to perform abortions are licensed doctors.

[Carrie_C 9]

Actually this is what he said.

"Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it's never been more important to protect a woman's right to choose. Last year, the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5-4 to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, and in doing so undermined an important principle of Roe v. Wade: that we must always protect women's health. With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women's fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election.

"Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

"When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law. When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it. And I will continue to defend this right by passing the Freedom of Choice Act as president.

"Moreover, I believe in and have supported common-sense solutions like increasing access to affordable birth control to help prevent unintended pregnancies. In the Illinois state Senate, when Congress failed to require insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, I made sure those contraceptives were covered for women in Illinois. In the U.S. Senate, I've worked with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on a bill that would make birth control more affordable for low-income and college women, and introduced the Senate version of Representative Hilda Solis' bill to reduce unintended pregnancies in communities of color. As President, I will improve access to affordable health care and work to ensure that our teens are getting the information and services they need to stay safe and healthy.

"But we also know that Roe v. Wade is about more than a woman's right to choose; it's about equality. It's about whether our daughters are going to have the same opportunities as our sons. And so to truly honor that decision, we need to update the social contract so that women can free themselves, and their children, from violent relationships; so that a mom can stay home with a sick child without getting a pink slip; so that she can go to work knowing that there's affordable, quality childcare for her children; and so that the American dream is within reach for every family in this country. This anniversary reminds us that it's not enough to protect the gains of the past – we have to build a future that's filled with hope and possibility for all Americans."

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[gadgetlady 4]

That appears to be the text of the speech he gave, yes, but he also did say during the Q&A session that the first thing he would do as President is sign FOCA. Are you saying the video clip is inaccurate?

[sistasassy 6]

I guess that I can post to this as I am in a sense "Pro-Choice - The Choice being Life". I choose life IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. By that I mean that if a baby (yes, I believe it is a baby at conception no matter what science says) is alive in the uterus and the mother is in no horrible danger, the baby should come into this world. If you don't wish to raise the child, give the baby up. So many people are childless and would love to raise a baby.

I was unmarried and in a terrible relationship when I found out I was pregnant with my first son. I never even considered abortion as an option.

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer just before I found out I was pregnant with my second son. I was asked if I wished to abort so that I could receive treatment. My answer was no. No thinking about it. No thought for myself.

Yes, it is my body. I have the "right" to do what I want to do with it. I do not feel that those rights extend to doing what I want to the unborn person inside of me. That child has rights too whether they are defined by the law or not.

I know a little boy in my church who was born at 23 weeks, believe it or not. He weighed a meager 11 ounces. He was in the hospital for 4 months and his parents were told he would not make it. He was "barely" alive. He had a number of surgeries early on to correct a issues and problems. He is now almost 10 years old and is is doing well in school although he has a slight learning disability. He is working just barely below is grade level and gaining ground each year. He has two brothers who were born after him at 26 weeks each who did each weighed twice his birth weight. Both did not make it. One died at birth and one died when he was four months old. Another family I know lost a full term baby 2 months after she was born healthy as can be to SIDS. My thought is, who are we to decide who is "viable" and who is not?

Now, now, now, before anyone draws their guns, I am just expressing an opinion and not trying to pick a fight in anyway. Please do not take my post as an attack. It is not meant in that way. Just my view is all. Feel free to ignore it if you wish and move on. I in no way am trying to be ugly to anyone or knock anyone's view.

[L8BloomR 1]

That was beautifully expressed, Teri, and very heartfelt. I don't think anyone could disagree with your feelings. What you wrote was a wonderful testament to your belief that all life is precious. Thank you for posting.

[Carrie_C 9]

That appears to be the text of the speech he gave, yes, but he also did say during the Q&A session that the first thing he would do as President is sign FOCA. Are you saying the video clip is inaccurate?

No, I never said it was inaccurate. I was just posting his full speech. You make it sound like his whole speech was about that, and it wasn't. It was also about making birth control and health care available and affordabe to women. Are you against that as well?

[gadgetlady 4]

You make it sound like his whole speech was about that, and it wasn't.

Where did I make it sound like his whole speech was about that? I simply said that he has said that the first thing he would do as President is sign FOCA. It is a fact that he made that statement; it is also a fact that he said other things as well, but I would expect a politician to say a lot of things when giving a speech, so there's no surprise there.

[green 6]

BJean, I'm surprised you didn't know about it. Here's a link to a commercial showing the words coming right out of his mouth:

If you need more info about FOCA, lmk. It was brought to the Senate by Barbara Boxer and calls for, among other things, federal funding of abortion, a ban on providing fetal development information to mothers, a ban on parental notification laws, and a ban on laws requiring that the only ones able to perform abortions are licensed doctors.

This is merely a sound bite and is, moreover, presented in a biased and inflamnatory fashion thanks to the voice-over. I find this kind of media coverage to be sub-intellectual and offensive. Thanks, Carrie C, for posting the complete text of Obama's remarks.

[gadgetlady 4]

A sound byte is a phrase that means something taken out of a long speech. If it is not taken out of context or disguised in another fashion, there's no reason to not consider it accurate. In fact, things that are said during Q&A sessions are often much more informative than things said during speeches, because they're not as planned.

This sound byte was not taken out of context. It was the answer to a specific question. Obama hasn't denied saying it. There's no controversy over the quote at all. I asked if you were aware that Obama said the first thing he'd do in office was sign FOCA. You asked me to get you a link. I did. He said it. You can claim he said other things, too, and I would agree with you. But he also said this.

[green 6]

You are right and I am wrong. It is not technically speaking a sound bite but it is presented in an inflamnatory fashion thanks to the voice-over.