Exhibit one on why we need to have more representation for women in government: abortion restrictions in the health care reform bill. A group of “pro-life” (which means life begins at conception and ends at birth) Democrats were willing to deny 32 million already existing people health insurance because the bill fails to outlaw a legal procedure. I don’t see how this is the “moral” position. I agree with the Catholic nuns on this one, providing insurance to millions of women will do more to help fetuses than any hyperventilating Congressman.
The News Journal does a round-up of our local electeds and hopefuls:
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, the Republican who has held Delaware’s lone House seat since 1993, will vote against the bill, he said Friday. But not because of its abortion language.
Castle has supported abortion rights throughout his political career.
“But I have never believed that we should use taxpayer dollars for abortion,” he said. He voted for an amendment to the original House bill to ensure exclusion of federal money for the practice. And he believes the Senate bill pending in the House protects that boundary line by requiring that those who seek abortions pay with their own money.
Castle: pro-choice, pro-Hyde, pro-Stupak
O’Donnell: anti-abortion
Coons: unknown
Planned Parenthood’s Knearl said she was disappointed that Castle voted for the restrictive amendment in the House bill and that U.S. Sen. Ted Kaufman voted for the restrictive amendment in the Senate bill.
But Kaufman said it is important to define the boundary lines of how abortion is covered.
Kaufman: pro-choice (?), pro-Hyde, pro-Stupak
Carper voted against the restrictive amendment but said the Senate bill should pass.
“I recognize that some people have raised concerns about how our health care legislation addresses the issue of abortion. I do not believe that taxpayer funds should be used to pay for abortions,” he said.”
Carper: pro-choice, pro-Hyde, anti-Stupak
Carney supports abortion rights but wants the provisions of the 1976 Hyde Amendment — which prohibited the use of federal funds for such procedures — to remain intact.
Carney: pro-choice, pro-Hyde, unknown on Stupak
Scott Spencer, a political novice, has filed to force a Democratic primary. He opposes abortion — and believes that will appeal to Delaware Democrats.
“Right now there are too many Democrats out there who … would be pro-life, but they follow the political expediency of rounding up votes and compromising themselves,” he said. “… The important common ground I’m trying to achieve as a pro-life Democrat is that pro-choice Americans believe women should have the right to choose, and I believe she should choose the baby first.”
No, it doesn’t appeal to me.
I couldn’t tell from that statement, it was bit of a mush. Is he going the “safe, legal, rare” route or is he just anti-abortion?
Glen Urquart, Kevin Wade: anti-abortion
“She is not our friend on the life issue,” said Collins, president of Delaware Right to Life. “She is very pro-abortion and that could hurt her.”
Rollins said that is wrong.
“I am Catholic, and I do not condone abortion,” she said. “I am against abortion. I would not choose it as an easy alternative. But I think abortion is a personal decision — not one the government should dictate.”
Michelle Rollins: pro-choice, unknown on Hyde or Stupak
I am pro-choice. I think abortion should be legal and a decision between a woman, her doctor and her family and it’s not something that the government should monitor. I hope that more access to health care will lead to better contraceptive use so that abortions become fewer. I think it’s wrong to treat abortion as an issue separate from women’s general health care needs and wrong to punish poor women over rich women, which is what the Hyde restrictions do. Where is the Delaware politician that speaks for me?