Politics & Current Events
Dear Community,

Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.

If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.

Thank you.

Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.

PA Gov on Ultrasound Bill: "Just Close Your Eyes"

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/03/15/444999/pennsylvania-governor-supports-ultrasound-bill/

PA GOP Governor Defends Ultrasounds Bill: Tells Concerned Women ?You Just Have To Close Your Eyes?

More than 10 state legislatures are considering or have passed bills forcing women to receive an ultrasound before having an abortion. And Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering one of the most far-reaching ultrasound bills in the nation.

Gov. Tom Corbett (R) reaffirmed this week that he supports the anti-abortion measure so long as it?s not obtrusive because women could simply close their eyes during the procedure:

QUESTION: Making them watch?does that go too far in your mind?

CORBETT: I?m not making anybody watch, OK. Because you just have to close your eyes. As long as it?s on the exterior and not the interior.

(Video at link) 

Critics say Corbett?s comments show he doesn?t understand how the bill would even work. While the Pennsylvania legislation has been amended to remove references to invasive transvaginal ultrasounds, the language suggests a transvaginal ultrasound could still be required if the embryo is too small. Patrick Murphy, a Democrat running for attorney general, called for Corbett to apologize for his statement. ?It?s unthinkable that he would so casually dismiss this by advising women to just close their eyes,? Murphy said.

The state House canceled a vote on the bill this week because medical associations have voiced concerns about the measure. And 48 percent of Pennsylvania voters oppose the ultrasound bill, with 42 percent supporting the measure, according to a new Quinnipiac poll. And 64 percent of voters oppose requiring transvaginal ultrasounds.

Meanwhile, Corbett?s approval rating among Pennsylvanians is dropping. 

Re: PA Gov on Ultrasound Bill: "Just Close Your Eyes"

  • image3.27.04_Helper:
    and think of England.....

    Yep.

    And this is all making me feel very stabby toward men in general.

    ETA:  I know not all men feel this way, but damn.  

    ChallengeAcceptedMeme_TwoParty
  • If it's not medically necessary, and the woman is closing her eyes, then WTF purpose does it serve to mandate this ultrasound, other than shaming the woman seeking an abortion?  I wish this guy would just sack up and say that he thinks women seeking abortion are sluts and should be shamed into keeping the child that they don't want.
  • Yes, ladies - close your eyes while a medical instrument is inserted up your vag...you won't see a thing!!!! It'll be like nothing is happening.
  • GOP male empathy. Precious.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • imagemarie427:
    Yes, ladies - close your eyes while a medical instrument is inserted up your vag...you won't see a thing!!!! It'll be like nothing is happening.

    Well it's just like having sex, which obviously these slutty sluts love to do.

  • imagemarie427:
    Yes, ladies - close your eyes while a medical instrument is inserted up your vag...you won't see a thing!!!! It'll be like nothing is happening.

    It's just so delightfully rapey! 

  • Or, option B, how about I keep my eyes open and keep my vag closed so you can't shove something up there unnecessarily?
  • imagecknud112:
    Or, option B, how about I keep my eyes open and keep my vag closed so you can't shove something up there unnecessarily?

    ding ding ding. we have a winner!

     

    image
  • Not to say he's not being a douche, 'cause he is, but he's talking about non-vaginal u/s.  So he's a douche, but not a super douche.

    I know I'm the minority, but I don't think this is a slut-shaming thing.  It's a don't kill babies thing. (Again, in the eyes of at least some of the people who support these bills).  They're hoping that once the woman realizes it's got a heartbeat, they'll change their mind.  I don't agree with these bills, I don't agree with the tactics, but I can understand the intent, even though I think they're wrong.

    That's what I hate about this whole debate.  For me, it's about the right to choose.  But for so many of them it's about saving a life, and it's impossible to reconcile the two. I don't think it's the same thing as legislating their religious beliefs (esp. since not all pro-lifers are religious, including one of our regulars). 

  • imageKateAggie:

    Not to say he's not being a douche, 'cause he is, but he's talking about non-vaginal u/s.  So he's a douche, but not a super douche.

    I know I'm the minority, but I don't think this is a slut-shaming thing.  It's a don't kill babies thing. (Again, in the eyes of at least some of the people who support these bills).  They're hoping that once the woman realizes it's got a heartbeat, they'll change their mind.  I don't agree with these bills, I don't agree with the tactics, but I can understand the intent, even though I think they're wrong.

    That's what I hate about this whole debate.  For me, it's about the right to choose.  But for so many of them it's about saving a life, and it's impossible to reconcile the two. I don't think it's the same thing as legislating their religious beliefs (esp. since not all pro-lifers are religious, including one of our regulars). 

    However, in pursuit of saving a life, they do not care if they hurt, humiliate, inconvenience financially, dismiss, or otherwise burden women-- which still makes it at heart a sexist conflict, as the fetus's treatment concerns them more than the woman's treatment.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • HeatherR, I don't disagree with you a bit, and I want it to stop.  But I think part of HOW we make it stop is to not blow off where they're coming from.  

    Anecdotal example:  My MIL is rabidly pro-life, and she's never going to stop wanting abortion to end.  But I think she would be far easier to fight on this issue if I appealed to her from a "the means to how you get there matter, too,"  rather than just trying to convince her that abortion should be a valid choice. 

    I know I probably not explaining my POV very well.   

  • I'm a PA resident and our representatives are speaking out about this bill. Apparently, they feel like they got dupped into signing it.

     On last night's news, one Republian Rep. was interviewed and said, "This was never supposed to be about forcing women to do something they don't want to do. What are we, Iraq? When the bill was first introduced, the language stated that the bill would give women the CHOICE to have an ultrasound, if that's why they wanted. They changed the language when it went to the committee".

    Shady, shady.....

  • imageKatiesCats:
    If it's not medically necessary, and the woman is closing her eyes, then WTF purpose does it serve to mandate this ultrasound, other than shaming the woman seeking an abortion?  I wish this guy would just sack up and say that he thinks women seeking abortion are sluts and should be shamed into keeping the child that they don't want.

    Although I don't agree with your conclusion, I have to admit when I read these mandates, all I can think is it's not really a mandate because despite having the ultrasound, these women are still given the option not to watch/listen.  So...I don't get it.

    And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards