Trading Women’s Rights for Political Power

[Are_grits_groceries]

<snip>
House Democrats voted to expand the current ban on public financing for abortion and to effectively prohibit women who participate in the proposed health system from obtaining private insurance that covers the full range of reproductive health options. Political calculation aside, the House Democrats reinforced the principle that a minority view on the morality of abortion can determine reproductive health policy for American women.
<snip>
Perhaps. But they can’t ignore the underlying shift that has taken place in recent years. The Democratic majority has abandoned its platform and subordinated women’s health to short-term political success. In doing so, these so-called friends of women’s rights have arguably done more to undermine reproductive rights than some of abortion’s staunchest foes. That Senate Democrats are poised to allow similar anti-abortion language in their bill simply underscores the degree of the damage that has been done.
<snip>
The party has distanced itself from the abortion-rights movement in other ways. It has taken to calling Democrats who oppose a woman’s right to choose “pro-life” (and not “anti-choice”). The group Democrats for Life of America, whose Congressional members ultimately led the battle to exclude private insurance companies that cover abortions from health insurance exchanges, was invited to hold a press conference in Democratic Party offices. The party has promoted “pro-life progressives” like Sojourners, Catholics United and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, organizations whose leaders have stated that abortions should be made “more difficult to get.”
<snip>
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/opinion/12michelman.html?ref=opinion

This is what is so disconcerting. Women have fought the Republicans and vicious anti-abortion foes in the trenches for a long time with a Party that had our backs.
Now we have nobody to count on. I never expected the Dems to be the ones to offer such an amendment. That the Democratic Party would back such a play is a move that should worry all.

[nightrain]

1. some Dems will use any group for their own ends. This is where

common values and personal integrity are important. "Power" can corrupt one's moral thinking. Those Dems can justify anything to get a "win". Watch out, who's next?

[notesdev]

2. Hard to say

it's so crowded under that bus now, there might not be room for all that many more.

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. The wheels on the bus must be this big:

[JoeyT]

4. It's pretty disturbing.

I'm thinking a lot of people might get knocked out in the primaries the next time around.
I'm certainly hoping they are.

[pleah]

5. K&R

[chimpymustgo]

6. They have got some fucking NERVE. We need a third party NOW.

[Odin2005]

7. Real Dems don't throw women's rights under the bus!

[Blue State Blues]

8. K & R n/t

[BeFree]

9. Hilarious

Yall are acting like the party is some kind of purity party almost Aryan in nature.

Showing a true lack of real politic and or dedicated divisiveness, (either, or, take your pick) yall are biting yourself in the feet.

Tell me what you think the democrat base is, then we can talk. Otherwise I must just see yall as amusing.

[niyad]

10. glad you find it so amusing. just what is the "democrat party" and are you sure you aren't

on the wrong site?

[BeFree]

12. I know I am on the correct site, what about you?

You're hung up on democrat vs. democratic, eh?

So, what is the democratic party base?

[LeFleur1]

13. Democratic Party?

I thought it was the party that believed in equal rights, liberty and justice for all.
I guess I was mistaken. It's just another roll over and play the game party that no one can trust.
You may be next to have your rights trampled because of what you are.

[niyad]

11. time to resurrect that National Women's Party--it is clear that neither of the two major parties

gives a damn about us.

first plank in platform--ratify ERA

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Women are bargaining chips in the Great (fixed) Chess Game. k&r

[chimpymustgo]

15. +1.