Virginia Democratic governor touches off abortion uproar

[Judi Lynn]

Source: NBC News


Republicans charged Ralph Northam, a pediatrician, was supporting infanticide, while Dems countered the remarks were being politicized.



Jan. 30, 2019, 4:02 PM CST
By Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was accused by prominent Republicans on Wednesday of supporting infanticide because of comments he made about late-term abortions in which the infant is severely deformed or unable to survive after birth.

The Democratic governor and pediatric neurologist was defending efforts to loosen abortion restrictions during a radio interview on WTOP-FM when described a hypothetical situation where a severely deformed newborn infant could be left to die.

Northam said that if a woman were to desire an abortion as she's going into labor, the baby would be "resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue" between doctors and the mother.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was one of several Republicans to denounce the comments, tweeting that Northam is openly supporting legal infanticide.



Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/virginia-democratic-governor-touches-abortion-uproar-n964896

[underpants]

1. The #1 RW story right now. Here's what he said - he was describing the process

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211751451


"When we talk about third-trimester abortions, these are done with the consent of obviously the mother, with the consent of the physicians, more than one physician, by the way," Northam said. "And it's done in cases where there amy be severe deformities, there may be a fetus that's non-viable. So in this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. So I think this was really blown out of proportion."


Under current Virginia law, abortions during the third trimester require a determination by a doctor and two consulting physicians that continuing the pregnancy would likely result in the woman's death or "substantially and irremediably" impair her mental or physical health.

[Judi Lynn]

2. A Virginia Late-Term Abortion Bill Is Under Attack & Here's The Context That's Being Left Out

By MONICA BUSCH
13 min ago

Legislators in Virginia are exploring ways to make it less complicated for women to obtain second- and third-term abortions. Introduced by Democrat Kathy Tran, the Virginia abortion bill would simplify access to late-term procedures, and would change the state's current approval process for it.

The bill has hardly gone anywhere yet, but it is already facing loud pushback from conservatives. Many anti-abortion organizations and individuals decried the bill on social media, with some critics saying that it would, in the words of the Virginia House GOP's Twitter account, allow a woman to have an abortion "up to just seconds before that precious child takes their first breath."

But the bill is more nuanced than that. According to the bill's actual language, which is available online, the legislation would alter current Virginia abortion laws so that women seeking third-term abortions would only need one doctor's approval for the procedure. It would also slightly loosen the regulations so that she could have the procedure if her physical or mental health were in danger. Separately, it would amend current laws so that women in their second term will not be required to have abortions inside hospitals, according to CBS News.

As the law stands now, a woman must receive approval from a doctor and two "consulting physicians," and the procedure is only be allowed if the woman is otherwise likely to die or "substantially and irremediably" suffer mentally or physically. This bill strikes the terms "substantially and irremediably" from the law's language.

More:
https://www.bustle.com/p/a-virginia-late-term-abortion-bill-is-under-attack-heres-the-context-thats-being-left-out-15911850

[ChazII]

8. Thank you for sharing this information. n/t

[3catwoman3]

3. As a pediatric neurologist, Governor Northam has...

...likely seen some of the horrific neurological defects that can occur, such as anencephaly - no brain at all, just brain stem. Typical life span less than one day.

[paleotn]

4. Bingo.

He knows of what he speaks. Verses jackasses like Rubio who knows next to nothing about anything.

[AZ8theist]

6. I OBJECT to your characterization of Rubio...

He knows stuff. Like how to cash checks from the NRA and Russians.

[Dawson Leery]

7. Parasite on the public payroll Ben Sasse has called for Northam to resign.

I say Sasse should go fuck off.

[keithbvadu2]

5. Repubs/conservatives/supposed pro-lifers support infanticide.

Repubs/conservatives/supposed pro-lifers support infanticide.

Living baby Sun Hudson was deliberately killed against the mother's wishes because he was an inconvenience to the state of Texas.

Repub governor,,, repub President.

[IronLionZion]

9. Northam definitely knows what he's talking about

maybe his staff could prep him better on how to communicate it but he's way more qualified than the Republican dipshits spewing lies about this bill.

[Cold War Spook]

10. "The baby would be resusitated if that" what the mother and family desire"

Now here is the part I don't understand, "and then a discussion would ensue doctors and the mother'. The baby has been born and is breathing, does he mean that if the mother wants, the baby can still be killed? I hope not.