Reply #2: To an extent this seems correct

[jberryhill]

One phenomenon which utterly mystifies me is the noise over "personhood" in the abortion/choice arena.

The anti-choicers think these things will have some effect on abortion, and the pro-choicers seem to share that belief.

Both of those beliefs are incorrect.

Roe v. Wade is not premised on whether or when anyone becomes a person. Anyone who believes otherwise has either not read the decision, read it and not understood it, or is intentionally spreading misinformation about the central premises on which Roe v. Wade was based.

Roe v. Wade assumed a state interest in protecting life. It also assumes a right of self determination and privacy in medical decisionmaking. Where the decision comes out is simply by saying that the balance of these interests shifts as a pregnancy proceeds.

But, wow, it's amazing how much mileage both sides have gotten out of the political stunt of "personhood" which is thoroughly irrelevant to Roe v. Wade in the first place.