For decades, anti-choice Republican lawmakers have tried to chip away at the legal reproductive rights of women, and the battle
continues today. When it comes to late-term abortion, the topic is more difficult even for some Liberals/Democrats. The reason for this is because late-term abortion is
highly misunderstood. The late
Molly Ivins was never known to hold back on her thoughts and beliefs. The journalist, columnist, commentator, and author, raised in Texas, had a wonderful gift of getting her messages across through endearing humor and streetwise reality. Here she is speaking about late-term abortions at The Connecticut Forum's "A Changing Political Landscape" in 1996. Ivins explains late-term abortions in a way I've never heard before, and in a way I will never forget. Other panelists on this particular forum included James Carville, Oliver North, Ralph Reed (not seen in this video) and moderator Gwen Ifill. Here is text from the video:
“There's something very wrong in our discussion of this. If there's anything that late-term abortion is, it is not an easy call. And I just want to say, that perhaps, I almost get the impression that somebody thinks women don't have no moral sense at all. No woman who is seven months pregnant, ever waddles past an abortion clinic and says, 'Darn, I knew there was something I've been meaning to get around to.' This is ridiculous. You have those late-term abortions, because either the mother is going to die, the child is going to die, or both are going to die. These procedures are incredibly rare. I only know of two in the state of Texas since Roe v. Wade was passed. They were both what they call cases of babies with no brain. The brain, the child's brain stem had developed, but then something went horribly wrong and these children literally had no brains. Now, is that an easy call? Is that simple to you? I am really, I'm… let me try and calm down - it's not going to do any good for me to get excited. If the choice… These are women who want their babies, they want the babies, terribly. What would you do, and I'm talking to the women in the audience. If a doctor said to you, 'Either your baby has to die, or you will die, or your health will be wrecked for the rest of your life, and you'll never be able to have another child.' I don't know what you'd do. I think you'd want a second opinion. But if I were you, I sure as hell wouldn't ask Bob Dole, because I don't think that's an easy call.”
Here is the video. You can see full Forums at www.theforumchannel.tv.
YouTube Video
The battle for reproductive freedom is an ongoing struggle that will most likely continue past our lifetimes. We continue this fight for our daughters, and granddaughters, because our mothers, grandmothers, and male/female pro-choice supporters did the same for us. There are many ways we can support reproductive rights. Here are 10 large/small pro-choice organizations/Facebook pages you can visit/join now. They offer ways to help and be helped.
Planned Parenthood NARAL/Pro-Choice America NOW NAF/National Abortion Federation UniteWomen.org Abortion.com Fight Laws Against Women Pro-Choice Liberals Abigail Adams Brigade One Millon Vaginas _______________ The Guttmacher Institute is an excellent source of current reproductive rights legislation.
Thank you, Molly Ivins. You are greatly missed.