Dear Sen. Obama, I Had a Late-Term Abortion

Candidate Obama has been drawing heat from supporters recently for remarks he has made about late-term abortions that seem to be a retreat from his previous strong stance in favor of and record of voting for a woman's right to choose the best course of action in each case. The following is excerpted from "Open Letter to Obama: A Personal Perspective on Late-Term Abortion" from EssentialEstrogen.com:

You recently spoke with Cameron Strang, publisher of Relevant magazine. During that interview, Strang asked if you could clarify your position on "third-trimester and partial-birth abortion," and you replied:

"...I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don't think that "mental distress" qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term. Otherwise, as long as there is such a medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term abortions."

Your response leads me to believe that you've either never had a one-on-one discussion with a woman who has had a late-term abortion, or that you've been too uncomfortable to ask such a woman difficult questions concerning not only the procedure but what led her to make that choice. Because a president needs to be given as much first-hand knowledge as possible as he develops policy, I'd like to help remedy this deficiency.

Thirteen years ago I had a late-term abortion.

That's the concise sentence I use when I don't want to talk about what really happened. It takes all the emotion, all the family turmoil, all the medical terminology and all the grief, and packages it nice and neat.

Read the entire post at EssentialEstrogen.com

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[BEHM777]

What a difference information makes. Those on the right of the political spectrum that have categorically demonized this particular procedure need to read this moving testament as well. One doesn't have to be a fan of abortion to understand that what this woman went through was hellish at best. I am glad she was able to get the medical help she needed. I hope she will eventually heal emotionally. No reasonable person would believe that she did anything wrong.

BEHusseinM777

[FiveFortyOne]

I come from a country where gay sex and ALL abortions are illegal. But even there, you can have late abortions if there's something seriously wrong with the mother or the fetus. I'm sorry for the author of that letter, but I don't see the point of it. Unless JOHN MCCAIN is elected, I don't anticipate any threat to a late term abortion under those circumstances.

[sector1463]

That is an unbelievably moving story. I hope you have been able to heal. I think this shows that it is not an easy choice no matter why the choice is being made. Thanks for writing this.