Virginia Ultrasound Bill: Republican Lawmaker Calls Abortion 'Lifestyle Convenience'

A top Republican legislative leader in Virginia described abortion as a "lifestyle convenience" during the floor debate on a controversial measure to require trans-vaginal ultrasounds before a woman can get an abortion.

State Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock) made the comment midday Tuesday as the House of Delegates took up consideration of the ultrasound bill. The bill -- which then passed the House 63 to 36 -- would require any woman seeking an abortion in the state to receive an ultrasound first. As an external ultrasound is not able to produce a necessary picture early in pregnancy, a trans-vaginal ultrasound would be needed to produce an image of the fetus or embryo.

While addressing the debate, Gilbert, the House's deputy majority leader, took to the floor to support the bill. The Shenandoah Valley lawmaker used his floor statement to describe most abortions as a "lifestyle convenience" for women. Witnesses said that Gilbert did not clarify which abortions he does not consider to be "lifestyle conveniences."

Within minutes of Gilbert's statement, two Democratic lawmakers -- Del. Mark Keam (D-Fairfax County) and Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria) -- both sent out the remarks on Twitter. Englin, who commented "Wow" in his Tweet about Gilbert's floor statement, said that Gilbert's exact words were "a matter of lifestyle convenience."

Gilbert has not returned a call from The Huffington Post for comment on his statement. Aides to Gilbert said the lawmaker was on the House floor and then in meetings off the floor following adjournment of today's session.

Debate on the bill ended shortly after Gilbert's statement, preventing Democratic lawmakers from responding. The bill's passage followed the state Senate's approval of a similar bill earlier this month. Virginia legislators are expected to pass final versions of the ultrasound bill before the legislative session ends in March. Lawmakers also passed the state's personhood bill today.

During the ultrasound bill debate, Englin offered an amendment requiring a woman's consent to the trans-vaginal ultrasound procedure, which was rejected by the Republican-controlled House.

Democrats have criticized Gilbert's floor statement, and Englin said that the statement is in line with previous Republican comments on the issue. He noted he had a conversation with one GOP lawmaker regarding his amendment where the lawmaker had told him that women had already made the decision to be "vaginally penetrated when they got pregnant."

"For him to be so dismissive of women to control their own reproductive decisions is shocking," Englin said. "This is not abortion as contraception this about women facing difficult circumstances. It is unfortunate that he used that language."

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) is expected to sign the ultrasound bill.

Clarification: This article has been updated to include that a trans-vaginal ultrasound would also be needed to produce an image of an embryo, in the very early stages of conception.

Comments

[jakielewis]

09:31 PM on 09/14/2012

Just doing their part to "secure" the women vote.....

[HAD ENUFF HUFF]

06:13 AM on 02/27/2012

Someone from the "Popularity" section as opposed to the "Recency" comments section had posted at "03:25 PM on 02/14/2012
"...an amendment requiring a woman's consent to the trans-vaginal ultrasound procedure ... was rejected by the Republican-controlled House."

No government intrusion into private lives, unless it is an intrusion into a vagina? I am sorry, but this is a new low."

Claiming "no" other government intrusion into any private life but a pregnant woman's?

Does no one recognize the intrusion into our "private" lives when women (and children) are having their bodies sexually assaulted by the TSA? Crotch groping and breast "cupping" are both considered assault in the "real" world where Obama's TSA doesn't rule.

How about the FORCED medical procedure (radiation with as yet, unknown consequence) of the full body scanner that we are forced to pass through in order to travel within our OWN country? In clear violation of our Bill of Rights.

How about Obama's continued insistence on raiding legal pot dispensaries, guess those on med marijuana have NO RIGHT to THEIR bodies and that is a DEM doing that.
That's NOT government interference?

Come on people, if we are to be irate about this, let's be at least AS irate about the very clear daily violation of every body that wishes the "right" to choose their own medicines. The travelers whose bodies are violated daily in our airports, with NO outcry from the general population. Why not? Why not, HP readers?

[jakielewis]

09:25 PM on 09/14/2012

Time for those meds?

[mostberg]

01:30 AM on 02/27/2012

We get a lot of abusive comments on this subject. Fact is we do have approximately 1 million abortions per year in the United States. That does deserve some serious discussion. Of those about 10,000 are very late term. Given that modern medicine can easily save most premature babies nowadays, that last 10,000 abortions may just amount to murder. The rest of them are more debateable. But those last 10,000 I think should be treated the same as a newborn - a real and legal person.

[Tiffy Cake]

07:39 PM on 02/26/2012

everyone who is SOOO against abortion should also be against birth control, condoms and any other form of contraceptive...because that too! is not allowing a life to be made so in theory you are killing potential life when you use contraceptives..but many of the "pro-life" people will be quick to ignore that thought... hilarious really how a lot of those people don't know the person they are judging so harshly to "save a life" you don't know their life and situation...many people who have abortions are actually doing that thing (kid) a big favor.

hypocrites..

[mostberg]

01:32 AM on 02/27/2012

Good point Tiffy, but we have to draw a line somewhere.

[Drew Bismack]

01:42 AM on 02/27/2012

Actually no. Contraceptives are NOT abortion. Natural contraceptive methods exist as well, such as "pulling out" or simply having sex when the woman is not ovulating. Contraceptives simply block fertilization. They don't kill anything.

[YupIndeed]

05:36 PM on 02/28/2012

Some oral contraceptives prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. And the morning after pill is being touted (incorrectly) as being an abortificient because it prevents implantation of a fertilized egg. To those who believe that life begins at fertilization, the impression is that oral contraceptives and the morning after pill are a form of abortion.

[mulee]

04:26 PM on 02/26/2012

"Lifestyle convenience"? Now I've heard it all.

[mikevalentine]

10:13 PM on 03/12/2012

Woman abort every day for convenience Mulee, every day. It's a fact.

[jakielewis]

09:29 PM on 09/14/2012

Well, why don't you volunteer to carry those babies to term, raise them, educate them...Oh, can't do that? Well then sit down...when you can , let's talk.

[Julie Gieri-Allen]

02:38 PM on 02/26/2012

"He noted he had a conversation with one GOP lawmaker regarding his amendment where the lawmaker had told him that women had already made the decision to be "vaginally penetrated when they got pregnant.""

Wow, that's on par with "She was asking for it". Disgusting

[HAD ENUFF HUFF]

04:00 AM on 02/27/2012

As "disgusting" as another dead baby?

[mikevalentine]

10:14 PM on 03/12/2012

They are forever lost....

[DebofAmber66]

10:50 AM on 08/27/2012

Baby? oh, another religious definition you are attempting to force on us. Embryo or fetus is correct.

Keep your religiously twisted definitions to your self and other believers.

[David Christensen]

01:17 PM on 02/26/2012

I wonder who told him to use that phrase.

I would point out that following his logic, religion is also a "lifestyle convenience."

[ilsignororso]

11:33 AM on 02/25/2012

If there's freedom of religion in the US, than that should mean everybody is welcome to practice their own beliefs through their lives, in their home, in their church.

What don't understand is that how dare these lunatics force their religion based point of view on other people. You may absolutely choose the method of your own procreation based on the word of your God, and I fully respect that, but you can't order a whole state or country to follow your views if you claim to live in a democracy. This is nothing else than trying to build an oppressive extreme Islamist country, except it's based on a 2000 years old book instead on a 1400 years old one.

Who knows, maybe in a republican mind it's just a few steps from hanging gay people from bridges and stoning women for not dressing as the state ordered.

And for those who say that you can just drop the baby off anywhere, go and move into an orphanage for a while and see how you like it. I highly doubt it's such an amazing way to start a life. Or better yet, start adopting the kids yourself and let's renew the discussion when you have to feed 20 hungry little mouths.

[HAD ENUFF HUFF]

04:05 AM on 02/27/2012

Or, ilsign, use some birth control instead of taking your chances on a pregnancy that you don't want. Naahh, too much trouble, just get an abortion, right? Just kill another human being because you were too messed up to prevent the pregnancy.

[ilsignororso]

09:50 AM on 02/27/2012

No birth control method is 100% effective, accidents can happen. And yes, if an 18 yr old stupid little girl had some action it certainly doesn't mean she's supposed to be "punished" with a kid, especially because she's probably not ready yet to care for a baby.

Just as an addition, I hear the republican frontrunner is against contraception.

So to carify: I see your point, it is reckless and revolting to substitute birth control with abortion - though I highly doubt that there are many women who'd take a humiliating medical procedure on purpose over a small pill. I think it's some kind of pro-life mass delusion that people go to the abortion clinic every time they have sex. As far as I understand it is not a recurring activity for most.

Abortion is for people who - by accident or forgetfulness - got pregnant and can not bear responsibility for raising a child or even for carrying out the pregnancy. It is a legitimate and much needed tool for responsible planning of one's life.

I'd rather have 5 kids when I'm working and earning well enough to care for them, than have one and dig ditches or send the mother to work in a strip club because we needed the college tuition money for diapers.

[sctparker]

11:19 AM on 02/25/2012

Given that the only way to be born is for an American woman to spare you for nine months, it's a wonder anyone ever makes it.

[Constitution Fan]

09:58 AM on 02/25/2012

The Shenandoah Valley lawmaker used his floor statement to describe MOST abortions as a "lifestyle convenience" for women.

Truth hurts? An oversimplification, perhaps, but--with so many other options to abortion--it is ultimately accurate.

[bertysing]

11:52 AM on 02/25/2012

No, it isn't accurate. Sometimes responsible, married women get pregnant by accident because their birth control failed. Getting an abortion is a responsible choice for a woman who knows she is not ready to give birth and/or take care of a child. The tone of the so-called "pro-lifers" is often one of disdain for the women who experience unwanted pregnancies. They assume this woman is promiscuous, or cavalier (using abortion as a "life style convenience"), and they want her to "suffer the consequences"...in short, their "pro-life" stance is based on a derisive attitude and they are more concerned with inflicting punishment than taking care of life

[HAD ENUFF HUFF]

04:28 AM on 02/27/2012

berty I'm certain that IS the case sometimes but not very often. The small percentage of pregnancies that happen the way you describe does not justify murdering 4,000 unborn babies daily in the US.

BTW, berty is it going to be too much of a burden on this "responsible, married women" to have an ultrasound showing her what her baby looks like before aborting it?

[UseYourGodGivenBrain]

09:46 PM on 02/24/2012

So murdering your unborn child is now considered a lifestyle convenience. To quote Sinbad, "This is a sick world with sick people." (From Jingle All The Way)

[maggieleesanders]

08:36 PM on 02/24/2012

Everything that's wrong with the Republican Party - top priority is forcing themselves into a woman's vagina.

[UseYourGodGivenBrain]

09:47 PM on 02/24/2012

I think the point is that they want the woman to see that the "fetus" is not just tissue, but an actual life.

[giftoflife898]

11:33 PM on 02/24/2012

People just refuse to see it that way. It is just easier to be blind than look at the truth.

[maggieleesanders]

12:06 AM on 02/25/2012

Have you ever had a machine stuffed inside of you?

[ljsheetmetals]

06:07 PM on 02/24/2012

life style convience, just dont want a kid, just got raped, got no way to raise a child right, am on drugs and cant do this. I would be against abortion if the people who are so deadset against abortion would agree to paying a special tax to take care of all of the children that are born into a hellhole. You just want every child born and then they are on their own. Start a program that takes of these children and i will be against abortion. Until then, mind your own buisness. God will judge all of us, yes, including you right wing idots. Given a choice i would rather have to explain why i had an abortion, then why i was a republican.

[UseYourGodGivenBrain]

09:51 PM on 02/24/2012

There IS a program for taking care of the children. You can drop off any baby at any hospital, police station or fire station as long as they are 30 days old or less. NO QUESTIONS ASKED! Technically, someone could drop off a baby a little older and since they don't ask questions, no one would ever know (as long as they still looked young).

And you would rather explain to God why you Murdered your baby! WOW!

[Nynny G]

01:24 PM on 02/26/2012

Useyourgodgivencompassion.

Have you ever been a "big brother/sister to an orphan? Have you ever had to see the sadness in their faces as you leave? Have you ever had sleepless nights knowing that this young life you care about is in a bad situation? Have you ever had to see them cry because they don't think anyone but you cares? No, I highly doubt you have, therefore, you want to save every life. GO VOLUNTEER for one month and you will change your tune!

[YupIndeed]

05:47 PM on 02/28/2012

I won't have to explain anything to "God" because there is no "God." I take responsibility for my own actions and I do not have to answer to anyone but myself.

[giftoflife898]

11:35 PM on 02/24/2012

No woman wants to be raped, just like no child wants to die.

[GlassRB]

01:59 PM on 08/27/2012

I'll argue the "no child wants to die". Be abused enough and most will pray the next time they will hit you hard enough to kill you. Many children long for death in this world, as they ending of the suffering is better than the suffering to many. They care not what comes after because what they have now is unbearable.

[Sam D man]

09:11 PM on 02/22/2012

Virginia... Yea I lived there... ONCE !!!!!... Moving out is one hell of a convenience.

[Intelligenti Pauca]

11:38 AM on 02/23/2012

This is a blatant lie. If you have some scientific data that backs it up I'd love to see it.