What Would Really Happen If Abortion Was Left to the States
My eyes are rolling as I watch the cable channels and hear representatives of the John McCain campaign suggest that, even though McCain has consistently called for the overturn of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, his position simply means that the issue of a woman's right to privacy would go back to the states.
There are so many things wrong with this McCain-generated-campaign spin designed to appeal to moderate voters, so let's break it down in the following ways:
First, in order for the issue to go to the states, Roe would have to be overturned. (Details, details.)
Second, the reversal of Roe would clear the way for a Congress currently dominated by anti-choice politicians to ban abortion and thus override any state laws guaranteeing a woman's right to choose.
Here is a question for you, John McCain (and those of you who support him): In which states should the right to privacy exist and in which states should politicians have control over personal, private medical decisions? This question isn't out of the blue. Here is what we know:
Several states have near-total abortion bans already on the books that will become enforceable if Roe is overturned:
* 15 states currently have unconstitutional and unenforceable near-total bans on abortion already on the books, either from before Roe (13 states) or in the case of two states (LA and UT) from the early 1990s when they seized on a close vote in the Supreme Court to try to overturn Roe. These bans may become enforceable if Roe falls: AL, AZ, AR, CO, DE, LA, MA, MI, MS, NM, OK, UT, VT, WV, and WI.
Total states where abortion bans will be in effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned = 15
Some other states have "trigger" bans that will take effect if Roe is overturned:
* 4 states have laws that would impose near-total criminal bans on abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade (sometimes known as "trigger" bans): LA, MS, ND, and SD.
That gives us two additional states not amongst those 15 states (from above) with near-total bans already on the books.
Total states where abortion bans will be in effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned = 17.
Several states have fully anti-choice governors and legislatures that could pass laws outlawing abortion if Roe is overturned:
* 13 states have anti-choice legislatures and governors and would likely outlaw abortion if Roe falls: AL, ID, IN, LA, MS, MO, NE, ND, RI, SD, TX, UT, and WV.
That gives us 6 additional states not amongst those with abortion bans.
Total states where abortion bans will be in effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned = 23.
Therefore, the total number of states where choice is at risk if Roe v. Wade is overturned: 23 states... or 46 percent of all states!
When John McCain, Sarah Palin (who opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest), other campaign operatives or conservative commentators attempt to soften McCain-Palin's extreme anti-Roe position by implying that overturning Roe is a simple exercise in states' rights, it really means that the right to privacy vanishes for many American women.
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First, a question. What do you mean by "near-total"?
Having abortion imposed by judicial decision is fundamentally undemocratic. It has politicized the Supreme Court, which is supposed to be the least political branch of government.
His position has been unambiguous, overturn Roe/Wade, period!
Simple, really. It depends if you live in a red state or a blue state.
The option that this may actually happen is so frightening I lack words to say just how frightening.
What is the big deal?
No one is forced to live in one of those backward states.
If the state law is so bad just have the lawmakers change the law if it looks like they need to.
You really are getting all upset over nothing.
Just because some states have woman that think the fetus is a living person is no cause to get all upset.
Those states are just backward thinking and woman who are for abortion wouldn't want to live there anyway.
This getting all bent out of shape on some single issue is just so silly and just not worth the time of day.
It seems to be a big issue - but only to a few narrow minded individuals - the economy is depressed and our military is worn out - and you are worried that the states might get to decide on abortions - so you drive across the state line already.
Such a petty little thing to base your vote on when our COUNTRY could be destroyed from within if we elect the wrong person.
Obama/Biden 08
What will happen:
1. The states where it is still legal will be punished under budget maneuvers; and,
2. The highways to Canada will be jammed with rich girls going up there to get things taken care of.
Exactly, what do Republicans plan to do with the pregnant teen who does not have the loving, supportive family and no financial means to care for a child??
If a teen mother and father get married, how will they make money to live? What insurance could they possibly afford???? If the Right had solutions for these real problems, we could begin to have some meaningful discussions.
Why is Abortion a moral issue more than Poverty???
Could someone please tell me how someone can be so staunchly Pro Life and Pro War at the same time???
If Roe is overturned than Democrats would make huge gains in all levels of government. Gauranteed. The Republicans would be in the wilderness for a decade or more, and would be near extinct in some states. As much as the Supreme court is an important issue, I don't see the conservatives going after Roe. They love the issue sitting there too much so these zombies can keep voting for them over abortion even as nothing ever changes.
Has it occurred to anyone to question whether there is a personal component for Ms. Palin in her
stance that abortion is unacceptable "even in cases of rape - -- or incest"?
On McCain's web site he states that he wants to see abortion outlawed in the USA.
This is not only a woman's concern but a man's concern when they are making this important decision about when to start their family.
If people want abortion to be illegal, they should move to Mexico.
Mexico City has recently legalized abortion. I heard it on NPR, I think.
As an unmarried teenager, had Obama's mother exercised her freedom of choice, where would the Dems be?
What a weak argument you have. Are you implying that every unborn child would turn out to be Barack Obama? If you can give me a guarantee on that I will become a pro-lifer.
No big deal. If the matter goes back to the states, the women with money go to the states which have private abortion clinics where one can get first class surgical service for $20,000. The other women will go to the scary looking perv with the scissors who "does it" for $200.
Guess where the Republican ladies will be going for "vacation"?
I have only had one question that I want answered by all these "pro-life" people:
How many foster children and adopted children do you have?
I wish I could figure out where to find the specifics.
In the Netherlands, the fight for legalization of abortion happened in the '70s. Since then, the number abortions has dramatically been reduced.
I still am of the conviction that - when you legalize abortion - you also legalize the discussion about abortion.
When women are free to discuss abortion, they will avoid it at (almost) all costs.
[ Disclosure: I'm a man, what do I know ]
It would be a great idea if it was left to states . . . which is what would happen if Roe v Wade was overturned . . . which won't happen.
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