Kucinich Defends Woman's Right to Choose
Linda Wetherby
ljwetherby@austin.rr.com
Sun, 8 Jun 2003 16:00:55 -0500
Here's the latest on Kucinich. Too bad he is such a long shot for Dem.
What really got me is the Laci Peterson reference. I KNEW something fishy
was going on considering her murder case has been getting more publicity
than the war lately!! NOW I get it. So is anyone else going to the Dean
rally tomorrow night? xL
> KUCINICH STANDS UP FOR CHOICE, PRIVACY AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
>
> On Wednesday, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich took to the House floor to
> strongly oppose a ban on so-called "partial-birth abortions":
>
> "Let's all be clear -- the bill before us is unconstitutional because it
> does
> not contain an exemption for the health of the woman who seeks to
> exercise
> her reproductive rights. There is no doubt about that. This is because
> the
> US Supreme Court has already ruled on very similar legislation in
> Stenberg
> v. Carhart. Opponents of the right to reproductive choice should know
> that.
>
> "This bill likely will not prevent a single abortion. But it does defeat
> the
> rights of women.
>
> "I believe that equal protection under the law and the right to privacy
> should
> be freedoms enjoyed by women as well as men. But women will not be equal
> to
> men if this constitutionally protected right is denied. This bill
> infringes
> on those rights for women, and that is why I will oppose it.
>
> "Throughout my career, I have tried to work to reduce the need for
> abortions
> by preventing unwanted pregnancies through comprehensive sex education,
> birth control, and increased access to health care. I think that all of
> my
> colleagues would agree that we should work to prevent unwanted
> pregnancies
> that lead to abortions. I will continue those efforts, but the bill that
> is
> before us today is the wrong way to do that.
>
> "Advocates of this bill who say they stand in defense of life would be
> more
> believable if they worked to support families, with adequate child care
> funding, child tax credit relief for vulnerable families, and peace. For
> some, this debate is only about politics. The fact that other abortion
> legislation, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, has been advanced on the
>
> publicity of the Laci Peterson tragedy shows the unfortunate
> politicization
> of this debate.
>
> "I do know, however, that many are sincere in their desire to reduce the
> need
> for abortions. In leading the nation toward this goal, we must preserve
> Constitutional rights. We must respect the freedom and equality of women.
>
> The best path for our country is not to escalate the divisiveness and
> political nature of this debate. Rather, it is to remember the principles
>
> of this nation and refrain from undermining the freedom of choice. We
> must
> respect the basic human dignity of women to make personal decisions."
>
> ***
> Please circulate this release to your lists.
>
> Dennis Kucinich needs your support to advance his progressive
> presidential
> campaign for peace, economic justice, sustainability and equal rights for
>
> all -- a campaign that seeks to transform the Democratic Party into a
> party
> of opposition, and not conciliation with reckless Bush policies.
> <http://www.kucinich.us>
>
> In the last two days, most major media have covered Rep. Kucinich's
> relentless opposition to the Iraq war and his demand for answers from
> the Bush administration on its claims that led our country to war.
>
> The campaign needs your donations
> <https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php>
>
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