Kucinich Defends Woman's Right to Choose

Sun, 08 Jun 2003 21:59:46 -0400

Tdhe bill to give fetuses the rights of "living persons" is being called "The Laci and Conner Peterson Act."  I think that's what Kucinich is referring to.

"Linda Wetherby" <ljwetherby@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>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>
>>
>> If you would like to be removed from this mail list please click here:
>> http://www.kucinich.us/email/manage.php?key=QlKw7v27RZJo
>
>
>
>

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