Aug 14, 2009 1:10pm
Fact Check: Is The Right to Abortion Included in Health Care Reform?
EmailHow do abortion, health care, and public v. private money all relate to each other? Does Obama's health care bill set clear guidelines for tax payer dollars and abortions? Kate Snow checked the facts on last night's World News. Take a look…
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I’m a Democrat and I do not believe in government funding for abortions. The only abortions I do approve of are in cases of rape, incest, and saving the mother’s life, but even these cases should, in my opinion, be a matter of private choice and not something paid for by the government.
On the other hand, Republicans have done nothing real to curb the tide of abortions on demand. They bring it up at moments such as this one for political points and expediency but they did nothing about it from 2000-2006 when all three branches of government were controlled by conservatives. It’s a political wedge issue for them, and nothing more.
I do wish and will continue to work for the party that actually cares about the poor and helpless to get out of the awful business of advocating the deaths of so many helpless human beings.
Another truth that must be told here, however, is that abortion totals can also be greatly reduced with the spread of birth control means, realistic sex education, and not relying on the abstinence road alone. It works with very few young people and, if honest, we all know it. Why, for example, has the price of birth control pills risen so much since the days of their introduction?
Posted by: Igor | August 14, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Let’s think a moment. Raising a child from birth to emancipation—approx. 250,000 dollars. failed marriages—51%+. Number of under educated under motivated beings housed in the U.S. penal system—an astounding figure. Number of people whose business it is what a women must face in light of her life’s situation—0. Personal freedom or the rights of an individual under the Constitution doesn’t begin or end with your opinion. The over population of this Earth and its ability to feed and house its burgeoning numbers is incountrivertable. Some people would do well to use their noses for breathing or perhaps wiping rather then sticking it into others peoples decisions.
Posted by: rfinley | August 14, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
rfinley. I appreciate your arguments and have heard them at caucus after caucus. I’m not some male chauvinist jerk, but I do think the number of abortions on demand or for convenience (I know you’ll hate that word.) are entirely appalling. The means of preventing pregnancy are not rare, nor are they that over-priced for the people who are most likely to abort: upper middle class women. I don’t think the government should just make the whole business easier or less responsible. I would be satisfied at this point if the government just did keep its nose out of abortions, one way or another. It doesn’t have to make it illegal, but it doesn’t have to make it more convenient or cheaper either. Finally, the fact is most American women as surveyed say they are against abortion on demand for reasons other than rape, incest, and saving the mother. I happen to agree with them.
Posted by: Igor | August 14, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
I’m tired of anti-abortion whiners. Over the years my tax dollars have gone toward many things I’ve been opposed to. Pro lifers….what makes YOU think you’re so special?
Posted by: C frzr | August 14, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
TO: charles jackson — Being the male your are!!! understand this!!!! females have always had abortions from the beginning of time and always will haved abortions until the end of time. Also understand that you Mr. Jackson if you pay taxes you are now paying for abortions through Medicaid!!!!! Also, health insurance is paying for ABORATIONS NOW– THE PROCEDURE IS CALLED A D & C AND IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THIS IS — LOOK IT UP.
Posted by: Flo Puryear | August 14, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
“Reproductive Rights” is the code word for abortions.
Posted by: m vale | August 14, 2009, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
The Government does NOT have to specifically put Abortion in the Healthcare bill and this is the smoke and mirrors this Network is playing with this topic.
Existing legislation catagorizes “abortion” as an essential medical service. By default, abortion services will be covered by whatever healthcare bill comes out of Congress.
This is such a dishonest report its unbelievable..wake up people you are being fed propaganda and spin to get control of YOU..thats what healthcare does and thats why the Government want to run it, they will gain access to your most private information, hence removing your right to privacy guarenteed in the US Constitution, but that doesnt matter to them either, because Government running any private industry is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Ignorance of the masses is our greatest enemy..and they are countng on you to be ignorant…how have you met their goal?
Posted by: Tom | August 14, 2009, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Better to pay now than for the next 20 years. A good majority of these women are drug and alcohol addicted. They also don’t use protection and use abortion as a form of birth control.
What about the men? They should be held accountable for the pregnancy. Let them pay for the abortion!
Posted by: cj | August 14, 2009, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Is this program going to pay for “VIAGRA”?
Is it covering birth control for women?
Posted by: cj | August 14, 2009, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
It should cover birth control, I hope.
Can the majority agree on this?
Posted by: ddg | August 14, 2009, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Millions of Americans had to pay for the unnecessary Iraq war. We all pay for things we don’t like and we always will.
If the health care changes do take place,
people can simply opt to choose a health care plan that does not pay for abortions.
We’re tired of neocons using guns, babies and Bibles to stop every advance, or anything that is new.
Posted by: GusDeGloom | August 14, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
Abortion is ELECTIVE SURGERY. Pregnancy is a preventable “condition” and the CHOICE to terminate a pregnancy should not be paid for with public funds.
I’d like to have a tummy tuck and boob job but I don’t think the taxpayers want to treat me to elective surgery.
If anything, the Democrats should do more to educate women about the importance of birth control and personal responsibility.
While it does take “two to tango,” birth control is the woman’s responsibility as she is the one who’s life is adversely affected by unwanted pregnancy – as the Democrats declared 35 years ago, it’s *her* body, right??
Posted by: Judy | August 14, 2009, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
How many democrats voted FOR the IRAQ war?
Posted by: deanbob | August 14, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
Judy. How many Democrats STARTED the war in Iraq? How many Democrats fed Congress and the American 4 different lying stories about why we needed to spend over 4500 lives there and up to 10 billion a month? How much could that healthcare reform be covered by that wasted debacle? Bush did not even know the difference between Shiite and Sunni and now, of course, that centuries’ old civil war is raising its ugly head once again when we’re trying to get out of there. WE NEED TO START READING SOME HISTORY BEFORE TAKING OUR BIG WHITE HORSE A___ INTO PLACES WHERE WE’RE GOING TO GET IT BURNED!
Posted by: Igor | August 14, 2009, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
Sorry, Judy. I meant to address my last post to deanbob.
Posted by: Igor | August 14, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
The reason it’s “unclear” (to quote the ABC report) whether abortion would be covered is because liberal Democrats are trying to sneak it into the plan without ever mentioning it directly. “Family planning services” will undoubtedly be interpreted by federal bureaucrats to include abortion, unless the legislation explicitly says otherwise. Several attempts were made in House committees to amend the bill with language that would specifically exclude abortion from the “services” to be publicly funded, but these efforts were consistently thwarted by liberals allied with Henry Waxman. It’s regrettable, but not surprising, that the news story failed to mention any of these crucial details.
Posted by: Oddball | August 14, 2009, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm