Spitzer Defends Abortion Rights Bill
-
- February
- 19
Gov. Spitzer defended against new attacks today by the state Catholic Conference over an abortion rights bill that he is seeking the state Legislature to approve.
The measure, called the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, was introduced by the Democratic governor last year and seeks to update antiquated abortion rights laws in New York and fall in line with federal guidelines.
For example, New York’s law still technically considers abortions in New York as a criminal act, but offers discretion that allows abortions to continue legally.
Spitzer told reporters today said the legislation “captures and enacts into New York state law what we think the United States constitution has said is national law.”
But the Catholic Conference is undertaking a major lobbying push in Albany, according to the New York Sun.
The conference says on its website that the measure “makes abortion a ‘fundamental right,’ like freedom of speech or religion.”
It also released a nearly 10-minute video on YouTube protesting the bill that can be viewed here.
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on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pm by Joseph Spector.
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“Spitzer told reporters today… the legislation ‘captures and enacts into New York state law what we think the United States constitution has said is national law.’ ”
OH PLEASE point out to us what the United States constitution says about abortion. THAT would be interesting.
That’s right. Spitzer is over the line again. It’s a foul.
RE: The Catholic Church is mounting an unusually agressive campaign against the Spitzer administration over abortion rights.
I don’t think I have ever witness a NY Governor piss off more groups of people then the “Over educated” Spitzer.
Illegals & Drivers Licenses for them (Hillary Clinton still feels the smack on her face from this one)
Abortion Demands above & beyond Federal Stature
Gay Marriage (Polls show that Democratic African Americans are against this one)
Unable to work with his Party or his reaching across the aisle to work with the GOP for sure
Spitz has created problems in areas that they did not need to be created. The “Steam Roller” has a shot of being a one term Democratic Governor in a Democratic State.
What is good about the killing of a nine month old child?
(Partial Birth Abortion) It is an “American Holocaust”
The NY State GOP could have gained respect by closing ranks (In some way or form) with the Catholic Conference on this issue.
(But then again the NY GOP stands for nothing or they are scared to do anything Republican at all)
There is no other hope for the NY GOP at this time other then they stepping up to the plate with some substance.
Here is a chance for the NY GOP to bite Gov. Spitz and show the State there is a reason to keep the GOP in the Senate. Otherwise the NY GOP will continue to lose seats and prove they stand for nothing.
Dear Gov. Spitzer,
It is extremely disappointing and detrimental to your reputation and chance of being re-elected to support the killing of human lives, as is reflected in your support of the latest bill re abortion, including partial birth abortions…...We’d like you to know we heartiy disapprove of your position and hope you change to support life ASAP.
Thanks for any attention you give this.
Spitzer’s bill is a First Amendment and civil rights outrage in how it would effect the Catholic Church and other religious institutions who conscientiously object to abortion as the willful destruction of innocent human life, with partial-birth certainly infanticide. But as agregious as this legislation is to them, it is only part of the problem NYS will face if this coercive plan is passed in Albany. The health and safety of women, the integrity of the medical profession, and the NYS criminal code itself will be trampled on with long-ranging and damaging political and financial consequences. Get informed now and let your voices be heard.
Is every blogger and every caller to a rado talk show CONSERVATIVE???
I think that folks have really overblown this issue, especially the Catholic Conference. They are clearly scared as they are in attack mode. But I’ve read the bill and it says nothing about requiring hospitals or providers perform abortions. Looks lto me like it ensures that women are not forced into abortions and protects their health if they do, by making sure that a woman’s health is taken into account when making such decisions. NYS law already regulates abortion after the 2nd trimester. It makes me wonder what the Catholic Conference is talking about and if they really read the bill.
If New York doesn’t protect women’s health, who will? I applaud the Governor for taking such a bold and proactive step against the federal government who seems to care more about protecting the unborn, than the born.
Govenor Spitzers so called “Women’s Health and Privacy Protection” act is as deceptive in title as is the wording of the actual bill. It is a truth that this bill would force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions, eliminate the possibility of enacting consent laws for minors seeking abortion or enacting Unborn Victims of Violence legislation to protect women who choose to carry their children to term against the wishes of a disgruntled/violent partner.
This abortion legislation is dangereous to the safety of women and is an intentional political play by the Gov.
Abortion exploits women and the unborn and Gov. Spitzer is exploiting women for what he thinks will be his own political gain. This bill cannot even be called a pro-choice bill, it can only be called a pro-abortion bill. There is a difference.
“OH PLEASE point out to us what the United States constitution says about abortion. THAT would be interesting.”
Could you also point to the part of the Constitution that says abortion is forbidden or that the unborn deserve protection? All the constitution talks about is the born, as in “born and naturalized citizens”, with naturalized meaning immigrants who gain citizenship status. Nothing about the unborn or on abortion whether for or against.
I once saw a poster saying that a woman’s body is a battle ground. Who ultimately will decide the fate of a woman’s body? A free society demands it’s a person who decides the fate of her/his own body, and our responsibility is the protect the rights of citizens who are actually people, as opposed to microscopic tissue.
And later-term abortion mainly happen when something has gone horrible wrong with the pregnancy. Women don’t just carry the preg willingly for 9 months and then abort on a whim. If you disagree, have any evidence? Do you have any evidence to justify your callous judgments of the women out there who get these procedures, women you’ve never looked in the eye, women who could include a long-distance, or close distance friend, who’ll never tell you because, well, she’s figure you’d take it bad (like calling her a “murderer”?)
To 2Much,
thank you for standing up for the value of women’s lives. We forget that they are human, with hopes and dreams of their own, just like other humans.
The right to an abortion can be covered under the Unenumerated Rights Clause of the U.S. Constitution. So I feel Spitzer is entirely within bounds legally. Anti-abortion laws violate a woman’s right to privacy, AND due process under the Constitution.
Thank you Govenor for One: protecting under Law a Women’s Right to choose, to ensure the Advancement of Reproductive Justice, to fully support affordable access to safe and legal abortion, to effective birth control and emergency contraception, to reproductive health services and education for all women. Two: Ensuring Economic Justice, We need THE FAIR PAY ACT Passed! Women are still only paid .77 cents on the dollar to a man. We continue to fight for this Bill to pass. NOW does pledge to break through the glass ceiling of the executive suite, and break loose of the “sticky floor”-the dead end, low wage jobs that keep so many Women in poverty. Now does and actively opposes punitive welfare laws that harms the most vulnerable women and children in our society. We currently have many Bills that we support to end Domestic Violence. It is our hope that you will continue to ensure and support all that NOW stands for, Govenor your help, aid and support does make a difference in a womens life and in society. Good Job.
Abortion hurts women! No woman is “happy” about obtaining an abortion. Did you ever hear about an “Abortion Party”? No woman celebrates her abortion. No woman runs through the streets stating how happy she is to have had her abortion. Abortion is a desperate act to free her of the desperation brought on by a crisis pregnancy. She may be too young, too poor, single or just not ready to become a mother. This desperate feeling leads her to the “final solution”. The abortion clinics are more than happy to feed off her desperation. They offer her a solution but they don’t tell her the pain she will feel once she has lost her baby. If the government wants to help women, then provide them with substantial support during their desperate hour. Offer them support, counseling and factual information about abortions, adoption and motherhood. Don’t allow another woman to live silently and painfully through post-abortive trauma. Come on Spitzer, help woman instead of helping yourself. Be a man for once in your life!
To the President of NOW….(Above comment)
Your mother was Pro-Life, She must have been, you were born.
NOW and those other groups are disappearing as they don’t keep populating.
By the way NOW of Putnam,....
How many are in your group? 3 or 4?
It is essential that every New Yorker look very closely at Governor Spitzer’s RHAPP bill. It is harmful to the safety of women, does not consider the value of parental input in their minor’s decisions, and ignores civil rights of physicians and other health care providers when abstaining from performing abortions for religious or ethical reasons.
The constitution, wisely written, was done so in order for all of us to pursue life, liberty and happiness for ourselves AND our posterity. It doesn’t say anything about one person’s body having more rights than “microscopic tissue”. (It does mention posterity which originates as microscopic embryos, however.)
Those supporting late term abortions when a “pregnancy has gone terribly wrong” contend that those opposing the practice are judgmental and dispassionate. Please read the exact description of the procedure of a dilation and extraction and point out to anyone how this is a humane response. Secondly, I encourage anyone who supports abortion rights and worries about the decreasing number of physicians willing to provide them, to ask themselves this question: “Why is it becoming increasingly difficult to find doctors to do this?” “Why does the governor need to add a clause in his bill allowing most any health care provider the freedom to perform abortions?”
Maybe it is because after viewing ultrasounds and possibly witnessing abortions (particularly late term), physicians simply cannot (and should not)reconcile this procedure with their oath to “do no harm.”
It is time to have this destructive governor RECALLED.
The people of California did this when they saw that Governor Davis was not doing the will of the people.
It is time to recall Governor Spitzer. The man is OUT -OF CONTROL!
The fourth amendment says that our homes are our domain, not to be subject to “search and seisure” without a warrant. Anti-abortion laws seek to get a warrant for invading the domain of a woman’s body. This is why we have to remind people that our bodies are not public property. Because anti-abortion laws seek to make women’s bodies a subject for government scrutiny.
The ninth amendment says that the enumeration of certain rights in the constitution shall not disparage other rights held by the people.
And saying that abortion hurts women doesn’t relate to the various experiences held by women such as these:
http://www.imnotsorry.net/newstories16.htm