Comments on: New Oklahoma abortion law being challenged

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:03:04 +0000

As a recovering Oklahoman (gone 3 years now) I read with some amusement all these comments for corrective action. No one really understands this state unless you live there. The population supports this law. No one would introduce a bill to make it mandatory to fill out this questionnaire for every medical procedure. I worked for the AG in Oklahoma and when this law was passed, I contacted him to encourage him not to appeal the restraining order that is in effect right now, barring the implementation of this law. He said sometimes he is legally obligated to do things that he disagrees with; he is also running for governor. Yes, there were many women legislators that voted for this. Yes, it is a crime if a doctor files false information on this form; it is a crime to lie on the form. You don’t get it. Simple answers don’t address the very deep issue of ignorance, sexism, racism and every other evil “ism” that thrives in this state. I am sure Sarah Palin has the highest approval rating in the US in Oklahoma. She is their darling. Oklahoma is the only state where President Obama did not win one county, not one. It is sad and it is tragic for the women in the state. Changing laws is not going to change this state. I left and I encourage others to do the same. My children will certainly never move back there (one reason I left too).

By: dymon

dymon — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:31:39 +0000

As far as I’m concerned, a woman’s right to reproductive autonomy is inferior to an unborn’s right to life. Once the world wakes up to this concept, we can stop devaluing human life so much.

By: Mara

Mara — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:30:45 +0000

I would love all those “anti-choice” and “anti-women” fanatics to see an older European film, “Four months, three weeks, two days”, in short 432. It would show that their restrictions are a shame for a democratic country and their bills cutting women’s right to choose are similar to those instituted in hard-core communist countries…I think it would be a nice film to see for those who still believe abortion is for sluts and they should suffer by either having the child or dying from an attempted abortion…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032846/

By: Darla Reynolds-Sparks

Darla Reynolds-Sparks — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:58:50 +0000

Mike’s post on Oct 20 is absolutely the best advice. In this backward state of white, male Republicans and white, male preachers that is called Oklahoma, this offense is the very best way to “play” with these guys! Most of those mouthers of piety have more doctor treatments for malehood problems than can be reiterated in this post. Facts are they would back down from these ridiculous attacks on females if met with these same tactics. Publicity is the number one way to stop all these “Head of the Household” types.

Bravo Mike Bravo!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:46:33 +0000

If abortion is ok, then why would those who have abortions need to worry about people in their community finding out about it? If having an abortion is a victory for women’s rights, it seems that they would be proud to tell the world. Perhaps that’s where shame comes into play and abortion really isn’t ok. Perhaps they are “pro-choice and ashamed” instead of proud.

By: Liz Barrett

Liz Barrett — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:29:32 +0000

What a sad state of affairs. A woman in trouble can’t even keep something like an abortion as her own private affair. It certainly is the business of no one else, and I am thankful that I don’t live in the state of Oklahoma. Those more-righteous-than-thou people are really hard to take. May all of them get pregnant and may all of them bear gay children.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:19:27 +0000

I am a heavy conservative, but I do agree that a woman’s details should be nobody’s business.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:19:28 +0000

First, I am an ardent Pro-Choicer having organized tens of thousands of students as far back as the late 80’s working with National and New York NOW and NARAL. I am now an attorney although not specializing in civil rights as I once hoped…

While I agree that this is another disgusting example of the anti-choice fanatics chipping away at free choice rights, I do not agree that being defensive is the best way to fight this.

Rather, it would be best to follow the old adage – The best defense is a strong offense.

For example, show these morons the folly of their endeavor by EXPANDING the scope of this site. Start with patients being prescribed Viagra, having prostate issues, penile implants and men taking impotence drugs.

Watch how quickly this law will be overturned.

The question is not whether it is constitutional to put medical information online in this manner. The question is whether it is constitutional to just pick this one particular medical procedure.

If you require the all or nothing approach, you accomplish two things – the first being the same fear of embarrassment of these morons as they are trying to inflict on others and the second is hitting them in the wallet by requiring them to set up all these sites for all different medical issues and hiring people to maintain them.

Watch how quickly the Republican and Conservatives who hate to spend money will fight it.

By pushing to expand this to an all-or-nothing, you require the people supporting this to acknowledge that it has nothing to do with any real medical, historical or statistical reasons but rather only to harass and embarrass women.

Indeed, what argument can they make to pick abortion only and nothing else unless it is a pretext.

And, the strong offense worked in the past. Rather than spend fruitless days in front of Planned Parenthood as a buffer between the anti-choice zealots and the clinic, we went on the offensive and started having demonstrations in front of THEIR headquarters and their bogus “Birthright” clinics. It only took a few weeks before they got the message and left the local PP alone… It was quite humorous to watch them try to explain why what they were doing was ok but what we were doing wasn’t even though it was the same thing…

Anyway, the point is: Force them to make it all or nothing because they can’t handle all so they will be stuck with nothing…

Just my 2 cents… Hope someone involved with this at a high enough level can pass this on… And really wish I could do more these days…

By: Noel

Noel — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:12:25 +0000

excuse after excuse, they keep coming up with excuses for these bills. the bible belt isn’t called the bible belt for no reason.

if men also got pregnant, would it be this difficult? in any case, i live in oklahoma and i voted for rice he voted “no” to it. i knew he’d have my back

By: LD

LD — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:55:24 +0000

There should be a website listing personal information that could be used to identify the people who voted on this- they’re the ones that need to be ashamed.