You know what I don't understand? I don't understand how Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, can be so steadfast in his assertion that abortion should be illegal in absolutely all cases and that physicians who provide the service should be prosecuted when his wife, Karen, is reported to have had an abortion.
Santorum Is against Abortion Unless HIs Wife Needs One
So let's see if I understand this. Santorum thinks women should bear the children of rapists and incestuous relatives while their medical doctors should be criminalized for providing abortion services. Santorum thinks that all abortions should be illegal even if the mother's health is at stake unless it is his wife's well being that is at stake.
The hypocrisy is astounding.
Or is it?
Folks, as a pro-choice American, I am not too sure this story passes the smell test. Let me elaborate. Did Karen Santorum's physician intentionally terminate her pregnancy, or did Karen Santorum suffer irreversible premature labor resulting in the loss of her fetus? If it is the latter, Mrs. Santorum had a spontaneous abortion, what laymen refer to as a "miscarriage", which is a totally different matter than an elective abortion, which is the medically induced termination of a pregnancy.
The End of Karen Santorum's Pregnancy
Are Pro-Choice Activists Lying About Santorum's Abortion?
You know, folks, it is extraordinarily difficult to sift through the falderal on the internet regarding this topic. Frankly, I don't know what the truth is; and equally bluntly, if Karen Santorum had an elective abortion, I doubt very seriously if Rick Santorum will ever admit to it.
What I do know is this. If Mrs. Santorum did, indeed, undergo medically necessary elective abortion in order to save her life, Candidate Santorum has no right whatsoever to deny the right to the same life saving procedure to any other American woman.
What I also know is that if fellow pro-choice Americans are twisting, distorting, and/or spinning the facts of this matter into half-truths to suit their agenda, they are behaving unconscionably; as unconscionably as those who harass, intimidate, and threaten women entering abortion clinics. If we want reproductive choice to remain the law of the land, we must present our case factually and without the heated, baseless pretentious moral outrage often put forth by the pro-birth crowd.
Take one thing away from this, ladies and gentlemen. Pregnancy, sex, reproduction, childbirth, choice, and abortion are highly sensitive, personal matters. Can we agree that they are no one's business or concern but the mother, the father, their physician, and their God? If so, then you understand why I am a pro-choice American.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
I just found your comments and wholeheartedly agree. My favorite saying regarding reproduction rights: Against abortion? Don't have one.
ReplyDelete(I wish the truth /could/ be determined in Ms. Santorum's case.)