I've been looking at abortion laws of countries around the world, and I come up with an interesting bit of information.

The position of the Republican party is exactly the same as some of the most despotic and repressive societies on the planet. Their position is exactly the same as Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. Unbelievably, it is even more restrictive than that of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Rwanda.

In contrast, the Democratic parties position is essentially the same as most of the countries that form the backbone of Western civilization: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland...

So in point of fact, far from being on the far left, the Democrats are right in step with western civilization.

While the republicans are aligned with societies whose treatment of women is so abhorrent that... well checkout HumanRightsWatch.org

Keywords:

* Domestic Violence and Rape
* Honor Killings (Karo Kuri)
* Acid Throwing
* Burnings (aka "stove deaths")
* Stonings
* Hudood Ordinances, (under which women are jailed for reporting rape)
* Genital Mutilation
* Beheadings (Saudi Arabia, et al.)

Maybe moderate and truly compassionate Republicans may wish to reconsider belonging to a party whose positions are so draconian that it aligns itself with societies still stuck in the dark ages and is in direct opposition to the position of most of Western civilization.

The full article I wrote is at:
http://www.republicanspeak.com/abortion1.html
(including links to "Abortion Laws Around the World" sites)

Sadly you're talking about an organization that supports the DOJ leaving emergency contraception out of the rape protocol, state legislatures that define fetus as any product of conception regardless of gestational age, members who want to invade the privacy of women & further traumatize them for suffering a miscarriage and overhaul the Geneva convention.

But how do the Republicans get away with it.

Here is a party whose position is the same as societies that still practice Honor Killings, Stonings, Beheadings, etc...

While the Democrats position is right in line with most of western civilization.

It would be so easy to paint the Republicans as the party of the dark ages.

Yet somehow the Republicans have managed to gain the "moral high ground" on this issue and have branded the Democrats as immoral baby killers.

So how do the republicans do it?

Is it that we no longer have any media voice?
Is it that the Democratic leadership is spineless?

I'm truly baffled.

They appeal to the most base fears in people and ignorance. Keep telling only part of the story or the same lie repeatedly and people will eventually start to believe it. Weak white men in the majority fear upstart minorities and women taking their jobs, how else to assuage their ego about losing a job that is rightfully theirs to someone else than assume that other person is inferior and stole the job by using the race of gender card? Evangelical Christians are offended by gays, women not submitting to their husbands and abortion; normal instinct would be to stay committed to their values and raise their children as such but for some reason they're threatened by people they don't know living lives they don't approve of (why those people would have more influence over their kids than the family is beyond me) - they strike back by trying to legislate morality. When not all Christians join in they create a crisis to make the majority a victim. Win at any cost, integrity is over-rated, the ends justify the means -it's OK to play dirty as long as you win and protect your own. This is the credo of republican leadership. The democrats are trying to maintain their integrity and not willing to sell (most) out just to win. They don't want to play dirty, they don't want to appear ungracious, they're not out for blood because they want to be the good guys and wear the white hats.

Weak white men? and do all evangelicals get offended by those things? i think your guilty of trashing two groups here. Ok the weak white guy thing stands because it doesn't say all white men. But the Evangelical Christaians things a bit out of line. I think its a conclusion that is rooted in fear and descrimination, PERHAPS THERES A NAME FOR IT???? Hmmmm lets think of a term!!! Oh I know, but id hate to use it in here because ultraist will start making fun of my substance abuse problems I proudly conquered!!!

Excellent article Bill! I'm not surprised to hear that the Republican position on womens reproductive issues are as primitive and barbaric as those countries who are highly misogynistic and have legalized abusing women. Nice work.

We should calling them out for what they are. Democrats have failed to launch an assualt in the same capacity Repubs have. It's our time now.

Republicans are women killers; banning abortion would lead to the slaughter of women. Back alley abortions kill women. Republicans oppressive measures that are cloaked in supposed "moral values" are barriers to our success and progress as a nation. The are regressors.

Bill's article:
Blue Countries vs. Red Countries
What is disturbing is that countries where abortion is generally prohibited (the "Red Countires") are also often times associated with religious extremism or terrorism. Two of the countries, Iran and Iraq, are in the so-called "axis of evil."
Citizens from four of the countries, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Yemen, were members of the 9/11 terrorists attack.

In contrast, countries where abortion is generally permitted (the "Blue Countries") are usually considered to follow traditional Western values. Including democratic forms of government, individual freedoms, civil rights and religious tolerance.

Included in this list of countries are: Australia, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Republicans and Abortion
"We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and we endorse legislation that the 14th Amendments protections apply to unborn children." -- Republican Platform Aug 12, 2000
Looking at pre-Roe v. Wade positions of Red States and also current attempts at abortion restrictions, the general consensus is that the Republican position on abortion is: Abortion Permitted Only to Save the Woman's Life.

Rick Santorum (R., Pa.), the Republicans leading opponent on abortion, position is: opposes abortion "except in the cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother." (pfl.org)

II. Abortion Permitted Only to Save the Woman's Life from: State Abortion Laws Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi Nebraska
North Dakota
Oklahoma South Carolina
South Dakota
Virginia


It is fascinating to watch how the neocon intellectuals have managed over the last 20-25 years to sway public opinion such that the Republicans now have the "moral high ground" on the abortion issue.

When in point of fact the position of the Republican party is exactly the same as some of the most despotic and repressive societies on the planet.

Their position is exactly the same as Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. Unbelievably, it is even more restrictive than that of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Rwanda.

Anyone who believes these countries have in any way the "moral high ground" in their treatment of women would be well advised to check out: HumanRightsWatch.org
Keywords:

Domestic Violence and Rape
Honor Killings (Karo Kuri)
Acid Throwing
Burnings (aka "stove deaths")
Stonings
Hudood Ordinances, (under which women are jailed for reporting rape)
Genital Mutilation
Beheadings (Saudi Arabia, et al.)
And after doing so, they may want to rethink a position so draconian that it aligns itself with societies still stuck in the dark ages and is in direct opposition to the position of most of Western civilization.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well said!

Powermongers
Fearmongers

Politics isn't a contact sport anymore. The Republicans have made it a street fight.

The Democrats are under an illusion if they think they're wearing the white hats. To a good chunk of the voters (enough to get the chimp elected) they're baby killers.

The Democrats have plenty of ammunition, they just need to start using it.

Please excuse me, I meant the right-wing fundamentalist evangelical movement (those who want to impose and legislate in accordance to their religion). I take the word evangelize a bit literally and do have a tendency to think falwell/jones/robertson when the word is used; it weirds me out when I see "SoandSo Evangelical Church" as the name of a mainstream church because of this. I think you have read enough of my posts regarding the christian religion and denominations to know I try to clarify my intent (and thought I had done so with the overt link to the republican party leadership).

Is there a way to use the ammo without selling your soul?

Cool i knew that, was just teasing you and I should be the one apologizing...

Thanks!

The ammo I was thinking of is the "truth".

To quote Adlai Stevenson:

"I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them."

Bill:

I think the theme of your article would make for a great editorial to the newspapers. Associating the conservative Republican's stance on abortion to the evil axis may not go over so well with some moderate Republicans! :D Not that we would want to create any disharmony within their camp or anything.

The problem is I don't think they want to know the truth because they can't handle it (and you should be proud of me for resisting the urge to do my nicholson impression)

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

I sent an email to Randi Rhodes. Maybe they might find it of interest

Excellent viewpoint and perspective on this subject. I think at some point the scientific community is going to have reach a consensus on when human life begins, and that consensus will have to either be supported by laws or by the general population. Once this is accomplished abortion by itself becomes a non-issue.

(Sarcasm):
What if a referendum were held in each county and those who vote against abortion and 'pro-life at conception' were handed an orphaned HIV infant or child to care for? Would this change their minds, I wonder?

Anti-abortionists (for the most part) should put their money where their mouths are, sh*t or get off the pot, etc. etc.

Haven't you noticed that I don't have a sense of humor?



Those opposed on the religious grounds that life begins at conception do so because they believe ensoulment happens at conception. Scientific data is meaningless to them.