WP: Two Opponents of Abortion Are Tapped for Senate Judiciary Panel

[kskiska]

Democrats Question Effect on Supreme Court Nominations

Senate Republican leaders yesterday appointed two of Congress's most outspoken antiabortion members to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is bracing for potentially bruising hearings on nominations to the Supreme Court.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Sen.-elect Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) will join the panel's eight returning Republicans next month, assuming the Republican Conference follows tradition and approves the leadership's committee assignments for all 55 GOP senators. The breakdown of Judiciary will be 10 Republicans and eight Democrats.

(snip)

Abortion is certain to be a focus of debate for any nominee to the high court, which for three decades has upheld the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized the procedure nationwide. While Coburn and Brownback will be the committee's newest Republicans, their records suggest they may rank among the most outspoken on abortion.

Coburn, an obstetrician, has advocated the death penalty for doctors who perform abortions. Last year, Brownback introduced the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which would have required a woman seeking an abortion to be told that the fetus might feel pain and that it could be given an anesthetic.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14759-2004Dec20.html

[Leilani]

1. The new just doesn't get any better, does it?

EOM

[SharonAnn]

2. Maybe this is better. They'll be right out front with their intentions

and then they'll have to act on it and then they'll be seen for what they are.

Maybe then the "moderate" and "pro-choice" people who voted for Bush and the "values" crowd will see what they have in mind for their wives, sisters, daughters and granddaughters.

Honestly, as long as they can fire up the fundies with their anti-abortion talk and pretend to be moderate with the others, the Republicans have had it both ways.

[Maat]

3. My thoughts exactly, Leilani.

In other words, the news just keeps getting worse and worse.

I'm in California, and things are pretty good here. Women entering the clinics aren't harassed, per the clinic operator I spoke with.

I'm most worried that they will block access to RU-486 and Plan B.

Coburn on the Judiciary Comm. is just plain sick. And my sister-in-law (don't hate me)(my hubby's sister) moved to OK and voted this S.O.B. in. It's hard not to pick a fight with her. We only speak to her once in a blue moon anyway.

[Somawas]

4. Why are you expecting, hoping it will?

[asjr]

5. Those senators are speaking for themselves. I can't believe all

their constituents feel the same way. It is a power grab without a mask on it. It has taken too long to allow a woman to own her body for this to happen. Civil liberties just dropped from the realm. Now that this election has been stolen again they are not bothering to hide what they are really after.

[aquart]

6. Death to women!

Just like in Romania. And under the Taliban.

[Erika]

7. That's Why We've Been So Depressed Since 11/02

We knew this would come with election of Bush.

I would love to see the tables turned where men would be given a $10,000 fine for producing a child out of wedlock.

Women are of no import to this administration. One of Bush's first act was to cut family planning funds for other countries.

Global corporatism needs those low-income stigmatized workers to keep profits healthy.

[MaineDem]

8. Coburn...has advocated the death penalty for doctors who perform abortions

Now that's a frightening position for someone in the Senate.

Heaven help us!!!