Ripples From Law Banning Abortion Spread Through South Dakota

[cal04]

Plenty of places would wish to find themselves at the center of a national philosophical debate, but this is South
Dakota. In the two months since the State Legislature set off a political and legal war by passing the most sweeping abortion ban in the country, residents have seemed awkward and uneasy in their spot at the leading edge of the country's clash over abortion. Some say that they are stunned to find South Dakota, the fifth least populous state, at the center of any such thing and that they are put off by the thought of outsiders arriving here with fancy advertising campaigns. And although they have seen nasty political skirmishes before, as recently as the 2004 defeat of Senator Tom Daschle, they say they are uncomfortable with the prospect of such a personal matter becoming fodder for so much public debate.

Political war, after all, is not cordial, and most South Dakotans are. Outside the Minnehaha County administration building here on a blustery morning, Elizabeth M. Hulscher approached anyone who came her way, asking them to sign a petition that would put the abortion ban on hold and send it to the ballot for the state's voters to consider in November. "I have been waiting for the chance to sign this," one woman told her. A man in a suit stopped, too, and politely agreed to sign. Only after he left did Ms. Hulscher, 43, notice that he had written something other than his name: "No abortions. I pray for you." Another woman pushing a stroller smiled but declined to sign. With that, Ms. Hulscher set aside her clipboard to hold the door open for her.

Effects of the ban seem to have emerged all around, with sinking poll numbers for the governor who signed the law and growing ranks of candidates who want to replace the state's lawmakers. Ordinary people, too, said they had found themselves tangling unpleasantly with their closest friends over a question they had never really discussed much outside their homes. Some said they feared that as the fight over the ballot measure intensified, it would bring only more painful division.

For now, though, the fight is taking place not in the courts but on the mainly quiet streets of places like Sioux Falls, the state's biggest city with more than 130,000 residents, and Estelline, a corn and soybean town of about 700. Rather than filing a lawsuit immediately, opponents of the abortion ban have called on a state provision dating to 1898 that allows voters to reconsider a law passed by the Legislature if enough signatures are gathered.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/us/16dakota.html?hp&ex=1145160000&en=5651e50bbdeeffb1&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[TriMetFan]

1. "opponents of the abortion ban have called on a

state provision dating to 1898 that allows voters to reconsider a law passed by the Legislature if enough signatures are gathered."

This is the right way of doing things. I'm glad to see that they are first trying this then if this fails then go to court.

[okieinpain]

2. I know it's nitpicking, but it seems that repugs just can't help breaking

the rules.

Only after he left did Ms. Hulscher, 43, notice that he had written something other than his name: "No abortions. I pray for you."

why not just decline to sign the petition, nope instead he has to agree to sign the paper, but then sneaks and writes in his true feelings. I'm surprised he didn't rip the petition up. I thought when you became a christian, you always did the right thing. I didn't know you could choose which parts of Jesus teachings you could obey.

[roguevalley]

3. so a woman signs and a man 'prays' for the lady. god, this pisses

me off so much. South Dakota had better read the positions of their legislators before they vote and consider what it all might mean. This is the outcome of stupid voting.

[TriMetFan]

4. Because all Taliban types are

low lifes.

[Demeter]

5. Because Daschle Went Down in Flames, They Think They Can Get Away With

stripping women of their unalienable rights. A clear case of giving an inch. I'm not saying Daschle didn't deserve it, but the man should have resigned in favor of a fresh democratic face.