SUCCESS! Del. Cosgrove in VA pulls "fetal death" bill after fierce protest

[liberalhistorian]

I know this has been a subject of intense interest in GD, and there's now a thread in LBN reporting that Cosgrove has seen the light, or been forced to see the light by legions of angry women nationwide, and has pulled his hateful, bigoted, sexist, misogynistic, fascist, intrusive, insulting, ridiculous, absurd Nazi bill requiring women to report "fetal deaths" occuring without medical attendance within twelve hours, including miscarriages, and making it a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

He'd backtracked, claiming that he'd never intended it to include miscarriages, just births of full-term babies without medical attendance, and claimed it was to prevent the abandonment of such babies in trash cans, alleys, etc., where they usually died. He didn't change the wording of the bill, however, and under VA law, "fetal death" would include miscarriages even at a few weeks, before women often even know they're pregnant. He pulled the bill today, after a firestorm of protest from women nationwide, ignited by the spreading of knowledge of the bill through blogs and websites like DU, and complained bitterly about all the emails he received, over 500, and the tone of said emails.

He whined about how nasty and disgusting the emails were, calling him a "horrible person", etc., etc. Boo-fucking-hoo. We're not living in the 17th century anymore, he can't write a bill like this and expect women to just roll over and meekly be his and his like-minded male colleagues' doormats. I do agree, though, that emails should have been written in a respectful, diplomatic, civil manner, I don't think hateful, nasty emails are really a good idea. Although he is getting a taste of his party's own medicine.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to post links, so one of you will have to go to LBN to find and post the thread here if you want. I know, I know, I'm such a techno-dummy! Oh, and, WAY TO GO, LADIES!!!!

[Downtown Hound]

1. Ha! Ha!

Good for everyone who emailed. As far as posting links, simply drag and click on the websites address and highlight the whole thing, and then cut it. Then move your cursor to where you want it to appear in your message and hit paste. It will automatically appear as a link.

[mcscajun]

2. Great news! Thanks for sharing.

The power of the 'Net -- bringing slugs to light.

[s-cubed]

3. Here's my "nasty" letter I sent to him & my delegate;

I am appalled and disappointment that you would write and sponsor HB 1677 “Fetal death; report by mother, penalty.” This bill, if passed, would result in an unnecessary invasion of an expectant mother’s privacy, at a time of deep distress. I understand that you have written this bill at the behest of Virginia law enforcement agencies in an attempt to provide penalties for those who abandon live full term births. However, as written, the bill goes far beyond that. You must withdraw this wholly inappropriate bill.

I am a woman, and I have experienced the joy of delivering a fine son. I may or may not have had a miscarriage at some point in my child-bearing years. It is impossible to say, as most miscarriages occur early in a pregnancy and are not apparent as anything more than a heavy period. A beloved younger sister's much anticipated full term baby was stillborn. I shudder to think of the additional trauma your bill would have imposed upon her.

This bill, as written, demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of the different stages of pregnancy, and no sensitivity toward the emotions of the women who may have suffered a great loss.

You must abandon this bill as an unenforceable, invasive, and punitive measure that will only add to the anguish of a traumatic event such as miscarriage. If enacted, it will severely task the resources of the police who must respond to reports by conscientious grief-stricken women, and will only drive those unfortunate women who bear an unwanted child further underground, away from the help they and the child need.

[liberalhistorian]

5. EXCELLENT!

Right on point, without being nasty or mean-spirited. He probably paid more attention to that than to a ranting, angry email.

[mcscajun]

4. Link to post in LBN

Del. Cosgrove pulls bill after Internet fuels fiery protest (fetal deaths)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1142421