Holy Coathanger, Batman! The Regressives never give up!

[BillORightsMan]

...from the Cincy Enquirer
Bill seeks abortion's end in Ohio
Backers say it could help overturn Roe v. Wade

COLUMBUS - A Cincinnati legislator's bill to ban abortion in Ohio drew widespread support here Wednesday from a dozen groups eager to trigger a review of Roe v. Wade by what they see as an increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court.

At a Statehouse news conference marking this week's 33rd anniversary of the landmark 1973 decision, opponents called on the Ohio General Assembly to debate a bill banning all abortions.

Introduced nine months ago by Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Mount Lookout, House Bill 228 would make it a felony to carry out abortions or transport a woman across state lines to have one. It would allow abortions only to save the life of a mother.

Nancy Keenan, president of Naral Pro-Choice America, warned that anti-abortion advocates "are using the states as laboratories" in their efforts to overturn Roe. Indiana, too, is considering a ban on abortions, and other states are adding restrictions to when abortions are allowed.

Mark Harrington, executive director for the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Midwest, called Brinkman's bill a test case. Anti-abortion groups say that a Supreme Court reshaped by President Bush - with new justices John Roberts and, expected soon, Samuel Alito - will be inclined to overturn Roe.

"House Bill 228 provides the necessary constitutional challenge to strike down Roe versus Wade," Harrington said. "It will immediately be challenged in the courts, and that's the strategy. House Bill 228 is a trigger law. The U.S. Supreme Court needs a law to trigger a review of Roe versus Wade."

Cincinnati attorney Alphonse A. Gerhardstein, who represents a number of abortion providers across Ohio including Cincinnati Women's Services, questioned whether the ban would pass in Columbus.

"I guess I thought that was dead," Gerhardstein said. "If they pass a law knowing full well that it's unconstitutional, sure, there'll be a test case."

Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, a Republican, earlier this month said the House would not hold hearings on Brinkman's bill, then reversed himself. Brinkman said Husted promised "at least one hearing."

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, states would have to pass their own laws, Brinkman said. "Abortion will not end in America automatically," he said. "Each state will have their own right to decide what is the best public policy for their state."

Rep. Michelle Schneider, R-Madeira; Dr. John Wilke, president of the Life Issues Institute of College Hill; Cincinnati attorney Thomas Condit of the Pro Family Network; and spokeswomen from Cincinnati-area anti-abortion groups also expressed support for Brinkman's bill.

The Associated Press contributed

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[OzarkDem]

1. Here comes the R's favorite wedge issue

If Dems are smart, they'll replace it with another one instead of taking the bait and dividing voters.

My advice, ignore it. R's are in complete control of this state and can do whatever they want right now. There's no stopping them, and there's no point in letting them define Dem issues.

Ignore the Repub wedge issue and focus on putting more Dems in office.

[geiger]

2. Cant ignore it; needs to be fought in a new way

Carville and Begala have some interesting ideas about this in their new book, "Take it Back."

[OzarkDem]

4. For the 2006 election

we must take a pass and avoid letting GOP make it a big issue. We have nothing to gain by making this a big election issue.

We have nothing to lose by letting it pass until after we're back in power again.

[Deep13]

3. Unconstitutional restriction on right to travel.

Even if they are permitted to ban it in Ohio, they have no power to prevent residents from traveling to other states for that purpose. Suppose Ohio passes a law making it a crime to travel to Las Vegas for gambling. It is just beyond the scope of the state's power.

[geiger]

5. Choice "talking points"

taken from "Take it Back," by James Carville and Paul Begala (pp. 34 -57):

1. Be the Big Tent Party
"Democrats today must recognize that you can be a good Democrat and be por-life or pro-choice on abortion."

2. Move to the Mainstream
To show that we respect the values of the overwhelming majority of Americans, make peace with some restrictions on abortion.

3. Take the fight to the Republicans
"The country is on the Democrats' side on the fundamental issue of a woman's right to choose. But too many Democrats are more insistent on losing on comparatively marginal issues than on winning on the broader issue."

4. Stand up to the pressure groups
Pressure groups to ease up on the pressure (jerry falwell et al dont demand "eyes-bulging" convention speeches about how abortion is mass murder, plus they accept it when the Prez says there's no litmus test for Supreme Court because they know there really is).

5. Agree that the Goal should be to Reduce Abortions

If R's who call themselve anti-abortion oppose these commonsense steps to reduce the number of abortions, it will be clear they're more interested in demagoguing the issue than in actually protecting the unborn and reducing abortions.

6. Be prepared to take the Fight to the States

If Roe v. Wade is indeed overturned, it will cause a backlash against R's. "Take away Roe, the the pro-choice majority in this country becomes unhappy." People vote on issues they are unhappy about.