Suppose this bill imposed funding restrictions on Sickle Cell Anemia...

[debbierlus]

A condition that effects people of African descent....

And, included in the bill was a provision to forbid insurance participating in the insurance exchange to offer coverage for treatment for that disorder...

Can you imagine the response? Can you imagine the outcry of democrats (and even independents and some Republicans) about the immoral discrimination against African Americans? There would be unified cries to defeat the amendment. And, even if they changed the entire bill to accommodate the democrats demands yet kept this one provision, the people would stand united to defeat it until the provision against treatment for sickle cell were removed.

And, of course, this is how it should be. DU would be 100% united in defeating such a bill.

Why is this not the case with women's reproductive rights and health?

Today, I see people debating the Senate Health bill and the pros and cons of supporting this bill. Yet, the language added in the Nelson amendment is barely a blip on the screen. There is no unified dissent against this provision.
There is only a silent acquiesence to the discrimation against women, and the assault on reproductive health and rights. Today, people are debating the merits of accepting this bill talking about Sanders decision to vote for cloture. Weighing the pros and cons for the politicial implications for the democratic party and the elections in 2010 & 2012. Yet, the Nelson amendment isn't a deal breaker. There is no unity around the premise that we will REFUSE to support any legislation that utilizes womens' bodies as a bargaining chip to pass the deal.

It is unconscionable.

And, it must stop.

We watch our 'pro choice' female Senators vote go right along with this wholesale sell out of womens' rights as compromise.

We watch the 'feminist' President stand silent as Reid makes a deal to save his political face, at the expense of poor women's reproductive rights.


Where is the thread on DU that we all stand in silent solidarity with women and refuse to lend our support to ANY bill that discriminates against their reproductive rights?

Where is our line in the sand on this issue?

The anti-choice movement has been very effective in advancing their anti-women agenda because they stand together for their beliefs. Politicians FEAR crossing this voter block because they know the serious political implications for going up against them. Our side? We are just pawns on the negotiating table.

Until we stand united and let them know that they will face the same political backlash for betrayal of our side, this will never end.

The Nelson amendment should be a deal breaker for anyone who truly stands for womens' reproductive choice.

Walk the walk don't just talk the talk.

[stray cat]

1. Minorities are considered a life so they have more protection than a fetus

[Deep13]

5. They're "considered" life?

:shrug:

Pretty sure women are alive too. More importantly, they're people.

[debbierlus]

10. You miss my point. It isn't the women not the fetus, we are talking about...

Women's health & reproductive health and rights as bargaining tools.

Womens life is put less then a fetus.

[Nite Owl]

2. I think they want to lose the next election

they seem to trying harder and harder to insure that outcome.

[debbierlus]

11. So, it would seem.

[leftstreet]

12. When they were in the minority, they had cover

Now they're exposed

[debbierlus]

13. It needed to happen

[Nite Owl]

14. Remember how we never understood

why they didn't really fight when they were in the minority? Now we know why.

[Mojorabbit]

3. I rec'd this but it has already been unrec'd

I will make this comment in solidarity and kick.

[debbierlus]

7. I am disappointed in the lack of response and unrecommends

Just indicates the truth of what I am talking about....

[Deep13]

4. Well, the Bible says that blood is life.

Ergo, any efforts to alter blood by curing sickle cell interferes in God's dominion over life. So, yeah, those who believe these idiotic things should have a veto power over the rest of us. :sarcasm:

[CrispyQ]

6. Oh, Debbie, Debbie, Debbie!

Why aren't you barefoot, pregnant & in the kitchen, you wench! We're second class citizens, don't you know. We can't even get the ERA passed.

The democratic party is courting the religious vote. We have a continuation of faith based initiatives & now this awful legislation which restricts women's reproductive health care. What other areas of separation of church & state are the dems going to capitulate on?

The sad thing is, if they would just act & vote like real democrats, they wouldn't need the fucking religious vote. As they throw more & more of their base under the bus, they're going to have to find some new constituents somewhere.

[debbierlus]

9. Silly me....

You are right, though. The democrats can't see what is right in front their face.

They threw Dean out, the man who developed the strategy to regain the party, and they are just throwing him and all of us, right out the window.

Let is crack in two. This voting for traitors and corporate sellouts will NOT end until we stop allowing it.

[shadesofgray]

8. K&R.