Rep. Eric Turner: A woman "could simply say I've been raped..."

[and-justice-for-all]

You know what's going on at the federal level....our very own Congressman Mike Pence is continuing his attempts to defund Planned Parenthood. On the state level, things are back to fast and loose when it comes to marginalizing Hoosier women and health care.

Indiana House Democrats came back this week and the Republicans wasted no time in returning to their "social issues" agenda. HB 1210 turned into a behemoth on 2nd reading yesterday. Rest assured, the author carrying much of the language hasn't a clue what the bill will actually do here in Indiana. You may watch what happened for yourself: discussion begins at 01:19:00. HB 1210 author, Rep. Eric Turner (R – Marion) seeks to ban abortions after 20 weeks and prevent abortion coverage under health care reform. This bill requires doctors to provide women with misleading and medically-inaccurate information prior to an abortion ("misinformed consent"). It codifies into Indiana law that "human physical life" begins with a fertilized egg. We could go on and on - 30 pages is a lot of lawmaking. Our champions proposed numerous amendments aimed at reducing the immense harm it would do to the reproductive rights of women. Two amendments succeeded, including one offered by Rep. Terri Austin (D – Anderson) which would provide breast cancer screening coverage for all women.

When Rep. Gail Riecken (D – Evansville) argued for an amendment to make exceptions for victims of rape and incest, Rep. Turner asked his colleagues to vote against it because a woman could “simply say I've been raped” in order to get her abortion covered.

It is unspeakably offensive. Rep. Turner’s statement is but one example of countless lies and hurtful words voiced by anti-choice members on the floor of the House. To hear this unfathomable assault on women for yourself, watch the debate footage from 02:04:00 - 02:09:00. The mean behavior has to stop. The patriarchal behavior has to stop.

Not only is HB 1210 now on 3rd reading, but SB 328 is moving in the House as well. It will be heard soon. It contains much of the same damaging and inaccurate language found in HB 1210. Please, we ask you to stand up, again, for women and for the legislators who are fighting to protect reproductive heath care in Indiana.

Reality Check –

These efforts to vilify women will not reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. They will not prevent sexually transmitted disease. They do nothing to enhance the quality of life for Hoosier women and their families.



Fired up about this email and ready to take action?

1.
We need you - step up and show that you care! Send a message to your legislators. Don't remain faceless as they turn back the clock on women's rights, insult our intelligence and heartlessly accuse women of lying about such intensely private issues as rape, while further restricting access to vital heath care.

[Mojeoux]

1. Too pissed.... can only KICK

:kick:

[Evolve_Already]

8. Most of these pukes are married...

to WOMEN! (gasp) His wife should be kicking him in the nuts.

[Evolve_Already]

9. oops

Meant to reply to original post. Sorries.

[Mimosa]

2. Republicans hate women. n/t

[lutefisk]

3. Have you seen the video? Just despicable:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x568306

[DirkGently]

4. This entire premise that abortion can be excluded from ANY health coverage must END.

[ThomCat]

5. Please don't sit this out.

Whatever reason you might have had for not helping, if you think that a lot of others are fighting the battle so you're not needed, or if you think you're not articulate enough, or if you think that your one voice won't help, Please, NO MORE EXCUSES! HELP!

The Republicans will not stop until they end all access to abortion entirely for all women. To fight them we need everyone who has ever claimed to support choice. We need everyone who has ever claimed that they support women's right to control their own sexuality and their own bodies.

We need every man here to join this fight too.

Write letters to your Senators and Congressmen/women. Post your support on Facebook or MySpace or Twitter or where ever you are online. Do it Regularly. Every week! If you can afford to donate a little bit of money to Planned Parenthood, then please do it!

[mopinko]

6. that is in fact what used to happen before roe. so

don't make women lie, file false police reports, grovel in fear. just get your nose the hell out of it, and no one is forced to lie to you.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Fuck these people

ZERO compassion, ZERO knowledge, ZERO understanding of how REAL HUMANS live.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

10. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I am quite prepared to believe that placing a large number of women in a situation where the only way they can get an abortion will increase the number of false claims of rape.

The correct solution is not to prevent women who haven't been raped from having abortions.