In an email Tuesday, Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine stated his support for an amendment to the state Constitution “proclaiming a paramount right to life” and granting personhood status to fetuses.
Wednesday morning, Planned Parenthood of Georgia released a statement responding to the Oxendine email.
Georgia, like most of this country, is facing a health care crisis: many without health insurance and reduced access to basic health care as free or low cost services dwindle. Georgia has some of the highest unintended pregnancy rates, STD rates, lowest birth weights and many other poor health outcomes. What Georgians need is political leadership to help support preventive health services, like those provided by Planned Parenthood. Georgians do not need political saber rattling from gubernatorial candidates who are clearly out of step with needs and desires of most Georgians.
For two years, short sighted legislators have been promoting HR 5, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish the “personhood” of each citizen from fertilization until natural death. Unpopular with the legal, health care and political community, the broad implications of this amendment could potentially ban abortion in Georgia. Further, it could ban certain forms of contraception and prevent women from utilizing assisted reproductive technology. Bottom line, this bill puts politics above the health and safety of women.
This bill does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion. If politicians in Georgia truly cared about preventing unintended pregnancies, they would work with Planned Parenthood to increase access to prevention initiatives: birth control and sex education.
Common sense dictates supporting policies that enhance the health and safety of women rather than supporting extreme measures that would make Georgia unsafe for women, undesirable from a business perspective, and the laughing stock of the country.
Planned Parenthood has been a valuable community partner, providing preventive health services in Georgia for 45 years. Many women and men would simply go without cancer screenings, breast exams, STD testing and treatment and safe, legal abortions (only 10% of our services) if not for Planned Parenthood. Funding from donors and foundations as well as low cost client fees allow Planned Parenthood of provide affordable, dignified health care for 15,000 women and men in Georgia each year. And for those who are sharing misinformation, there is no federal or state funding for abortions in Georgia.
Men like Oxendine are out of step with the needs of women and families. If he truly were concerned about the abortion rate or unintended pregnancy rates he would champion family planning, sex education, and health care for the uninsured. The country has moved on and so should he!
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Nothing like a Planned Parenthood statement to get the GOP based riled up. You think they want to see Ox vs. Barnes in Nov 2010?
Since when does Planned Parenthood represent the mainstream of the US or Georgia? They are, primarily, a for-profit company that is an abortion provider. They are simply protecting that ghoulish business interest.
You mean, “grizzly.”
At the least, we should cut all their Georgia tax payer funding immediately.
Yeah, because having poor teenagers with babies is what everyone wants!
Giving taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood will change a teen girl’s mind about having sex? What amazing wizardry!
And all this time, I thought it was a combination of hormones and a lack of self-control and self-respect that led teen girls to get pregnant, and teen boys to help them in their quest. Silly me.
I though that’s why we had sex-ed as part of health classes.
Of course, I know every teenager in Georgia, before becoming sexually active, runs out and talks with their Planned Parenthood representative!
Conversely, every teenager in Georgia who talks with a Planned Parenthood representative runs out and becomes sexually active!
Obversely, every Georgian who has a Planned Teenager representative actively parenthoods….
Never mind.
And the reverse of the converse is every Georgia who has a teenager probably at one time has wondered if this was what they have planned for.
Having been there, Jason, I can truly say that the phrase “can I return you to your rightful owner?” has come up at least once or twice.
ByteMe, you must be channeling Obama’s thoughts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg
MsBass: yep, all this time you thought wrong. Silly you.
The statement says, “This bill does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion. ”
The bill also does nothing to prevent speeders on I-285, shoplifting, and animal abuse. Nor is intended to do any of those. The bill is to prevent abortions.
Beautiful.
Pre-emptive Reproductive Care…..
Could we consider that war on the womb?
“Entertaining myself again.”
A key plank in the abstinance only platform.
… and for the lobby of the AOA.
Lunch With Former Republicans
I recently had lunch with two friends who are life long Republicans. They said they’ve had it with the party for encouraging crack whores and welfare moms to have babies at their expense (thorough strident pro-life politics).
They also complained that, given that a majority of the money spent on healthcare is expended during the last part of a person’s life, all the GOP is doing by opposing euthanasia is spending even more of their money.
One said, “Do you really think Jesus would want millions of dollars spent on a few weeks of person’s life instead of being used to provide healthcare for a person with a real future?” The other told me it may be for the wrong reason, but at least Pelosi does not want to expand the two biggest parts of entitlement costs: welfare moms’ kids and healthcare for dying people.
Finally, they were both angry about the party’s unrealistic approach to sex and refusal to promote contraception. They said it was just another money drain that ends up at their door step. One said, “Only a crazy person would proudly parade a recent teenage mother around as an example why teenagers should not have sex!”
I was blown away be the anger and frustration these two friends have toward the party. The GOP needs to examine this anger on the part of many fiscal conservatives. If the party cannot find a happy medium on social issues, I do think it will hurt it on a national level. On a personal level, my family is on the socially conservative side, but transferring this into a federal policy may not be the best way to win hearts.
You need to choose your friends more wisely, John.
Bill
What would you say to them? BTW I have many friends with different opinions. I let God do the judging!
For the record, I have never broken bread, or anything else, with Mr. Konop.
Crack Whores?
But is the party upset about all the political whores ?
How can you be upset about the world’s 2nd oldest profession: Lobbying/hawking/pimping…it’s all about the marketing of ideas and desires.
This party will fail to exist without the Christian vote. Especially in Georgia, where we are the overwhelming majority. Do not piss us off, we are the reason why the GOP is in control of Georgia
Bwahahahahahahaha… we are in control! You must all bow down to our God!
Flaggers and birthers and lifers, oh my!
John, I would probably ask each of them individually if he’s come to the place in his spiritual life where he knows for certain that when he dies, he’ll go to heaven. That’s just for starters.
What, you didn’t think everything I do is about politics, did you?
Ba-wooop!
Ba-wooop!
Evangelical Alert!
Evangelical Alert!
Ba-wooop!
Ba-wooop!
Phasers on “smite”.
LOL! Nice touch, Byte.
It’s a definite “talking point” which I’ve heard before on the radio, but not sure it’s in the Bible or not. However if someone was HONEST they would probably have to admit that they DON’T know with mathematical certainty what the heck is gonna happen after they assume room temperature.
Personally, I was hoping I would get to 6-feet-below-ground temperature before I was allowed to get to room temp.
And some people really really are absolutely positive what happens next. It’s called “faith”. I know, not very mathematical, but there you go.
But where do ya go? What if you get it wrong and have to go down to the firey furnace, because you threw somebody else under the bus, and all in the name of JAYSUS!!!
What if you guess really wrong and have to spend eternity perched in the upper deck for every bumbling Pittsburgh Pirates game?
Bill
Are you saying if a woman gets an abortion she cannot go to heaven?
John, are you serious when you ask questions like that? Or are you just yankin’ our chains?
Maybe you need a roomier collar there, Bill.
Wonder if cousin John is paying his child support while he’s procreating little beavers.
Go John Oxendine!!! Slug of the South!!
This is a gift to Oxendine. Only thing better would be Ralph Nader and Rosie O’Donnel issuing a joint statement against the Ox.
Bill
Do you agree or diagree with Democrats For Life of America for Booting Rep. Ryan From “Democrats For Life Of America” For Supporting Contraception?
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) has been, in his words, “booted” from the national advisory board of Democrats For Life of America. The group’s mission is to elect and support pro-life Democrats; Ryan served on the board for four years but the relationship had recently soured when he co-sponsored the “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act”:
Ryan said he tried to convince officials with Democrats For Life of America, which he referred to Monday as a “fringe group,” that the use of contraception is needed as part of any plan to reduce unintended pregnancies but that failed.
Kristen Day, Democrats For Life’s executive director, was ready to move on. “DFLA gave Congressman Ryan ample opportunities to prove he’s committed to protecting life, but he has turned his back on the community at every turn.”
Ryan insists he’s still a strong pro-life advocate. The proposed bill includes funding for comprehensive “teen pregnancy prevention” sex education and expanded coverage of “family planning” for low-income women. “We’re working in Congress with groups that agree with preventative options while [the DFLA] is getting left behind,” Ryan said. “I can’t figure out for the life of me how to stop pregnancies without contraception. Don’t be mad at me for wanting to solve the problem.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/22/rep-ryan-booted-from-demo_n_242841.html
Just the same as with the gay marriage debate: it really is all about the sex. Has nothing to do with the baby/fetus/blastocyte/child or else they would be first in line to adopt it or prevent it. Nope. It’s all about “You shouldn’t have been having that (kind of) sex in the first place.”
I feel bad for them to be so screwed up that they can’t let other people enjoy sex.
I do like, though, how Ryan goes from being on their board to calling them a “fringe group”. So, the day before he was kicked off, that made him … what?
John: What do I care what they do in their organization? I’m not a member. God bless them.
(But you do know what “family planning” means, right?)
And ByteMe: While that was an admirable attempt to read the minds of pro-lifers, I’m sorry to tell you that, well, your attempt failed. BZZZZZZZZZ, thanks for playing, better luck next time!
If we have such a glut of unwanted babies here in the U.S., why has almost every person I know who has adopted in the past 10 years had to go to a foreign country to find a child?
I agree completely with Bill Greene.
Every action that has risks requires that people be willing to accept responsibility for those risks.
If you drive recklessly and kill someone because of that behavior, you should bare the responsibility yourself.
Risky sexual behavior is no different. In an age when sex can be as deadly to oneself and others as reckless driving, their precautions must be taken or self control must be used. Precautions that will stop a deadly virus will also stop conception from occuring.
As I said before, it’s not like we don’t know what causes pregnancy. Public opinion polls also suggest that, not just most Georgians, but most Americans, do not believe that abortion is a proper form of birth control.
People should have a choice, but that choice should be before the act, not after the fact. You choose to engage in the behavior and a life is created out of that behavior, then your next choice should be whether you keep the child or give it up for adoption. No so-called “welfare mom” is forced to keep her child and Planned Parenthood has done very little to eliminate that as an issue in society.
Adoption laws are awful here, that’s why people adopt elsewhere.
If we have such a glut of unwanted babies here in the U.S., why has almost every person I know who has adopted in the past 10 years had to go to a foreign country to find a child?
I suspect it is because of the adoption agencies (both government and private, for-profit), their lengthy processes, and the financial costs they levy on the potential parents that drives Americans over to foreign countries to adopt.
He makes McBerry look like a liberal. Next issue? OX needs to come out for prohibition and making Georgia a Dry state.
Where does Ox stand on Sunday alcohol sales?
Just to help the Oxendine campaign out, so they don’t have to do any research before taking McBerry’s position on this, let me type it here:
Ray McBerry, who has never had an alcoholic drink in his life, firmly supports the Sunday Alcohol Sales bill because it shifts the authority to dictate these matters to the county governments. Local self-government is an intrinsic part of individual life and liberty.
(Tim- feel free to cut and paste for your next email blast. And I won’t charge you anything for that. But when you deposit the funds collected after begging your email list for money to help you defend your amazing candidate against a homeschooling housewife, send good karma my way).
“firmly supports the Sunday Alcohol Sales bill because it shifts the authority to dictate these matters to the county governments.”
Well that’s easy to say when he knows that the General Assembly is too spineless to touch the Sunday Alcohol Bill. On a side note, and recovering alcoholics nothwithstanding, I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t drink.
Or shower at least once per week.
I agree with Loyalty. Someone who claims they have never had an alcoholic drink in their life are either 1) lying, 2) lying and pandering or 3) a moralistic goody-too-shoes Ned Flanders who I don’t trust to make the tough decisions that come with high political office.
I think the Ox should also ban divorce in Georgia.
Where does he stand on hand holding before marriage?
I really look forward to one day having a conversation with an aborted fetus so I can get some perspective on the other side of this debate.
Until then, it all seems rather one-sided. As Reagan once said, “Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born.”
Does OX want a law in Georgia only allowing divorce if a spouse is caught cheating or a change of faith?
What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this “exception clause” as referring to “marital unfaithfulness” during the “betrothal” period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or “betrothed.” According to this view, immorality during this “betrothal” period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.
However, the Greek word translated “marital unfaithfulness” is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It is can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: “the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase “and marries another” (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry. Although it is not stated in the text, the allowance for remarriage after a divorce is God’s mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality. There may be instances where the “guilty party” is allowed to remarry, but it is not taught in this text.
Some understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as another “exception,” allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However, the context does not mention remarriage, but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse wants to leave. Others claim that abuse (spousal or child) are valid reasons for divorce even though they are not listed as such in the Bible. While this may very well be the case, it is never wise to presume upon the Word of God.
http://www.gotquestions.org/divorce-remarriage.html
All we really need is to pour some R&D money into a permanent though 100% reversible sterilization procedure. We just sterilize everyone (boys & girls, rich or poor, white, black, red, purple EVERYONE) at age 12 or so. Then we set a few benchmarks that have to be met before the procedure can be reversed (maybe: age 18, X annual income, no felonious or recurring criminal history, high school graduation or equivalent or 5 years in a current job) and 98% of the issue is resolved. Leave things as being pro-choice so the rape victims and the qualified but stupid women can still have an abortion if desired/required. Go ahead & put money into sex ed & condoms to try & stem STDs. Then let the yard monkeys go ahead & do whatever they are going to do based on the morals & values that have been instilled. In one or two generations this would do all sorts of fantastic things for the population at large. Lower crime, reduced welfare, increased academic scores – you name it this would likely have a positive effect.
Now…Tinker…repeat this and SIGN it with your full name and town.
While I’m at “What I’d do when declared Dictator for Life” it let me go ahead, for the record, and state that we need a test each year to obtain voting rights as well. Nothing difficult some true false & matching type questions – ID a few current political figures & the offices they hold, simple descriptions of major bills that have come up in the last year, questions about the structure of our government ect. Crap that any 6th grader should be able to pass after completing their government class (do today’s students still have to take Government? I did in 6th and in highschool.)
Ignorant people should not have the ability to cast a vote.
As for my name. Well, if anyone wants it and can’t manage to track me down between my GCO associations, hashing associations and this site
A) they are poor surfers
B) they can email me. I ain’t scared of the repercussions of my beliefs.
While I’m at “What I’d do when declared Dictator for Life” it let me go ahead, for the record, and state that we need a test each year to obtain voting rights as well. Nothing difficult some true false & matching type questions – ID a few current political figures & the offices they hold, simple descriptions of major bills that have come up in the last year, questions about the structure of our government ect.
Don’t forget being able to sing or recite the lyrics of at least one Toby Keith song.
Now that’s just being silly.
Who listens to Toby Keith. hehehehe.
But, you can’t really argue with the fact that some people should not be voting. Anyone that votes based on the color of a person’s skin or what’s between their legs should not be casting a vote. If you don’t know, at least at a VERY high level, what health care reform is or what Cap and Trade is then you don’t need to be voting. That means you don’t have enough interested in the system to be able to participate. Elitist? Maybe. Sue me.
No one has a RIGHT to vote. To speak your mind or lack of it, yes. To own & carry a gun. Yes. To vote. No.
Now that’s just being silly.
I was shooting for snarky. My point is because your suggestion has been employed with blatant discriminatory intent in the past, it will forever remain a non-starter.
“..because your suggestion has been employed with blatant discriminatory intent in the past..”
This is true. Why you have to do it with everyone. I’d start with Malia Ann and Natasha. No one could call that discrimination.
rofl.
ID a few current political figures & the offices they hold, simple descriptions of major bills that have come up in the last year, questions about the structure of our government ect
Now, THIS is also something that should be applied testing of any currently elected political figures too, doncha think?
Betcha they are as ignorant (by percentage of their political office-holding population) as the percentage of the general population that is as ignorant.
Agreed.
I might make sure they had all committed the entire constitution to memory and that each had to personally write up a thesis on what each portion of the constitution means to them personally.
I have all sorts of things I’d probably do to politicians. It would likely become a position that was closer to what the Framers had in mind. Something where people that thought they could do some good for the country would step up to, not someone that is mostly concerned with a career in the job and how much power they could accumulate. Maybe force them to give up all assets for the term & then that same amount to be returned to their care & ownership after the term is completed. No more money from lobbyists.
Term limits, rules regarding how bills had to be written and READ before they could be voted on, what could be included in a bill (no adding gun legislation to a heath care bill, or bridges & playgrounds tacked on to the annual DoD authorization).
I could go on & on.
Don’t do it! It’s a trap!!
@Tinker–
“O brave new world with such people in it!” — Aldous Huxley
Obamacare allows for ontological differentiation to be made by bureaucrats ultimately, and by eliminating any kind of cosmological authority from life itself, leaves no objective parameters for the definition of healthcare.
The worst thing about obamacare is NOT that one will have to wait longer in line for healthcare because there is now a bureaucrat standing between the doctor and patient.
Even worse is that one and many are being reconciled in the authority of state over health and human life. And that sacrifice of some for the greater good of the many is inevitable without the presupposition that ALL men are created with an equal right to life.
Sterilization is a logical and fiscal responsibility of a state that has no moral compass.
The way to stop unintended Pregnancies, STD’s and illegal underage fornication is for Parents to take the responsibility of being Parents, take control of their children’s spare time and teach them what the Bible states about sex, or for those who are to ignorant to understand what the Bible states, and to para-phrase it: teach your daughters to keep their legs closed and teach your sons to keep it in their pants, until they are legally married, and to remain faithful to your spouse until death. We need to bring back the adultery and anti -fornication laws and enforce them, and maybe we will cut out the problem. And while yo are teaching them that, take the time to teach them the remainder of the 10 Commandments and just maybe we can reduce all of the other crimes as well!
MPMcMahon
From a fact based historical prospective can you tell me a time or place when your plan was ever viable?
We need to bring back the adultery and anti -fornication laws and enforce them, and maybe we will cut out the problem.
You know that this will turn about half the Republicans left in Congress into Fox News commentators, right?
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