Sam Brownback holds up a 7-year-old's drawing of an embyro to argue against stem-cell research.
This is pretty big news that has stayed under the radar: Uber-conservative Sam Brownback is looking more and more likely to be the next governor of Kansas -- which means really bad things for reproductive rights in that state. Dana Goldstein breaks it down:
If elected, Brownback will have an enthusiastic, Republican state legislature to work with on rolling back reproductive rights. It's worth remembering that Sebelius' HHS secretary nomination was almost derailed by that body, which forced her to deal with a series of divisive abortion-related bills during her Senate confirmation hearings. Brownback would certainly unleash those forces, moving forward on legislation that would require doctors performing late-term abortions to submit, in writing, exactly what medical risks "justify" the procedure. In April, in one of her last acts as governor, Sebelius vetoed that bill, which also would have allowed the husbands and parents of patients to sue abortion providers if they suspected the pregnant woman's health wasn't really at risk. The bill was intended to intimidate Dr. Tiller and his brethren out of business, and would stymie the work of Dr. Leroy Carhart, the physician who has promised to begin offering late-term abortions in Kansas in Tiller's stead.
While there's still time for Democrats to field a strong candidate and rally behind him/her, Brownback has name-recognition on his side after years of serving as a U.S. senator. (Interim Gov. Mark Parkinson, who filled Sebelius's shoes after she was confirmed as HHS secretary, has announced he won't run in 2010.)
As a reminder... Brownback equates reproductive rights with slavery, says rape and incest survivors shouldn't have access to abortion, has opposed contraception access for low-income women, supported the global gag rule, and has backed a whole host of abortion restrictions. So yeah, he'd be bad news for the women of Kansas.
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Ugh. This rumor has been going around for quite awhile - ever since he announced he wouldn't run again for Senate - and every time I think about it, it makes me sick to my stomach.
It was bad enough having this man as my Senator, but having him as my governor and making decisions that will affect my life more directly? *shudders* I don't know what I'll do.
The problem is, I could actually see him winning, because I can't think of any democrat that really has the pull and promise that Kathleen Sebelius did. And while I am disturbed by the idea of him becoming governor, I am also uncomfortable voting for someone simply because he is not the other guy.
"The problem is, I could actually see him winning, because I can't think of any democrat that really has the pull and promise that Kathleen Sebelius did."
Oh, I totally agree, which is just so depressing. Kathleen was an absolute godsend for us - particularly regarding education, women's rights, and other issues dear to my heart - and if Brownback gets in, he'll just do his best to undo everything that she accomplished during her tenure as governor.
The Kansas Dems just need to dig around and find a suitable candidate to get behind so it won't just be "Brownback v. the other one." I don't know if it will happen, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. (Personally, I would love it if Dennis Moore were to leave the US House and run, but that's just me...)
Poor Kansas, it's just one damn thing after another over there.
That guy makes me sick to my stomach. Furthermore, I bet his comments about rape and abortion wouldn't apply if it happened to his wife or child. They're such hypocrites, I could puke.
In a way, I actually have more respect for people who are against abortion in cases of rape.
The movement calls itself "pro-life" in order to try and make it seem like their goal is just to save the fetuses, but some people who are against abortion overall then make an exception for cases of rape expose themselves as just wanting to punish "irresponsible women." If a fetus is a full human being, then it's a full human being whether it's mom is a "dirty slut who didn't keep her legs closed" or a "good christian virgin girl who was brutally raped by some scary black man in an alley."
I just don't respect for anti-choicers whatsoever.
I have respect for people who honestly believe that they are saving lives by trying to end abortion, although I think they are certainly misguided.
I should also add, though, that I think Brownback is fucking crazy, and I most certainly don't want him as governor.
Also, if he's pro death penalty and/or pro war, then he is a total hypocrite regardless.
I just don't respect for Rodney Dangerfield whatsoever. Apparently, he was used to it.
ba-zing!
But seriously, I'm sure the feelings are mutual - and I'm not sure that's a good thing. A mutual lack of respect probably isn't a good foundation for any sort of civilized discourse, but, eh to each his own.
His hard-right stance is
a wounded response to the
"Brownback Mountain" jokes.
http://forums.timesdaily.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/8491001978/inlineimg/Y/blastocyst.jpg
I think the seven year old needs to see what a blastocyst really looks like.
I have a personal beef with Brownback for reading too little of his letters. I wrote a letter about my opposition to the Federdal Marriage Amendment. His response was as though I supported it.
I had a very similar experience regarding abstinence-only sex ed. What an asshat.
Oh that happens to me all the time. I haven't emailed Brownback, but it happens a lot with other people, too..
I have a personal beef with Brownback for reading too little of his letters. I wrote a letter about my opposition to the Federdal Marriage Amendment. His response was as though I supported it.
Okay, this guy getting elected isn't funny.
But that sign IS.
I wish I could use those mad presentation skills in my workplace. Just hold up signs scrawled by irrelevant but presumably white and cuddwy-wuddwy children. No need to bother with facts, logic, or any that smack.
Just children's totally unrelated drawings, and the Lord, on my side.
I have a very mixed view on abortion. Ultimately, I'm pro-choice, but with reservations.
This guy, though, seems to be truly sick in going against it.
"Reservations"? What's that supposed to mean? Sometimes women have a right to their own body, sometimes they shouldn't? Doesn't sound like something a feminist would say..
No! Not like that. A woman should always have the choice.
I'm just always saddened to think that a life (or potential life) is ended with every abortion, and I believe that all life is precious.
I really hope you can understand this. I would never campaign against the choice of abortion. I'm always left feeling conflicted on the issue, because while she has the right, it ends a life, which is something that feels wrong.
Does it make sense to you?
I completely understand someone being pro-choice with reservations, but I often see that as being pro-choice vs. pro-abortion (and really, is anyone pro-abortion?) Plenty of people believe it should be a legal choice, but aren't sure they could make that choice themselves because of their personal/religious/moral beliefs. Fair enough. As long as it's legal, I'm fine with people grappling with the issue personally.
Where is the embryo in that picture? I don't see one. How many 7-year-olds even know what "embryo" means?
The pic MLEmac28 posted is a blastocyst. Not that it really matters in this particular situation, but isn't that stage before the embryonic stage? Of course, neither of them looks remotely like those drawings.
A blastocyst is an early stage of an embryo. It's a hollow ball of totipotent cells (totipotent-ability to become any kind of tissue). The embryo is in the blastocyst stage when stem cells are harvested.
So far the only Democrat who's been talking about running is Chris Steineger... who happened to be a speaker at a Tea Party rally (yes, one of THOSE tea parties). Also, he told a room full of young democratic activists that he knows better and everyone younger than him should shut up and knock on doors.
So, as he's managed to offend and annoy just about everyone, wait until this winter for the REAL democratic candidate. And no, I don't think it will be Moore - he enjoys the House too much. And he'd get killed out west, even as Blue Dog as he is.
For KS politics, checkout KansasJackass.com - lots of gubernatorial speculation, and always good info.
RE: Steineger - EWEWEW. GAG ME WITH A SPOON.
And yeah, I don't think it'll be Moore either, but I would love it if one day he decided he didn't like the House anymore and wanted to be governor - but that's just my own personal little wish. XD And I loooove KansasJackass.
This is really disappointing, because I actually LIKED Sam Brownback when I first heard about him. He sponsered a bill about the conflict coltan and casserite issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Why cant he do more with that?
What is with pro-lifers comparing slavery to reproductive rights? As an African American, I find it incredibly offensive. Doing so proves to me that whoever is making the comparison hasnt been educated on the true history of slavery and its effects. Completely out of touch and I really wish they would stop.
Also a question:
Is there a non-sexist argument for pro-life?
All of the arguments against reproductive rights appear to be rooted in sexism to me. Can anyone find an argument that cannot be interpreted as sexist?
Please let me know.