Lynne Stevens
For years, the overturning of Roe v. Wade was in the GOP’s sights and Trump’s Supreme Court brought forced pregnancy into reality.
The GOP knows that wealthy women will not be forced to bare children they are not prepared to raise. Low-income women will be forced to bear children they can’t afford, while simultaneously legislatures in red states are currently going after popular contraceptive methods (Washington Post, 6/24).
The Affordable Care Act made access to contraception the Law of the Land. If there is a GOP takeover, look to see that eliminated or diluted. Senate Democrats have proposed a bill that would require insurance to cover FDA-approved contraceptives over the counter to increase access and affordability.
Last time I checked, there is not one Republican co-sponsor. Isn’t it odd that the Republicans would oppose the very thing that makes the need for abortion far less likely? It just makes the public more and more suspicious of their motives.
Here we are at election time and GOP campaign handlers are telling candidates to stay far away from the forced pregnancy issue. You might see less contentious statements like “protecting life” and the “rope-a-dope” of the former president not committing to anything including opposition to a comprehensive federal ban. (CNN opinion)
Fathers, children and husbands of women needing critical pregnancy care are becoming the victims of what many feel is cruelty at the hands of the Republican Party. Women have died when denied care at the hands of doctors fearful of stiff legal consequences if they save the life of the mother in the wrong way. Republicans are – in effect – holding the life of a nonviable fetus potentially above the life of the mother who may have kids of her own to care for.
Many pro-choice marches have plenty of men attending. Why? They are there to support their daughters, wives and the very right to responsibly choose the size of their family while resenting GOP interference.
If you consume multiple sources of news perspectives, you already know the heartbreaking stories of family disruption Trump’s court has brought to them. The IVF fertilization issue was brought to clear focus last week when every Republican voted against a Senate Bill that would preserve IVF after Trump said he is a champion of the procedure. If he is the champion, why didn’t he tweet or rally support for the bill? Any family contemplating IVF sees the opportunity fading if Republicans win.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper recently vetoed a Republican bill which contains new time lines and regulations on doctors who would terminate a pregnancy. The Republican veto proof legislature over rode the veto and the new law began July 1.
This is not only a woman’s issue. Clearly, men who have kids at home – or have a wife with medical conditions during pregnancy – are in this fight for freedom to plan their family and freedom to make critical medical decisions.
No government help requested; none wanted.
Lynne Stevens writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. She can be reached via email, geminga@mailfence.com.