The Truth
The campaigns for and against the Initiated Referendum on HB1215 are taking the gloves off these last two weeks before the election in what has otherwise been one of the quietest campaign seasons in twenty years.
Proponents of an abortion ban when they drafted and the Legislature passed wanted a law that banned all abortions. The proponents set out to have a perfect legal challenge to the Rowe v. Wade decision. They wanted a law that contained no exceptions.
When the law was debated in the State House of Representatives, when amendments were offered that would create exceptions, in each case they were parliamentarily “laid on the table” – no debate and no vote.
When debated in the State Senate when amendments were offered that provided for exceptions or even a provision for a public vote in each case they were defeated. Senator Schoenbeck who spoke for the proponents suggested that each exception was either a poison pill or would gut this law’s attempt to create a total ban.
Listen to the enlightening and instructive debate at http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/index.aspx (enter 1215 as the Bill(s): scroll down to 2/22/06 and click on the public broadcasting logo for the Senate debate or to 2/24/0 and click on the public broadcasting logo for the House debate.
As the campaign has evolved it has become apparent that the public does favor some restrictions on abortions and wants some exceptions. Consequently the campaign focus comes down to does the Law as written contain exceptions beyond the protecting the life of the Mother.
The proponents now say that it does contain exceptions, most recently ads with pro life Physicians that make the claim and a post card that indicates the ban protects the health of the Mother. There has been back and forth between the opposing campaigns for several weeks about emergency contraception before a rape or incest victim could detect there is a pregnancy, perhaps as few as 3 days.
The Vote For 6 Campaign who otherwise is running a well organized campaign is now lying about what the bill contains in order to win the election.
The Prairie Progressive lays out the legal and medical arguments well in his post Stepping into the abortion ban debate. The “Rapid City Journal” today editorializes against HB1215 saying that it does not contain exceptions. When discussing their positions on HB1215 both former Governor Walter Dale Miller and Senator John Thune who both are unquestionably pro life stated that they favored exceptions beyond HB1215.
There are differences among South Dakotans on this intensely personal issue. No matter your position our political debate demands the truth
South Dakota Straight Talk
3 Comments
Reader Comments (3)
They worked hard to make the case that the contraception provision is akin to an exception for rape and incest. They might have even convinced some people. But to say that there is a health exception in the bill is a flat out lie. In both the House and Senate, reasonable legislators offered a health exception. It was defeated. We were told that such an exception would gut the bill. We were told that it was inhumane to include a health exception. We were told it was morally wrong.
Now, as they see the widespread public opposition to the law, those same people are telling us that they were careful to include such provisions in the law.
I'm sure they feel justified in lying about HB 1215. I'm sure they don't think that they're "bearing false witness" as the commandment says. But they are. They are lying. And in a place like South Dakota, we're going to remember.
But rape victims have a limited option--I'm told 8 to 10 days--you say 3 --I don't accuse you of lying--mistaken yes
Bill permits any reasonable procedure designed to save the life of the mother even if as a by product child dies--course concientious doctor will try to save both lives
In the heat of battle people get careless with their words--happens on both sides --but lies--I don't think so--you needn't threaten either side--a gentle nudge to check the facts would be appropriate for both sides. Just remember you are talking about 30,000,000 aborted babies---5 times the number of lives taken in the holocaust--in each case innocent lives--96% or more of abortions are for birth control--
There have been some great moments in these debates--the ladies who had abortions brought tears when they described their crushing mental problems and battles--and the lady who was the product of a rape stunned everyone when she started crying and asked "Why am I less of a person because I am the product of a rape?"--You could hear a pin drop
Support life
Out of respect for this web site, I won't finish that.
HB1215 allows exceptions up to, but not beyond, the point where abortion on demand remains in effect.
It is unfortunate that uniformed Republicans have joined the crusade of the abortion on demand Democrats.