Roe vs. Wade was decided over 40 years ago by the U.S.Supreme Court during its hearings after testimony by scientist and other professionals. The courts decision was a legal one based on that expert testimony, politics was not a factor. The decision of the court did not sit well with so called conservative republicans, religious groups and others and for over 40 years has done its best politically to undermine and repeal the decision.
Never mind that those same groups were silent prior to Roe vs. Wade when women traveled out side the U.S. to have an abortion when abortion was prohibited by the U.S. Everyone knew it was going on and in great numbers. But Roe vs. Wade was in the public news so politics got involved, chose sides to divide the public and play to their base and sadly 40 years later politics has not settled the issue.
Those republican leaders who support the repeal of Roe vs. Wade have been less than honest in their protest and that is why a political settlement has failed. Those leaders know full well the only way to change the courts decision is by a constitutional amendment. But none have had the courage or character to campaign and or propose such an amendment because they know the necessary votes are not there so they keep up their scam attacks.
All the while there is no public outcry by those who oppose abortion about the men who use no protection and impregnate their partner. Those men must know very little about the woman's desire to have a child if she became pregnant. Don't they have a responsibility? After all, it is the male politicians and religious leaders who are opposed to abortion at all cost.
And now the country is being exposed big time to many states with republican legislatures who are trying to politically subvert Roe vs. Wade with new abortion legislation that is being overturned by the federal courts. It is a never ending scam to obtain votes and divide the country over an issue that was settled legally over 40 years ago. The shame of it all is that the abortion opponents can not produce one person with the character, wisdom or courage to fight for a constitutional amendment if they feel so strongly about abortion.
The key to understand the underling problem of the anti abortion crowd is their rhetoric about their charges that Hillary Clinton supports abortion. Hillary Clinton chose life and brought a daughter into this world who in turn also brought a child into this world. Abortions in the U.S. have been going down for a number of years thanks to education and prevention, other education information made available by people and orginazations who are concerned with the problem and have no political axe to grind. They have accomplished more to bring the abortion rate down than all the anti-abortion crowd and their anti-abortion rhetoric and schemes.
After his election as Pope, Pope Francis said The Roman Catholic Church had grown obsessed with preaching abortion, gay marriage and contraception that he has chosen not to speak of those issues, despite recrimination from some critics. (reported in a PolitiDose commentary at the time dated 9/25/13) The Pope realized the abortion issue was not being addressed properly and 40 plus years of political posturing has not worked. It has only made the divide greater. What a shame on our political system that allows this to take place. Political rhetoric on abortion is empty.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
