Politics, Part II

I was hoping there would be a link to the interview transcript, but no luck.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/a-democratic-baroness-endorses-mccain-palin-ticket/

So, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild is now supporting McCain/Palin.

I'm scared. 

The part that really drove me: where she said we shouldn't be worrying about abortion.  It's constitutionally protected.

Um, actually NOT.  A woman's right to choose is protected by this little case known as Roe v. Wade (with some follow-on cases), which interprets the privacy rights in the Constitution to cover a woman's right to decide what to do with her own body.  A case that could be overturned.

Not that it would really matter to HER anyway.  I don't know her exact age (and Google is not helping), but if I had to guess I would say she is probably past worrying about periods.  Even if I'm wrong on that case, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild is going to have options the rest of us do not.

Nothing says elitist like telling us what not to worry our pretty little heads about, lady.

DV

Promised Politics Post

So, I was getting all calm about the political stuff and plotting what I was going to write.

Then I saw the newest go-round of "deny Democratic politicians Communion because they vote pro-choice" (directed at Biden and Pelosi) and I about lost it.

POLITICS DO NOT BELONG IN CHURCH.

And in my opinion, "voter's guides" assembled by any group, conservative or liberal, should also NOT BE IN CHURCH.

Especially when it comes to choice.  Or, more narrowly, the abortion question.

Would I, Danielle, ever have an abortion?  Probably not.  I don't want to say "never" because I don't know what all life has in store for me, and I might face a situation where I feel that termination of a pregnancy is the best option.

But it's not my place to tell other women what to do with their bodies.  It's not my place to make that decision for other women.  Women need to have the right to make that decision for themselves - with the input of their doctor and male partner where appropriate. 

It is not my place to judge a woman for deciding to have an abortion, or deciding on what ground it's okay to have an abortion.  That starts us down a slippery slope that I have no intention of sliding down.

So I remain pro-choice.

There are more issues at play than just abortion.  The Catholic Church is also anti-death penalty, which is a stance I don't see many of these "pro-life" people taking. 

I acknowledge that there truly are people who are pro-life and not just anti-choice.  I acknowledge that there are people who do more than simply pay lip service to the sanctity of the unborn life, and then ignore it once it's here on Earth and needs support from someone besides the mother. 

I will do more than acknowledge them.  I commend them for their service, for putting their belief into action.

But I still think women should have the right to choose.  Pregnancy and childbirth (even if you are going the adoption route) are lifechanging events.  Despite what some people would like to think, they can still kill you.  They can cause lifelong health problems.

When I look at the Republican ticket, I don't see support for social justice.  I definitely don't see support for choice.  I see a mentality that doesn't support what I believe in.  I see a party that claims to be all about "family values".  I don't know about everyone else, but hatred is not one of my family values.  And hatred is what I see.  Hatred for those who want the right to marry their same-sex partner (just like us straights), hatred for those who are different, hatred for those women who don't want to be controlled. 

I believe in choice.
I believe in same-sex marriage.
I believe in not discriminating against the LGBT people in our society. 
I believe in the separation of church and state.

 And I believe that four more years of Republican rule would be a very bad thing.

 That is why I will be casting my vote for Barack Obama on November 4.  Not for the sake of party unity, but because I believe he is a better choice than John McCain.

 Excuse me, I have to go donate to Obama/Biden '08, Planned Parenthood, and NARAL. 

 DV

Make a Donation to Planned Parenthood...

 
In honor of Sarah Palin.

The idea was posted in norabombay 's LJ.  She didn't make it up, but she's helping pass it along.

Make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin's name. And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor! You can make a donation for as little as $5.00!

Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website: https://secure.ga0.org/02/pp10000_inhonor

You'll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the "in Sarah Palin's honor" card.

McCain/Palin for President
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington, VA 22202

I love it!  Already donated $25 this morning.

DV