Letters to the Editor
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@ dataguyx
You say you will never support NOW again? I didn't realize you had been a NOW supporter. If you had been it seems that you would know that NOW is not a top-down organization that tells every state and local NOW group what to do. When I went to NOW meetings some years back in a small city, we decided what to to and what stance to take locally and there was plenty of disagreement even amongst ourselves.
As has been pointed out again and again here at Broadsheet, there simply is not one monolithic feminism available for attack. Good and decent feminists can disagree.
However, I confess that I am a little puzzled as to why Planned Parenthood would want Obama to vote present on a parental notification bill.
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You are puzzled
"However, I confess that I am a little puzzled as to why Planned Parenthood would want Obama to vote present on a parental notification bill."
That's probably because you didn't read the article. It's very clear. Present=no.
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I give hundreds of dollars every year to Planned Parenthood
And I give nothing to NOW. This article helped me feel good about doing that. If PP was telling me to vote one way, and NOW another, I know who I would side with.
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OH. MY. GOD. Reading comprehension 101.
To vote "present", instead of voting yes or no; shows someone who cannot or will not stand up for what he or she believes. IMO, that is a poor excuse for someone, who calls themselves a leader.
READ the damned post. He was ASKED to vote "present" by the group MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED by the bill.
Read, internalize, understand, THEN comment.
Oy vey.
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The money quote
Here's the key quote:
'Here's the deal. Obama voted "present" 129 times (out of about 4,000 votes cast) over about eight years as a state senator in Illinois -- one of the few states where legislators can vote "present" to indicate a procedural disagreement. "Present" is sometimes used as a means of objecting to details of a measure that one supports in principle -- and, of course, as a means of dodging an on-the-record yes or no. (But for all intents and purposes, a "present" counts as a "no," because it does not count as a "yes" that would move the bill forward.)'
For the terminally clueless, PRESENT=NO. Obama voted in the correct way, just not using the word NO. He voted PRESENT for strategic reasons.
Ever since that hysterical ninny from NY NOW said that Teddy Kennedy had stabbed them in the back or whatever moronic comment they made, I realized that the NOW people had collectively become insane by the prospect of President Hillary. Actually, when I listen to Hillary, I do not hear this level of insane wackiness. Sen Clinton remains a sensible person that I respect.
It is her supporters that turn my stomach.
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@ dataguyx
I am a prochoice feminist (also a U-U) and I do also know how to read and did read the article. I am not attacking Obama here but don't think I agree with Planned Parenthood's strategy. Parental notification is one of ugliest of the antiabortion crowds issues. It seems to me to be an extremely important issue to actually take a stand on. "Present" is not a stand. That is all I am saying.
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What stops him?
Oh! Great!
Then we do not have a problem at all. Nothing stops St. O. from going on Ophra along with the PP representatives and giving their side of the story. Why didn't they do it already?
Who stopped Obama's campaign from stapling copies of this article to his 'I am a Christian Leader' leaflet?
dataguyx, be a dear, start sending e-mails to every single potential voter in every single future state primary, especially the one within the Bible Belt.
And while you, Obama's supporters, are at it, don't forget to explain that you do not actually see the words 'observant Muslim' as an insult. Listening to you one may imagine somebody accuse him of roasting babies for human sacrifices.
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Huh??
"Then we do not have a problem at all. Nothing stops St. O. from going on Ophra along with the PP representatives and giving their side of the story. Why didn't they do it already?"
Well, if you respond to lies and distortions more than necessary, you give them legs. The lies, distortions, mischaracterizations, outright fabrications, and sheer stupidity of Obama's detractors on this issue have been dealt with adequately.
What has led to the need to lie so despicably about this issue, and lie about his politically-appropriate votes? what has led other deranged NOW people to call Teddy Kennedy an enemy?
What is it about Hillary that makes her supporters so repulsive?
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Why Hillary's Vote Matters
Because, that was a time just a few short years ago, when we desperately needed leaders to stand up to the Bush Administration (and the Major Media for that matter) while they were using 9/11 for their own purposes.
Her vote matters because Senator Clinton failed at leadership when it was needed most.
She voted not for a tax cut, not for a health care plan, but for a full scale invasion of another country for false reasons. That was the same period when people who saw through was was going on were called Traitors and Terrorist Sympathisers.
If I figured out what was going on by reading the newspapers, I am not sure why Senator Clinton could not. It is not Bush's fault she voted Yeah.
If it ends up being Clinton versus McCain, both will defend their votes for the war. One could argue that will be a slap in the face of everyone who knew better.
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need some help here
since I am not 'strongly' pro-choice, although if pressed I do come down on the side of choice...but at the same time am sympathetic to some of the pro-life argument.
Anyway, how is 'parental notification' an ugly argument of the pro-life side? A minor is considering one of the most harrowing, most life-altering medical procedures out there, with significant psychological and physical ramifications....and her parents should not know about this?
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"NOW" is not a top-down organization
I just want to second what AKA Smith said about NOW: as you may have seen in the kerfuffle over the Kennedy/Clinton press release from NY NOW, state and local chapters are largely autonomous. If you have an issue with NOW on *this* particular matter, that's an issue with Illinois NOW, not the national organization. JADP.