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You are here: Home / Civil Rights / Women's Rights / Vagina Outrage / “Let Women Die” Bill passes the House; President Obama Will Veto if Necessary

“Let Women Die” Bill passes the House; President Obama Will Veto if Necessary

by Imani Gandy (ABL)|  October 13, 20117:12 pm| 49 Comments

This post is in: Vagina Outrage

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Republicans hate women.

Demonstrating yet again that Republicans prefer waging a war on women than a war on unemployment, the House passed an anti-abortion bill that appropriately has been deemed the “Let Women Die” bill. All House Republicans plus eleven Democrats (!!!??) voted for the bill. (The bill is expected to die in the Senate, but if it doesn’t, President Obama has said he will veto it.)

The bill permits hospitals that receive federal funding to turn away women who seek an abortion even if the procedure is necessary to save the woman’s life:

The GOP-led House of Representatives is voting Thursday on a bill that Republicans say is necessary to keep taxpayer money from funding abortions but that Democrats call “savage” to women and possibly deadly.

The Protect Life Act would bar federal funding for abortions. It would also prohibit women from using tax subsidies acquired through President Obama’s health care reforms to pay for health insurance that covers abortion, except in the cases of rape, incest or risk to the mother’s health. Additionally, the bill would let health care providers refuse to perform an abortion if it violates their personal beliefs.

So if Mary McPreggers heads to her local hospital and that hospital just happens to be run by Doctor Ratched the Pro-life Forced-birth Teabilly Evangelist, the hospital would be within its right to simply push Mary out on to the street and leave her there to die, Hippocratic oath be damned.

Nancy Pelosi called the measure “just appalling” and a “savage” attempt to withhold healthcare for women. She also said, “When the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor.”

Rep Jackie Speier (D-CA) called the bill “misogynist.”

The bill is both of those things; but more importantly, the bill is also never going to become law — not while President Obama is at the helm of this sinking ship.

Let’s just say I’m glad my uterus is in President Obama’s capable hands.

Wait — that came out all wrong.

Dang, so did that!

Um…

::backs away slowly::

[via Think Progress]

[cross-posted at Angry Black Lady Chronicles]
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Reader Interactions

49Comments

  1. 1.

    Svensker

    October 13, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    I just…I mean…there are no words.

  2. 2.

    Ruckus

    October 13, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    @Svensker:
    Agreed.

  3. 3.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik

    October 13, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    @Svensker:

    There are plenty of words. And not a good one amongst them.

  4. 4.

    r€nato

    October 13, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    That’s a bill that surely gave Bishop Olmsted a woody bigger than his crozier.

    Bishop Olmsted initially excommunicated a nun, Sister Margaret McBride, who had been on the hospital’s ethics committee and had approved of the decision (to abort a fetus in order to save the life of a mother who already had four children). That seems to have been a failed attempt to bully the hospital into submission, but it refused to cave and continues to employ Sister Margaret. Now the bishop, in effect, is excommunicating the entire hospital — all because it saved a woman’s life.

  5. 5.

    r€nato

    October 13, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    …and the ‘logic’ behind this is that people who have profound moral objections to abortion, should not be ‘oppressed’ into having their tax money fund abortions in even the most indirect way.

    Well, I tell you what: I have profound moral objections to our tax money being used to fund churches. After all, their tax exemption amounts to additional taxation upon you, me, and everyone else. Some incremental amount of the taxes I pay, is paid by me in lieu of being paid by churches which aren’t helping pay for the military which guarantees their right to freely practice their religion.

    In other words, I’m helping fund religion. Where’s the congressman who’s going to introduce a bill on my behalf, to relieve me and others who feel like I do of this profound moral outrage?

  6. 6.

    John Weiss

    October 13, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    @r€nato: Oh, I so agree with you. I’ve nothing against churches per se but their tax-exempt status has rankled for years. Why should any profit making organization be tax-exempt?

    Oh, yeah. GE.

  7. 7.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    October 13, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    I wonder if there is a way to use the acrimony between the fundamentalist christians who have not only called mormoms cultists but catholics as well. Tweety has that idiot from the catholic league on and he’s all puffed up about the fundies fuckin with the mackeral snappers. fuck every one of all of em

  8. 8.

    amk

    October 13, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    11 dem turn-coats signed on to this ? As long as amurika keeps electing such punks to office, they will keep getting their comeuppance.

  9. 9.

    A Humble Lurker

    October 13, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Both videos are of NancySMASH! Not that I’m complaining.

    But yeah, that’s all I can think of to say in the face of this.

  10. 10.

    MeDrewNotYou

    October 13, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    @r€nato: This. The Hyde Amendment is just about the most odious piece of bullshit in American politics. I’m opposed to the War on (Some) Drugs, but do I get a choice? I don’t think my government should be executing people, trial or no, lethal injection or Predator strike. But that’s too fucking bad, I’m still paying for it. A woman in need requires an abortion or reproductive health service? Hold up! You get to choose how your taxes are spent all of a sudden.

    Bringing up Hyde brings out my Rageface and nasty side.

  11. 11.

    Svensker

    October 13, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    @r€nato:

    Well, I tell you what: I have profound moral objections to our tax money being used to fund churches

    I have profound moral objections to our tax money being used to fund wars. I can haz a law, too?

  12. 12.

    gbear

    October 13, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    So did Nancy Smash tell the 11 democrats who voted for it that they should go die in a fire? Hope so.

  13. 13.

    The Populist

    October 13, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    Wow, so nice to see congress doing it’s part to get people back to work. Pro life my ass. So my wife must die so some foetus can be saved? Sorry, we can always try again.

    God I hate these people. A foetus is not a person. A person must not be forced to die in order to bring a foetus to term.

  14. 14.

    AA+ Bonds

    October 13, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    LIHEAP update, y’all – Kerry giving Obama some of the cover he needs to do something I don’t doubt he wants to do.

    On topic:

    It would also prohibit women from using tax subsidies acquired through President Obama’s health care reforms to pay for health insurance that covers abortion, except in the cases of rape, incest or risk to the mother’s health.

    This alone guarantees a veto.

  15. 15.

    Roger Moore

    October 13, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    @MeDrewNotYou:

    I’m opposed to the War on (Some) Drugs, but do I get a choice? I don’t think my government should be executing people, trial or no, lethal injection or Predator strike. But that’s too fucking bad, I’m still paying for it.

    And the answer is that you need to get as many people to support your point of view as vigorously as the anti-choice people have supporting theirs. When you can build a political movement that guarantees that drug warriors and death penalty advocates can’t get elected in the Democratic Party, you can get your way, too.

  16. 16.

    AA+ Bonds

    October 13, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    LIHEAP update, y’all – Kerry giving Obama some of the cover he needs to do something I don’t doubt he wants to do.

    I will note that WordPress is modding every comment that includes the “except in the cases of . . . ” phrase so look out for that.

  17. 17.

    Elie

    October 13, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Who are the 11 Democrats???

    This is “last gasp” stuff… It just puts more nails in their coffin…

  18. 18.

    harlana

    October 13, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    I already loved the amazing Jackie Speier, but especially now, this is a must-watch and relevant to the level of cruelty to which republicans can sink when it comes to women and abortions.

  19. 19.

    The Populist

    October 13, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    @John Weiss:

    The fact that these “churches”, like the one run by the fella who called Mormons a cult, use the tax dollars that should go to pay for things this country needs (health, infrastructure, training) to proseletyze their political message sickens me.

  20. 20.

    Villago Delenda Est

    October 13, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    Love the GOP’s laserlike focus on jobs, don’t you?

  21. 21.

    The Populist

    October 13, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Especially since they ran on the idea they could create jobs better than Dems and Obama. Still waiting Boehner.

    BTW, I called Ed Royce, my critter in congress, and spoke with his helpers. Let’s just say they wanted me off the phone asap when I asked what this has to do with creating jobs and helping to get people and small business back on track. Their response: Thank you for your comments (tersely as they really want to say get off my phone liberal commie!).

  22. 22.

    MeDrewNotYou

    October 13, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    @Roger Moore: The problem is that it isn’t easy to find pro-choicers who’ll bomb fundie churches or assassinate fundie pastors. Even if women are literally being condemned to completely preventable deaths, we don’t resort to violence (and rightly so).

    @The Populist: Yeah. Jesus is real proud of you for spending tens of thousands of dollars on billboards condemning homosexuality or demanding the 3rd string QB start in some game. You could’ve fed plenty of hungry people, or provided shelter for the homeless, or make lives less miserable, but its more important for the public to know where you (and God, of course!) stand on the Bronco’s starters.

    Not ‘you’ you, of course. ;]

  23. 23.

    MeDrewNotYou

    October 13, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: What, gravediggers don’t count?

  24. 24.

    ABL

    October 13, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    @A Humble Lurker: fix’d!

  25. 25.

    PurpleGirl

    October 13, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    @The Populist: In the extreme cases where a woman needs an abortion, it is often the case the fetus has already died or will shortly die in utero and can’t be saved. In saving the woman the medical team is doing the best it can for a sort-of-good outcome. If the woman can’t get the abortion, they both die.

    Damn them all to hell.

    ETA: The anti-abortion people seem to believe that pregnancy and childbirth are just natural events and are entirely safe. They may be natural but they are not necessarily safe for either the mother or the potential child.

  26. 26.

    CaliCat

    October 13, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    These Repiglicons are vicious psychopaths. They really are. I hate them with such a passion and I don’t like hating people. But I really do hate them. They are some truly evil SOBS.

  27. 27.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik

    October 13, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    @Elie:

    I’d be more comfortable with it being “last gasp” if the assholes weren’t somehow winning these “last gasp” battles. Especially since unless we manage a small miracle, the next Congress will more than likely be even more assholishly conservative than this one.

  28. 28.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    October 13, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    Both of those videos are of Nancy Pelosi.

    ETA: oh, see it’s fixed now.

  29. 29.

    The Populist

    October 13, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    @MeDrewNotYou: Nice Tebow reference.

  30. 30.

    DFH no.6

    October 13, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    Fucking fascist assholes gotta be fucking fascist assholes.

    Any woman who votes Republican is like a kapo in the camps.

    Yeah, I know – eleven “Democrats”. All the Republicans. All 242 of them.

    And St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix told Bishop Olmsted to go fuck himself, essentially. Good for them.

    The Senate will do the same to this latest proof of just how hateful and inhuman the Right in power is.

  31. 31.

    The Populist

    October 13, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    @PurpleGirl: No surprise they don’t get it. We are dealing with idiots and morans. These freaks hate America so much they refuse to allow us to keep up our lofty science goals out of hate for evolution climate change FACTS. These people are so insecure that they feel a need to enforce THEIR morality and extreme beliefs on us lest THEY deviate from their beliefs (whatever). They are so fucked up that they talk about freedom and liberty but do everything they can to take it away, especially for those who they disagree with.

    Funny, Obama allowed these asshats to keep their guns, even extending their right to bare arms to national parks. Not enough.

    He’s kept us safer from the terra-rists yet he’s an embarrassment to the nation. (Now I don’t agree with everything he’s DONE to keep us safe, just saying).

    To the idiots who preach American exceptionalism: What makes this country so exceptional anymore? YOU FUCKTARDS TORE THE HEART OUT OF THIS COUNTRY AND HANDED IT OVER TO CHINA. Exceptional? You hate schools, you hate small business, you hate innovation, you hate infrastructure. I am sorry but since you folks want us to live in a Jesus inspired version of Iran, you need to shut the fuck up, go watch the next NASCAR event and leave the rest of us alone.

    Where’s Peter Thiel and his platform islands when you need him?

  32. 32.

    Mnemosyne

    October 13, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    @The Populist:

    So my wife must die so some foetus can be saved? Sorry, we can always try again.

    I think their answer would be that you would just go out and find a new wife with properly functioning reproductive organs if you lose one in childbirth. I mean, it’s not like a man gets emotionally attached to the woman he marries, amirite?

  33. 33.

    The Populist

    October 13, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Sheesh, is that all it takes? Ah shucks, guess Jeebus would want me to do that.

    Argh…sigh.

  34. 34.

    PurpleGirl

    October 13, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    ABL: Using the illustration of Angela Davis is way kewl.

  35. 35.

    Cain

    October 13, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    who are these 11 democrats?

  36. 36.

    SiubhanDuinne

    October 13, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Is there a link, or a bill number so we can see who the eleven (spit!) Dems were? ‘Cause I’d like to send money to anyone who primaries them.

  37. 37.

    ruemara

    October 13, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    @Cain:
    Yeah that’s what I want to know.

    Thank you, Thomasdotgov

    edited to reflect that the roll call vote data is not yet up.

  38. 38.

    rikyrah

    October 13, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Republicans Hate Women.

    please keep on telling the truth about these misogynists.

  39. 39.

    PeakVT

    October 13, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    @Cain: I see 15 on the roll call: Altmire, Bishop (GA), Boren, Costello, Critz, Cuellar, Donnelly (IN), Holden, Lipinski, Matheson, McIntyre, Peterson, Rahall, Ross (AR), and Shuler.

    ETA: The two nays from the other side were Biggert and Hanna.

  40. 40.

    Ruckus

    October 13, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    @Roger Moore:
    If I’m not mistaken poll after poll, election after election has shown that the majority are pro choice. The issue was settled decades ago in the SC, the way questions about our laws are supposed to be settled. And a very vocal minority still can not keep their fucking little brains to mind their own fucking business.

    And I’m another voice that does not want my tax money to fund religion, even if it is by exemption rather than direct taxation. Congress shall make no law… In my mind this clearly states that religion has no rights above no religion. But exemption of taxes clearly favors religion over non religion.

  41. 41.

    ExurbanMom

    October 13, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    Rep. Speier is on Rachel Maddow this evening, and she is a wonderful spokeswoman for us. You know, the vast majority of the American public that doesn’t think it’s a good idea to leave women on the floor to die when they need medical care? I weep for myself, my daughter, and my country.

  42. 42.

    Rathskeller

    October 13, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    @Ruckus:

    If I’m not mistaken poll after poll, election after election has shown that the majority are pro choice.

    No, it’s more complex than that, and it depends on how you ask the question. The overall trend is towards pro-choice, but it is a very slow march. There will always be a substantial number of people against abortion in all circumstances.

    The most striking thing to me about this type of poll (and I’ve seen others just like it) is that the people who say “always” and the people who say “never” poll at about the same numbers since the 1970s, about 25%. The people who say “it depends” are the largest group.

    This is why the GOP has never actually tried to outlaw abortion, not under Reagan or Bush 41 or Bush 43, even when they had a tricameral hold on the government. They never, ever try — except in meaningless ways like constitutional amendments that cannot even pass the House. Abortion is a money raiser for them, and it brings the idiots into the polling booth, but they have to be careful keep to futzing around the edges, not just ban it outright. If you actually banned abortion instead of yammering about this funding policy or that late-term procedure, the middle class would suddenly wake up and starting voting for real since suddenly the shit would be about them.

  43. 43.

    Ruckus

    October 14, 2011 at 3:57 am

    @Rathskeller:
    True enough I’m sure.
    Conservatards have made being complete assholes into a money making thing. I’m just hoping that more people will realize that what comes out of assholes smells like shit, because it is.

  44. 44.

    Triassic Sands

    October 14, 2011 at 5:25 am

    Republicans…you gotta hate ’em.

    How can anyone with half a brain and any sense of right and wrong ever support anything these monsters do.

  45. 45.

    harlana

    October 14, 2011 at 6:37 am

    Did I mention Jackie Speier is one of my heroes?! For those who don’t know, she was shot 5 times at Jonestown and barely survived.

  46. 46.

    PWL

    October 14, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Well, if this is what “compassionate conservatism” looks like, then fuck them people. Seems the only compassion they have is for things involving money and corporate interests.

  47. 47.

    ABL

    October 14, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    @harlana: oh that’s right! i always forget about that.

  48. 48.

    Charles Brandon

    October 16, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    i wonder if the millions of abortions since 1973 were all to protect the mother’s life, or for convenience. It is was a good job growth plan that steve jobs was born in 1955 and put up for adoption – what other creative possibilities we have lost in different choices that have been made since 1973?

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  1. Blog war over Pelosi abortion quote says:
    October 14, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    […] bill that appropriately has been deemed the ‘Let Women Die’ bill,” writes a blogger at the liberal Balloon Juice blog. “Let’s just say I’m glad my uterus is in President Obama’s capable […]

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