Topeka — Abortion rights advocates Wednesday criticized Gov. Sam Brownback for calling for further restrictions on abortions.
"It's disappointing and hypocritical at best," said Julie Burkhart, founder and director of Trust Women.
In his first State of the State address, Brownback, a Republican, said he wanted the Legislature to approve legislation "that protects the unborn, establishing a culture of life in Kansas.
"We must support the dignity of every human being whether that person is unemployed, undereducated or unborn," he said.
Republicans in the Legislature gave Brownback a standing ovation at that point.
But Burkhart said women deserve the right to make their own health decisions.
She said that earlier in his speech, Brownback repeatedly said, "the days of ever expanding government are over." But Burkhart said Brownback wants to expand government to dictate what women can do with their own bodies.
Comments
zstoltenberg 2 years, 4 months ago
Here we go, Popcorn anyone?
jhawkinsf 2 years, 4 months ago
All rights enumerated in the constitution, (freedom of speech, religion, press) have some restrictions on them. Abortion should be no different. For those on the far extremes on this subject, my advise to you is that if you adopt a reasonable position, conceding that the right exists but that some restrictions are necessary, then the overwhelming majority in the middle will follow.
jafs 2 years, 4 months ago
That's a nice moderate idea.
tolawdjk 2 years, 4 months ago
I agree in part with what he says, we -should- protect the unborn.
However, how about instead of protecting the "dignity" of the undereducated and unemployed we work to get rid of them.
Cause the way I heard that statement, Mr. Brownback, is that are tactitly saying that you can't do a thing to prevent them, but you want to protect them. Not exactly why you were elected.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 2 years, 4 months ago
"However, how about instead of protecting the "dignity" of the undereducated and unemployed we work to get rid of them."
He undoubtedly agrees with you, although I suspect the methods he would have in mind are more like a final solution.
Yeoman2 2 years, 4 months ago
"All rights enumerated in the constitution, ("Constitution" (capitalizedadded for correctness , ) (freedom of speech, religion, press) have some restrictions on them. Abortion should be no different."
Just where in the hell do you come up with this? What restrictions on speech other than yelling "Fire" in a crowded theatre (creating a riot) What restrictions exist on Religion. My God, look at the Phelps clan!! Press, have you listened to Rush Limbaugh lately???
Abortion is legal in the United States except to the religious nuts who want to find issue with this and force their meddling religious doctrines on others.
If you want to get an abortion, you have the right.
If you do not want an abortion, do not get one.
If you do not want someone else to get an abortion, it is none of your damned business!
kansastruthteller 2 years, 4 months ago
Restrictions on speech? One's rights should be uninfringed up unto the point that they infringe upon someone elses. Thus, you cannon slander or libel someone because your exercise of your right harms another.
Restrictions on abortion? Aborting viable babies, especially those that are at or near full term. At that point it is not just a fetus, but is a child and should be protected from harm unless the mother's physical health is at risk from delivering the baby. Remove the mental health exception because that is the point where the mother's rights infringe upon the baby's rights. As long as it is a fetus that is not viable it has no rights, but once it is a baby that can live outside the womb it does.
jhawkinsf 2 years, 4 months ago
Yelling fire in a crowded theater is not protected. Neither is hate speech. Fighting words are not protected. As for freedom of religion, you are free to believe whatever you wish, however acting upon those beliefs can be restricted. Mormons may not legally marry more than one person. Animal sacrifice is also outlawed. Other practices would also be outlawed if they are contrary to U.S. law, even those sanctioned by religion. Freedom of the press also has limitations placed upon them, especially when using public airwaves. My call was for a reasoned discussion of what restrictions might be placed upon the right to have an abortion. Might they include parental permission. I would feel uncomfortable having an advocacy group deciding to take my child across a state border (say into Kansas City, Mo.) for an abortion without my knowledge or consent. I realize there may be some parents who might not react in a positive manner. A 15 year old telling an advocate might have that fear. Or perhaps they are afraid the parent would restrict unsupervised visits to the boyfriends house, (good parenting in my view).
Or maybe eliminating the mental health exception. Do you mean that a third trimester abortion is permitted if the pregnancy is "bumming out" the woman. Hopefully it would not work out like the California medical marijuana laws where with a wink and a nod, anyone can be diagnosed with problem that marijuana would solve. Is that how the "mental health" of a woman will be determined? Will third trimester abortions be permitted with a wink and a nod? Again, my original statement was a call for calm, reasoned discussion of a complex subject. I agree that women have the right to an abortion, though I'm not sure is should be absolute and without some restrictions.
Liberty275 2 years, 4 months ago
"What restrictions on speech other than yelling "Fire" in a crowded theatre (creating a riot) What restrictions exist on Religion.
Ummm, you gotta be 300 feet away from somebody to tell them god doesn't like people that have sex with others of the same gender? That's a restriction on speech.
TJ_in_Lawrence 2 years, 4 months ago
I agree with brownback. Who speaks for the unborn? We have taken a position of cavalier disregard for the third person in the equation. The woman, her doctor and the victim. Sadly if history records an accurate report of the 80s and 90s it will say. A period in Americas history when mobs took to the streets screaming and waving signs demanding the right to murder their own offspring. People in our country talk about the barbarism of war, but we have allowed the killing of more children in the past year alone than were killed in all of the current wars around the world. Honest reflection is hard to face.
GardenMomma 2 years, 4 months ago
If you want to stop women from having abortions, educate people on ways to have safe sex, what options are if you do accidentally become pregnant, and address what a woman's options are in cases of incest, molestation, rape, and terminal harm to mother or fetus.
Promoting abstinence-only birth control is an unrealistic expectation in this day and age. Certainly, abstinence should be included in sex education, but as part of many options for safe sex and birth control. Other issues I think should be included in sex education are emphasis on the emotional and financial obligations an unplanned pregnancy has on a person.
Cappy 2 years, 4 months ago
What's funny, or rather hypocritical, is they would cut funding to Planned Parenthood in the name of protecting the unborn, yet who provides the most prenatal care for low income women thus promoting the welfare of the unborn when they are actually born? Planned Parenthood.
If you are against abortion, promote comprehensive sex-ed and cheap contraception. Otherwise, your just flapping your gums.
Hoots 2 years, 4 months ago
Here we go again. We have all these problems with jobs, deficits, school finance, etc. and the poititions want to throw this in. Did any of them look at the list of voter priorities? I give up. These people must have brains made of concrete.
Centerville 2 years, 4 months ago
You will have to admit that it's more fun to whine about Brownback's concern for the unborn than to have to justify Sebilius' concern for the abortion industry.
bangaranggerg 2 years, 4 months ago
Beliefs inform actions; irrational beliefs inform irrational actions
kansanjayhawk 2 years, 4 months ago
Just remember that Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the nation. That organization kills more unborn babies than any other so I believe that taking their tax payer provided dollars away should be a top priority. Even if you are pro-choice you should acknowledge that the taxpayer should not be on the hook for those decisions.
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