From
an AP story:
WASHINGTON - The House voted Thursday to treat attacks on a pregnant woman as separate crimes against both her and the fetus she is carrying. Critics say it would undermine abortion rights by giving fetuses new federal legal status.
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The White House expressed strong support for the legislation and opposed any "one-victim" alternatives such as that offered by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. Her substitute, backed by most Democrats, fell 229-186.
Supporters denied that the bill was about abortion, pointing to language in the bill that specifically protects those carrying out legal abortions from prosecution. But the abortion issue dominated the debate.
"You deny personhood, which is a legal concept, to the unborn," Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., a strong opponent of abortion, said to critics of the bill. "Here's an opportunity to not restrict the liberty of a pregnant woman, but to enhance the sanctity of human life."
But Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said it would be the first time in federal law that a fetus would be recognized as having the same rights as the born. The bill "is not about shielding pregnant women," she said. "It is and has always been about undermining freedom of choice."
Yes, we may be reaching the zenith of culture wars in this country.
Laws like this one will ultimately be challenged at the Supreme Court. What kinds of judges will make up the Court when a challenge to this law reaches the bench?
Regardless of what one thinks of John Kerry, the threat/fear of allowing Bush and company to appoint up to three new Justices in the coming four years should be enough to make even the most staunch Independent or Green touch the screen for the Democrat.
Yes, I know the Supreme Court appointment argument has been made before, but O'Connor, Stephens and Rehnquist have all made noises about stepping down. O'Connor has the been the loudest among them.
Don't forget that O'Connor has become the most critical vote on the Court. She frequently goes against the Rehnquist-Scalia-Kennedy-Thomas bloc and votes with the "other team."
Between the marriage amendment, this law, the furor over "decency," and the consolidation of media power into the hands of the few, losing one, two or three seats on the Supreme Court to yet more incarnations of of the two-headed Scalia-Thomas beast is a truly frightening prospect.
And yes, the Republicans control the House and the Senate... and they want to cut off the ability to fillibuster judicial appointments.
We must capture the Presidency. It is essntial in order to make this country a livable option for us and for our children.
And, no, that's not hyprebole...