Guest Blogger – Shelley Martinez
I am scared for this country because we are headed for a civil war centered on abortion. The Right and especially the Religious Right wants this war. They are especially energized with the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate. Sarah Palin is a theocrat, meaning she and many Evangelicals do not believe in separation of Church and State. They want to implement a biblical form of government; and create a truly Christian nation modeled after ancient Israel, where there is no secular government. Evangelicals and hard right people are absolutely giddy about Sarah Palin. She is their “Moses.” Many had planned on sitting out this election, but not anymore. John McCain may think he is in charge of his party but he is not. The Religious Right doesn’t care about McCain. They are tolerating him until Sarah, their “chosen” one, is rightfully installed as President. McCain is neither that healthy nor hardy. If I were McCain, I would be very scared that the theocrats weren’t trying to hasten his demise.
For the Evangelical Right, the anti-abortion issue is the seminal cultural/political/social issue of this time. They liken this issue to the anti-slavery movement of the early 19th century. They see themselves as modern day abolitionists. The Left and many in the press are not sufficiently aware of how volatile this issue is and how ardent the Religious Right is to wage a war on this issue. They are making traction on this issue within the Republican Party. Many of the moderates are being pushed out or being marginalized. Before Sarah Palin was selected, the Republican brand was seriously in jeopardy. Many, including the Religious Right, were disillusioned with George W. Bush. He had the Supreme Court, the Executive and Legislative branches and yet, still did not overturn Roe v. Wade. The Neo-cons have always been much more interested in waging war and making obscene amounts of money in oil and defense contracting rather than pushing a cultural agenda. They pay lip service to pro-life positions but frankly they aren’t particularly vested in the issue. They dangle the issue out there to keep the Religious Right in their pocket but they never had any intention of changing the status quo. Sarah Palin changes the game. The Religious Right will no longer patiently wait for abolition. Those in the pro-choice crowd who don’t recognize the danger are doomed to be drawn into a war.
Apart from preventing John McCain and Sarah Palin from reaching the White House, the only way to stave off this war is to compromise. Both sides will need to make big concessions. Neither side will win because both are operating from a zero-sum game but compromise will happen at some point – before or after the war. What will the Left have to concede?
1. Partial birth abortion – gone. Completely.
2. No more abortions unless in cases of rape and incest or the life of the mother is in jeopardy. No more abortions even if the fetus has genetic abnormalities.
3. Finally, ban embryonic stem cell research. There are advances in stem cell research that will negate the need for the use of embryos.
What will the Right have to concede?
1. Abortion will only be allowed in cases of rape and incest or the life of the mother is in jeopardy.
2. A real commitment in terms of legislation and funding will have to provide a cushion for women who are in poverty or near poverty. The major reason for most women who seek abortion is immediate and long-term finances.
2a. Universal healthcare for all US children.
2b. Free childcare and/or pre-school for all children until they reach elementary school age.
2c. Provide 24 months of paid maternity leave from the Federal Government. This burden cannot be put on employers because childbearing women would never be employed. Of course, most people on the Right will cry about the massive spending this will require but if we are to believe they care about more than the fetus, then they need to put their money where their mouth is.
3. Abandon Abstinence-Only education. I know the Right would like to believe that all modern teen-agers will forego sexual relations if they receive abstinence-only education, but the statistics show that this approach has been a big failure. Frankly, I find this head-in-the-sand approach bewildering considering the amount of extramarital, premarital and unmarried co-habitation that occurs among adults. If the adults can’t control themselves, what makes them think that hormonal, impulsive teens are going to be paragons of virtue? If abortion is severely curtailed, young people need to understand how to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
4. Finally, this last concession is not a clear Right vs. Left fight. The death penalty should not be allowed to be consistent with a pro-life position. If the unborn cannot be aborted, then the living, no matter how reprehensible, should not be executed.
The compromise will be difficult for those invested on both sides, but I dare say we are approaching the time where this issue will have to be dealt with. Our country will not be able to dodge this bullet.
Jwooden61's Weblog 
September 18, 2008 at 2:54 am
Shelley, thanks so much for your contributing article. A very interesting take . . . though you focus on the issue of abortion, I find it intriguing your comment on Palin being the Religious Right’s Moses. I have heard this comment from several people. But its interesting the way many (both political parties) are staying away from this subject. Also interesting is besides James Dobson, you are not hearing anything from any religious leaders, regardless of denomination or nationality.
Like the post!
Thanks
John
September 18, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Shelly,
I applaud your literary proficiency in misapplication of anger, but I feel the need to provide a different side of the story.
God bless the innocence of a child. When my toddler son looked up to me and asked, “Dad, what’s an abortion?” As always, I proceeded to provide him with a very matter-of-fact answer to his question. The reality came to me when I had to tell him that a doctor goes into the mother’s womb and kills the baby—how else could I answer his question truthfully?
Why does abortion have to be a choice? Shouldn’t the choice be keep the baby or give the baby up for adoption? There are many families with the financial means to lovingly raise a child. Unfortunately, horrible visions of orphanages come to mind when someone mentions the subject of adoption. Or, years later, the mother and father don’t have the courage to tell their child they made the best decision at the time. Biological or not, good or bad—infants never choose their parents. Yes, adults should make decisions and be responsible for the outcome. And then there’s the taboo idea that only a black family can raise a black child and give the child the correct ‘black experience’ (whatever that is). (I wonder would the country be better if black families would adopt white babies so the babies can grow up with the black experience—nah, it’ll never work.) In spite of it all, it seems as though Senator Obama’s mother did a pretty good job of raising Barack to be “…articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy…,” irrespective of the color of her skin.
Now on to party politics (those that know me know how I vote in spite of my opinions). My personal view of Congress leads me to believe that there is only compromise when the Republicans take the Democrat’s stand—not the other way around. If ever a Democrat takes the stand of the Republicans, they are effectively excommunicated, ala Senator Lieberman. Believe it or not, Republicans have good ideas, too. The ‘Contract with America’ had a lot to do with the economic boom during the Clinton administration (the CONGRESS is responsible for the national budget, the President only PROPOSES). I noticed, in true Democratic fashion, you’ve proposed 3 Left (Democrat) and 4 Right (Republican) concessions. (By the way, there are actually SEVEN concessions for the Right but you’ve concealed three of them as sub-concessions to confuse those not as savvy.) Let’s take a look at the issues from another point of view.
Even in the case of rape or incest, the child that is created is innocent. Amazingly, not every time someone has sex, a pregnancy results. Therefore, there is something outside man’s capability that causes sperm and egg to become a baby. As a religious person, I assess Divine intervention and believe God has a plan for every egg and sperm. Yes, rape or incest may be another case of an unwanted pregnancy, but adoption is still a choice. Both pro-life and pro-choice agencies should help. The miracles of medicine today make for very few instances where there needs to be a choice between mother and child. Let’s leave it to the doctor to do all they can for all involved and keep the lawyers out of the operating room.
Universal healthcare. Everyone in the US already has healthcare—even illegal aliens. If you’re sick, go to the hospital—you’ll be seen after the people who are more sick. If you want to be seen sooner, pay for health insurance and go to your personal doctor. Blue Cross has plans starting at $50 a month. Lexus has plans starting at $800 a month, but the Lexus has problems writing prescriptions—you choose.
Free childcare. You can get free childcare anytime if you can get someone to watch your child for nothing. Nothing in life is free. We need to start using the synonym for Federal Government—taxpayer. The country is already in a deficit. Why should the taxpayer (government) choose to pay for something else?
Paid maternity leave. If you are paid to do a job, why should an employer pay someone else to do your job AND pay you to do nothing for the company? If you are really pro-choice, choose when it is in your financial best interest to procreate.
Abstinence-only doesn’t work? It seemed to work for everyone but the Virgin Mary. Do any of the other sex-education venues work better? It is the parent(s)’s head in the sand approach that doesn’t work. We have to impress upon young boys and girls that having sexual intercourse is an adult activity. Actually, sex should be limited to married adults (who can financially raise a child resulting from sex). If you live together, get married, quit ‘playing house’ like little children. If you are not married, children should see you leave every night to go to your (not your mother’s) home. Parents need to be in the lives of their children. Expose them to opportunities that build self esteem; chaperone them on dates; take away the stigma of being a virgin; bring back ‘shotgun weddings’ in place of child care payments to force the young men to take their REAL responsibility of fathering a child; and let these young women know that the only one they should have sex with is the person they want to live with for the rest of their life.
Abortion is killing an innocent life where capital punishment takes the life of an individual fairly judged as criminal. It is this difference that Christian people can agree with a clear conscience that an evil person deserves to die.
I guess you may think of me a maverick.
September 18, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Interesting post indeed! The subtle encroachment of social and religious issues into governing is disheartening and perhaps America is to “bleed” again in war even if only in a figurative sense. Certainly there are indications that the movement for social governing is strong, but there are equally compelling arguments that the movement is being tempered by realities of economy and reach.
We can’t forget the bombings of abortion clinics and certainly can’t overlook the recent court challenge of separation of church and state launched by a conservative religious group. However, we also can’t overlook the fact that the current Supreme Court justices are constitutionalist and not “reversal-ist”. They actually have a record of upholding the strictest interpretation of the constitution and that perhaps is why we view them as overly conservative since they don’t seem prone to consider how times have changed. Add current state of the world economy to what I believe is the Supreme Court’s objective to limit judicial reach (certainly a Republican platform), and these social/moral issues will fall as prime drivers and motivators of policy or even elections. Recent polls have shown for example, that even in the Christian Conservative population, the economy reigns as the number one with abortion being clumped in with the “Other” category (1%).
I think this issue is a hot-button issue that may be highlighted in upcoming judicial nominations, but I would submit that the more costly pending civil war in America will be waged as a traditional class struggle between the richest 2% of our country and the disappearing middle class/poor. I think before we fight the War of Morality we will fight the “Green War” and in it will be many more casualties. Check recent bailouts and our moods towards them as anecdotal proof-in-the-pudding!
Rickey D.
September 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Moses,
I am not sure Shelly’s arguments posed a partisan position and I am not sure deception was a factor at all. I suppose I should not speak for her so I will change the direction and comment on your response.
Such absolute answers in the wake of governing is what causes turmoil in nations. No answer is strictly given in governing and certainly none that espouse one faith over the other. I am a Christian but I believe we should give unto Caesar what is his and give unto God what is His to judge and control. It is not placing them on equal plane since the final judgment is God’s! Who then sits in judgment during governing of nations, the people and based on law and the good of a nation. Religion is not a sound governing platform in the reality of this world and its policies are blind as the faith that supports it. That is NOT meant to be derogatory, just a historical fact!
The reality is that we spend more on war (largest budgetary expenditure) than caring for humanity and that is in spite of the Word and direction of Christ (“so you do unto the least of these). The reality is that no woman should be forced to be judged by a nation or a man in power! It is her choice and God is the ultimate judge. The reality is that emergency care is NOT health care but just as it implies, emergency care. The reality is that no statistic supports abstinence as effective in birth control, prevention os sexual diseases, or a shining example of success – numerous exist to support sexual education with a focus on protection. I will only scratch the surface of your comment regarding adoption by race and the Black experience save to say, “Give me a break – what won’t work with cross-racial adoptions EITHER way and what do you mean ‘the Black experience, whatever that is? Wait, don’t answer, I actually don’t think that is relevant at all, just as it wasn’t in your response!!” The reality is that there are thousands of unadopted kids NOW and the supposed families capable of adopting them NOW are not doing so NOW and abortion is legal; what changes when it is NOT? My guess is NOTHING except the number of adopted children!
This issue is tough, complicated, and emotional and there has never been an absolute answer that has survived time. Roe vs. Wade has existed as but a small moment in time, is still being challenged, and most certainly will be revised in time. Shelly’s arguments seem to point out possible changes categorized by viewpoint. However, this issue is based on PERSONAL religious belief and if it were all possible, I’d pray for it to remain there, but I know it won’t, can’t – and based on how divided we are on it, there is no wonder Shelly titled her entry as the next Civil War! The choice to have a child and the choice to abort a fetus is a personal one and for anyone to suppose they know the Will of God is both arrogant and mystifying. I submit that because my faith in God leads me to believe He will judge, so there is no need for me to do so and there is no reason we should govern based on my faith. To me, it is not a matter for political resolution and especially based on religious beliefs but one of personal judgment and faith!
September 18, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Moses,
I had to limit my post to between 800-900 words so I didn’t get into the issue of adoption. I am an adoptive parent. I have very strong feelings on adoption and I do not regret doing it but the adoption industry needs to be completely changed. It is very expensive to adopt. Let’s just say that adopting a child of color costs no less than $25k. That is way beyond what many parents can afford. 17 months after my child was born we had an opportunity to adopt another full blooded sibling from the same birth mother. We couldn’t afford to do it. Everyday my child let’s us know how much she suffers from being an only child. I desperately wanted to adopt the sibling but who can come up with $15k in 3 days and another $10k in 2 weeks. I personally don’t believe in abortion but I do understand the desperation that some young women experience.
Also, using the ER is not a good way to receive medicine. That’s no way to get preventive or follow-up care. It’s the ongoing medical expenses that will sink families. And don’t believe that just because you get emergency help that you aren’t on the hook for the expenses. I know a loving, godly couple who had their credit ruined due to bankruptcy forced by a devastating medical condition and treatment. I won’t answer your arguments point-by-point but just let me say that it is a whole lot easier to sit on high and tell others what they should do compared to those who are living in the situation. Your answers are great for those who are living in supportive and disciplined environments. Unfortunately, there are many people who live on the fringes.
October 16, 2008 at 10:53 pm
why worry Sen. Obama will become the counties president and he will enact those items that he feels will allow for the redistribution of income to assist those who can’t/don’t assist themselves. Abortion is just a small part of the plans. Healthcare for all was attempted in the Clinton Administration by the using of unused federal medical facilities for all Americans. Using the miliary medical resources will relieve many of the uninsured and assure health care for all. Not just ER care but long term as well.
November 1, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Fear????
Can this occur?
Here’s a translation of Jong’s more spirited quotes to the Milan-based Corriere, as selected by Rocca.
“The record shows that voting machines in America are rigged.”
“My friends Ken Follett and Susan Cheever are extremely worried. Naomi Wolf calls me every day. Yesterday, Jane Fonda sent me an email to tell me that she cried all night and can’t cure her ailing back for all the stress that has reduces her to a bundle of nerves.”
“My back is also suffering from spasms, so much so that I had to see an acupuncturist and get prescriptions for Valium.”
“After having stolen the last two elections, the Republican Mafia…”
“If Obama loses it will spark the second American Civil War. Blood will run in the streets, believe me. And it’s not a coincidence that President Bush recalled soldiers from Iraq for Dick Cheney to lead against American citizens in the streets.”
“Bush has transformed America into a police state, from torture to the imprisonment of reporters, to the Patriot Act.”