Thursday, May 05, 2022

'Abortion is a fundamental right': Canada reacts to leaked Roe v. Wade decision


WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES - MAY 3: Anti-abortion and abortion rights demonstrators during a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Abortion rights suddenly emerged as an issue that could reshape the battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of Congress,


When Politico obtained the leaked report that five Supreme Court justices are set to strike down the Roe v. Wade decision, uproar commenced with extensive concerns about abortion access if this ruling becomes final.

The 1973 ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S., meaning that states could regulate thee procedure but could not ban abortion.

According to a recent Yahoo News/YouGov survey, about 30 per cent of respondents adults said Roe v. Wade should be overturned, with 27 pre cent indicating that that it should be adapted so “individual states” are “able to outlaw” abortion.

"Evidence shows that restricting access to abortion does not reduce the number of abortions that occur," a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) reads. "Restrictions are however more likely to drive women and girls towards unsafe procedures."

Several individuals, including Canadians, have taken to social to respond to this leaked information from the U.S.

"Like so many Canadian women, I was both shocked and deeply worried by the news from the United States last night about abortion rights," a statement from Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland reads. "Speaking here today as a woman, as a mother, and as Canada's Deputy Prime Minister, it's important for me to begin by underlying out government's clear and determined commitment to protect a woman's right to choose."

Abortion is a fundamental right. Feminists fought for decades to secure it, and here in Canada we will not let it be undermined in any way.

Chrystia Freeland, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister


 California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Roe v. Wade leak: 'If men could get pregnant...'


Bradford Betz
Wed, May 4, 2022,

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday derided abortion opponents as extremists who are more interested in control rather than family values.

The Democratic governor’s comments come just days after Politico published a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would effectively overturn the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.

While the draft merely represents an opinion – and Supreme Court opinions are prone to change ahead of a final decision – the news has sparked nationwide protests, pitting advocates on either side of the issue against one another ahead of the November midterms.

Newsom argued that "if men could get pregnant, this wouldn’t even be a conversation."

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"This decision isn’t about strengthening families – it’s about extremism. It’s about control," the governor tweeted. "We will fight for the right to choose."

The governor spoke at Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles, to discuss his administration’s efforts to protect abortion rights in the Golden States.

"We will affirm the … constitutionally protected rights of women and girls and their reproductive rights and freedoms in California," the governor said, flanked by women wearing pink Planned Parenthood t-shirts.

Newsom blamed his own party for being too passive in the abortion issue, and urged a "counter-offensive" to protect what he called fundamental rights.

He alluded to recent battles across the country, including over a Texas law that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, and a Florida law that forbids classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade."

"Where is the Democratic Party?" he asked. "Why aren't we standing up more firmly? More resolutely? Why aren't we calling this out?"

California is making plans to become an abortion "sanctuary," where reproductive rights would be expansively protected and patients could travel from other states for services. One proposal seeks to guarantee a right to an abortion in the state constitution.

If the Supreme Court overturns the Roe ruling, at least 26 states are likely to outlaw abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Scarborough: GOP believes ‘life begins at conception but ends at childbirth’


Dominick Mastrangelo
Thu, May 5, 2022,

 

MSNBC pundit Joe Scarborough tore into leading Republicans on Thursday for their rhetoric on abortion following the leak of a draft opinion showing the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“The Republicans say ‘oh we’re going to replace and reform.’ They haven’t done anything,” Scarborough said on his show, “Morning Joe.” “The fact is, they do support the death penalty, that is one thing they support. But more and more this seems to be a party that really believes that life begins at conception but ends at childbirth.”

The host blasted the GOP for messaging pledging support for the rights of an unborn child, “but the second they’re born, they’re on their own,” he said.

“This is not a party that gives a damn about those babies who are actually born and what happens to them after they are born,” Scarborough continued. “It’s so hypocritical.”

Several GOP senators and governors have cheered news of the draft opinion from the court, which currently has a conservative majority.

Democrats on Capitol Hill have accused several conservative justices of misleading lawmakers and the public about their views on the landmark decision granting the right to an abortion.

Leading Republicans and conservative media figures have spent the last several days fixated on the fact the draft opinion was leaked, suggesting it was done so by a liberal inside the court with the goal of intimidating the justices or changing votes on the issue.

On Wednesday, Mika Brzezinski, Scarborough’s co-host and wife, attacked Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for his comments this week suggesting the “story of the day” is the leak instead of the content of the draft opinion.

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