Mike Pouraryan
I have repeatedly said that I think it’s entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don’t think that “mental distress” qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term. Otherwise, as long as there is such a medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term abortions.
It is the "mental distress" part that has gotten under so many people's nerves. Aside from the fact this he separates out mental health as important to the well being of the mother, his choice of words makes it seem as if late term abortions are being chosen based on hormonal mood swings in pregnancy. Late term abortions are not done on a whim, and are certainly not pleasant situations to be found in. According to a study done by the CDC of abortions in the US 6.2% of abortions were conducted from 13 to 15 weeks, 4.2% from 16 to 20 weeks, and 1.4% at or after 21 weeks. A degree of mental distress surely accompanies each and every one of them. When dealing with a woman who is dealing with mental distress to such a degree that she is willing to seek out, pay for out of her own pocket, and undergo a late term abortion passing her off as nothing more than a silly woman is a huge disservice.
Update: Obama has spoken out about his comments and tried to offer clarification. On page 2 of this Washington Post article Obama is quoted
"Historically, I have been a strong believer in a woman's right to choose, with her doctor, her pastor, her family," he said Saturday. "And I've been consistent in saying you have to have a health exception on any significant restrictions or bans on abortions, including late-term abortions.
"It can be defined by physical health. It can be defined by serious clinical mental health diseases," he continued. But "it's not just a matter of feeling blue."
"It can be defined by physical health. It can be defined by serious clinical mental health diseases," he continued. But "it's not just a matter of feeling blue."
It's nice to see that he understands that mental health is important to pregnant women, however adding in "it's not just a matter of feeling blue" can be seen as a dog whistle to the right. Many anti-choice activists claim that women have abortions merely for convenience or in place of taking birth control, the message being that women are having unprotected sex wildly then popping off to the local abortion clinics once a month or so. The idea is simply false and insulting.
Obama's calling out that mental health means more than just feeling blue can easily be interpreted along the same lines. The insinuation being that pregnant women wake up one morning feeling a little sad and flip a coin between shoe shopping or getting an abortion. I think it's pretty obvious that the situation in question does not happen, despite claims from the right.
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