Roe Turns 40

[And Also:  Kudos that Stephen Colbert's sister, with an impressive bio and attitude, is running for an open House seat.  Hope everything, including name recognition, will give her a chance -- it is after all SC, and she is running as a Democrat for a seat controlled by Rs for thirty years.]

There has already been various discussions about the upcoming anniversary of the ruling, one I wrote about repeatedly over the years myself. Dawn Johnsen,* who has been part of its defense over the years, has some helpful things to say. This includes the nature of the ruling, current roadblocks and advice:

launch strategies to counter right-wing efforts to reframe the debate and muddle the public’s perceptions about abortion. “Effective strategies,” she wrote, “must target this public misperception and emphasize political action, the harm caused by incremental abortion obstacles, and a broad range of policies that promote reproductive choice and health.”

Current reports about the broad support of the basic ruling in Roe does not (at least publicly) concern one strong  opponent:

"I don't worry much about these polls..." said Scheidler. "I think a majority of Americans prefer to be called pro-life." He said knocking down Roe v. Wade - which would return the issue to the states - is not as important as educating people on "the great evil" of abortion.

And, I think many who push comes to shove support the right to choose, at least when it involves them, are uncomfortable about whole thing. Thus, there are basic roadblocks, helped by the looser Casey ruling:

“the protests, harassment and violence directed at abortion clinics, providers and their families; the lack of abortion training opportunities in medical school; and the literally hundreds of state abortion restrictions that are designed both to sound reasonable and to stop the performance of abortions as effectively as a criminal ban.”

As noted by DJ, such things can be an "undue burden" on abortion rights, though it is another matter if five justices would now think so.  As Rachel Maddow noted on Thursday, in various areas (including those states with ONE provider), we have legal abortion but at least a form of de facto criminalization as applied to many women.  Thus, the need for education of what is at stake, political** and personal action, like the move to re-open George Tiller's clinic, closed down after he was murdered while going to church.  That my friend is "assassination."

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Various movements are related and gay rights rightly is seen as being connected to the abortion rights movement, which itself is just part of a movement for equality, women's health, religious freedom etc. So, a shout-out to a same sex married military couple who rejected second class status in a private officers' club, which does not have the federal DOMA to blame on such a thing.  In fact, the Marines according to the article required equal access to private clubs in another situation.

Lawrence v. Texas turns ten this year, same sex marriage a concern in two major cases which will be heard in March. 

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* Hurrah!  Love her voice -- soft spoken passion and grit.

** As the filibuster is up for reform, full disclosure might include that I have supported its use in judicial nominations, in part to oppose certain anti-choice Bush nominees. The proposed reforms, however, won't end its use, and as the link notes, changes occurred when this extreme option has been misused.  Its use for judicial nominees is perhaps most defensible and even there the whole picture should be weighed.