Author: Choicematters

Growing Number Of Candidates Oppose Abortion In Cases Of Rape, Incest

A startling number of candidates up for election this year are anti-choice even to the extent that they oppose abortion in cases of rape, incest, or even to save the life of the woman. RNC for Life has endorsed 63 House candidates who are against abortion in all cases.

New York State has a horrific number running for all levels of government.

The following are NY Right to Life (RTL) endorsed anti-choice candidates:
*Senatorial and House challengers DioGuardi, Townsend, Mele and Russell and *State Senate and Assembly candidates Vernucchio, McLaughlin, Ball, Block, Ramondelli, Katz and Borkowski all want to overturn Roe v Wade; * RTL gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino made clear in his now infamous CNN interview that women should have no reproductive rights.

(Check out the voting guide for more, and pay special attention to the judicial candidates like Murphy who is up for reelection to the Supreme Court. Last time he took the Right to Life line and now is trying to hide that truth. He knows New York is pro-choice and his truth will hurt him!)

A few quotes from around the country:

Carl Paladino, running for Governor of New York

In a Sept. 15 interview with CNN’s Rick Sanchez, Carl Paladino said unequivocally that women should not be able to have an abortion even in cases of rape and incest. “Should a woman have a right to have an abortion if she’s — if she’s been raped?” Sanchez asked. “No,” replied Paladino. When he asked about cases of incest, Paladino said, “The baby can be adopted.”

Nevada Senate Candidate Sharron Angle

“two wrongs don’t make a right,” and said a young girl who had been raped by her father should think about making “a lemon situation into lemonade” by having her baby and either raising it or giving it up for adoption.

Delaware Senate Nominee Christine O’Donnell

On her campaign website, Christine O’Donnell states that she “[s]trongly believes in protecting the sanctity of life at ALL stages.” She has repeatedly said she opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. She also condemned the use of condoms, calling them “anti-human.” “And what…if the population is increasing, so what?” O’Donnell said in a 2006 interview on Fox News. “People aren’t bad. When did humans become a bad thing? Why is it that we have to, you know, stop people from getting pregnant?”

According to the news media, voters are frustrated and apathetic. We must keep our focus. We cannot allow anti-choice extremists to win elections. Think about what is at stake and VOTE.

Source: Huffington Post and RNC for Life

Myth Busters #1 Nan Hayworth is NOT Pro-Choice!

Fact #1: Nan Hayworth is NOT Pro-Choice!!
She is running for Congress against Pro-Choice John Hall, in the 19th District which encompasses northern Westchester County, and parts of Orange, Dutchess and Rockland counties.

Nan Hayworth is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.
In the Republican Primary she wanted voters to believe she was as anti-choice and reactionary as her opponent, and as soon as she won that, she started claiming she was pro-choice.

How do we know this?
Because her campaign told us that they did not want to hand in our questionnaire until after the Primary. Then, when they saw the questionnaire, she refused to complete it out of fear that we’d reveal the truth. Nan Hayworth is anti-choice.

What they did not bargain for is that back in December 2009, soon after Hayworth announced she was going to run, we emailed her. We had an on-going communication in which her campaign as authorized by her clearly stated:

Hayworth wants to:
1. Severely limit a woman’s right to choose;
2. Restrict access to women’s reproductive rights; and
3. She would have voted in support of the Stupak Amendment which is the greatest attack on women’s reproductive rights since the passage of Roe v Wade.

The reason given for her support of the Stupak Amendment was because she “would have voted with the GOP [Republican } Conference.”

In other words, Hayworth is in lockstep with her Party. All for independent thought!!

Apparently, a vote for Nan Hayworth is a vote for whatever her party tells her to do.

Lest You Forget
Why it is Important to Use Your Right to Vote to Vote Choice
(We are posting a different story each email. Take the time to read someone else’s pain.)

“A doctor brought her in. He called me and said, “Will you admit her on your service? She’s got a strangulated hernia.” I said, “Well, why don’t you send her to general surgery?” He said, “I think it’s in your field.” She came in and she had a loop of bowel hanging out of her vagina wrapped in newspaper and that was the “strangulated hernia”. And what he [the abortionist] did was perforate the uterus. He pulled out the bowel with his aborting instruments and he thought it was fetal bowel. She had literally over thirty inches of bowel hanging out of her vagina. And the poor woman should have died from several causes:  bowel obstruction, septicemia, and everything else. I operated and did a bowel resection, pulled this damn dirty bowel out of the uterus and vagina, and she lived. But many others died.

(Taylor Buckley, former chief resident in a big city general hospital in the early 1940’s, in Doctors of Conscience, by Carol Joffe, Beacon Press, 1995)

Profiling Amy Paulin Assemblywoman, NYS 88th Assembly District

All About Assemblywoman Amy Paulin

Amy is one of the Assembly’s most effective and productive members. She ranks in the top 3% of all Assembly members for sponsoring bills that pass both houses of the Legislature. Over her first four terms, 84 of the bills she sponsored became law, which is unprecedented for a legislator of her seniority.

Assemblywoman Paulin is a staunch advocate for women, with a lengthy list of accomplishments, including:

●Authoring landmark legislation which lengthens orders of protection in both the civil and criminal courts to assist those victimized by domestic violence;
●Negotiating the groundbreaking law that makes human trafficking and labor trafficking felony offenses;
●Sponsoring the law that eliminates the statute of limitations for rape;
●Promoting spousal maintenance legislation as a companion bill with no fault divorce and with payment of counsel fees legislation;
●Voting to ensure families can afford to keep their health insurance by requiring insurance companies to obtain approval from the state superintendent of insurance before they propose to increase insurance premiums; and
●Introducing five new bills to the Assembly to crack down on sexual assault and protect its victims. These new bills will stiffen the penalties for sexual assault, especially when a child is the victim.

Assemblywoman Paulin has been named a Leader in the Fight against Domestic Violence by the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV), Among the many awards she has received are: the Excellence in Leadership Award from NOW of New York City; the Margaret Sanger Award from the Family Planning Advocates of New York State; and the Health Center Award by the Community Health Association of New York State.

Before being elected Assemblywoman, Amy Paulin served in several highly visible jobs, including Executive Director, My Sister’s Place; Member, Scarsdale Village Board; Founder and Chairwoman, Westchester Women’s Agenda; President, Westchester League of Women Voters; Vice President, NY State League of Women’s Voters; Citizen Member, County Board of Legislators’ Special Committee on Families; Scarsdale Citizens for Senior Housing; Scarsdale Arts Council and many more committees, councils and foundations.

Paulin’s opponent is Rene Atayan, Chair of the Bronxville Republican Party. Atayan is vehemently anti-choice and believes in severely restricting women’s access to abortion.

It Really DOES Matter What You Do Today, On Primary Day!

Primary Day is Here!
VOTE CHOICE!

Choice Matters Has Endorsed Richard Brodsky for NYS Attorney General
and Tom Roach for the 89th NYS Assembly District.

Lest You Forget
Why it is Important to Use Your Right to Vote to Vote Choice

“I am a physician, but I am not a gynecologist, only an internist and nephrologist. While in medical school (Columbia 1965-1969) I became aware of the need for safe, sterile termination of pregnancy. As a senior student, I covered the acute gynecology service at night and saw a number of young women die horribly from the complications of illegal abortion. I watched, helpless, along with my resident, while these women succumbed to seizures, septic shock, and tetanus. I hope I never have to witness such torture again. One of my OB-GYN professors, Dr. Hall, challenged the archaic state laws and actually terminated some pregnancies: such was Columbia’s prestige that the DA refused to indict him. But until that law was changed, very few women had any choice, and many of them went to back-alley butchers.That’s why I’m pro-choice.” Eastchester, NY

Choice Matters Endorses Tom Roach in the 89th NYS Assembly District Democratic Primary.

“Tom Roach is committed to keeping the right to choose solely in the hands of a woman and her doctor, with no government interference. Tom understands that being pro-choice means trusting women to make the right decisions. He will fight against every attempt to limit women’s reproductive freedom.

Roach is a progressive leader who knows the importance of women’s reproductive health. As a member and now President of the White Plains Common Council, Tom has proven he stands by his word.

Unlike his opponent, Tom has pledged not to balance the budget at the expense of women’s reproductive healthcare. Roach will not allow women’s health to become a bargaining chip in budget negotiations. Unlike others in Washington and in Albany, Tom knows you cannot horse trade when it comes to women’s reproductive health.

New York guaranteed women the right to choose in 1970–three years before Roe v. Wade and Albany must continue to do so in 2010!” Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, President, Choice Matters, 9/3/2010
——-
Remember:
90 years ago the 19th Amendment was ratified. No one gave us the right to vote. We took it because it was rightly ours, and many of us use that right — but not enough of us.

2010 must become known as the Year of the Woman Voter.

There is an unyielding attack being waged against us and our reproductive rights. We must use the ballot box and the streets to fight back, like our foremothers did 100 years ago.

Let’s make them proud!
Vote Tuesday, September 14th!

Richard Brodsky & the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

On the 90th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote, WCLA – Choice Matters endorses Assemblyman Richard Brodsky for New York State Attorney General.

90 years ago today the 19th Amendment was ratified, and since 1980 more women have voted in presidential elections than men. No one gave us the right to vote. We took it because it was rightly ours, and many of us use that right — but not enough of us.

2010 must become known as the Year of the Woman Voter. There is an unyielding attack being waged against us and our reproductive rights. We must use the ballot box and the streets to fight back, like our foremothers did 100 years ago.

On this very important day, Choice Matters is proud to endorse Richard Brodsky for Attorney General of New York State.

Choice Matters President Catherine Lederer-Plaskett declared, “We are proud to give Richard Brodsky our unqualified support. Richard has been a voice for comprehensive reproductive health and progressive causes throughout his long career in public service. His demonstrated commitment to a woman’s right to choose and his proven skills as a litigator make him our choice to be the next ‘people’s lawyer.’ Choice Matters is proud to endorse Richard in recognition of his advocacy for the rights of the women of New York State.

Richard Brodsky is 100% pro-choice and an outspoken advocate for women’s reproductive rights. Over the course of his tenure in County and State government, Richard has proven himself to be an untiring ally to women. He has never shied away from the challenges. Richard has supported important pieces of legislation, including the Reproductive Health Act, the Women’s Health and Wellness Act and the Clinic Access Bill, that advance the health and rights of all of New York’s women.

As our next Attorney General, Richard Brodsky will continue to be an unwavering advocate and ally of New York’s women.”

If you need a reason to vote, please visit You Asked Why I Vote?.

US Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney Joins Engel & Krueger Speaking Out For Women

US Rep Carolyn B. Maloney Joins Engel and Krueger In PUBLICALLY Standing Up for Us, the Women of New York and of the U.S.A.

Maloney’s Letter Condemning Abortion Restrictions for High Risk Pools

Dear President Obama:
I am deeply concerned by your recent decision to exclude abortion coverage from high-risk pools. Historically, there has been a consensus that women who need abortions to save their lives and preserve their health should be able to get them. This Health and Human Services ruling undercuts that consensus and undermines women’s health.

In particular your decision will hurt women with pre-existing conditions who are most vulnerable for high-risk pregnancies, the very women who may need to terminate their pregnancies because of the risk it poses to their own health. In addition, I believe this rule goes beyond current law and further erodes women’s right to purchase abortion coverage with their own private funds.

High-risk pools were designed to be a transitional program as the federal government works to create the health insurance exchanges which will take effect in 2014 – not a forum to further roll back a woman’s right to choose. I am concerned that this rule treats abortion care differently than any other medical procedure in the new high-risk pools. Though I recognize that once the Exchange is operational, women will have the option to choose a plan that includes abortion coverage, albeit with the Executive Order in effect and the “Nelson” language applied, I feel strongly that this new rule sets a troublesome precedent for future action and urge you to repeal it.

Sincerely,
CAROLYN B. MALONEY
Member of Congress

Background
The landmark health care reform legislation established Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs or high risk pools), which will temporarily insure individuals who currently cannot purchase health insurance because they have serious medical conditions. The PCIPs will be eliminated once the health care exchanges are established in 2014. To enroll, an individual must have a pre-existing condition and be uninsured for 6 months. The health care reform bill included restrictions on abortions for the exchanges that will be established in 2014, but did not expressly extend those restrictions to these temporary high risk pools.

In addition to the PCIP established by the federal government, individual states can establish PCIPs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directly administering the program in 21 states, while 29 states and the District of Columbia will administer the PCIPs through their own programs. Several state plans initially included coverage for abortion procedures. Certain anti-choice advocates objected and on July 14, 2010, HHS issued a “clarification” that abortions are excluded from coverage under a PCIP, whether the PCIP is run by the federal government or by individual states.

US Rep. Engel and NYS Sen. Krueger Speak Out Against Unwarranted Abortion Restrictions

REP. ENGEL – HIGH RISK POOL ABORTION EXCLUSION IS UNACCEPTABLE

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) strongly disagreed with the decision to exclude abortion coverage from the new high-risk insurance pools. In effect, the policy decision will adversely affect middle class women, especially those with serious medical conditions.

“I strongly believe that the United States government should not be in the business of restricting rights and preventing people from medical treatment. The government should not be using the lives of low-income and middle-income women as a political football any longer.

“Fighting constantly to allow women to maintain their right to choose is difficult enough when we are battling the Republicans in Congress or the conservative tilt of the Supreme Court, we don’t need to have it come from our allies. Women who will be in the high risk pools – temporary coverage through 2014 for those who cannot afford insurance due to serious health problems – are oftentimes going to be women whose lives and health will be at extreme risk from an unwanted pregnancy.

“This order prevents women from spending their own money on coverage. This Executive Order essentially makes the Stupak Amendment the law of the land. States will be stripped of the option to cover these situations. Planned Parenthood has called this rule “harmful to women” and they are absolutely correct. This is simply unacceptable.

“No one anticipates having an abortion and so it’s both insulting, and an invasion of privacy to single out this one procedure. I will continue, as my 21-year 100% pro-choice record shows, to fight for a woman’s right to choose.”

The Stupak-Pitts amendment to the House-passed Affordable Health Care for America Act states that anyone who receives limited tax credit assistance to purchase mandated health insurance, may not access a plan that covers abortion, and should instead purchase stand-alone abortion coverage. The final law did not contain this amendment, instead including a lesser Senate-passed version. The health insurance reform law had already prohibited federal funds from being used for abortion before any amendments were added.

Click Below to read NYS Senator Liz Krueger’s letter to President Obama.

SenatorKrueger_LetterToPresidentObama

Tell the White House & HHS: We Don’t Accept These New Abortion Restrictions!

Thursday the Obama Administration shocked women’s health organizations everywhere when it announced it would exclude abortion coverage from the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (the temporary high-risk insurance pools created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to transition us into the new health care plan).

What that means is that thousands of women with serious medical conditions will not be able to access abortion care, even if their health is at further risk. (For example, what about women with cancer and the impact the change in hormone levels resulting from pregnancy has on their tumors!)

The White House has imposed a Stupak-like Ban on the most vulnerable of women, those with serious pre-existing medical conditions.

Just like Stupak, this decision bars women with pre-existing conditions from using their own money to buy abortion coverage through the high-risk pools.

Don’t Be Fooled! The Obama Administration did NOT have to do this!
The restrictions on use of federal dollars for abortion coverage do NOT apply. Even though federal dollars are being used to subsidize these new high-risk pool insurance plans, there is no requirement that abortion coverage be restricted. Neither the Hyde nor the Nelson Amendments apply here.

The Hyde Amendment restrictions on use of Labor-HHS appropriations for abortion coverage do not apply to this new appropriation, and the Nelson Amendment abortion restrictions do not apply to the high-risk pool plan section of the law.

The Administration has voluntarily adopted these new abortion restrictions.

Contact the White House and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius NOW.
Tell them this decision is unacceptable!
Tell the administration that women with pre-existing medical conditions need abortion coverage!

To reach the White House:
Call: (202) 456-1111
Email:
public@who.eop.gov

To reach the Department of Health and Human Services:
Call: (877) 696-6775
Email: http://www.hhs.gov/feedback.html

A Gift To Choice Matters – Donna Barkman’s Hand-Me-Downs: Scenes from a Life (with a little help from Antigone and Mother Goose)

On Sunday, July 18th, at 4:30, Donna Barkman is performing Hand-Me-Downs: Scenes from a Life.

Barkman, a natural-born rebel, reviews her life, integrating the anger of Antigone and the nonsense of Mother Goose, as she dramatizes constrictive gender roles and prescriptive motherhood.

Tickets are $10.00, with all proceeds donated to Choice Matters.

This fascinating play will be performed at The Bean Runner Café which is a trendy new eatery located on the corner of South Division and Esther Streets, and is a celebration of food, entertainment and art. The menu is eclectic and funky, ranging from humus or Caribbean chicken sandwiches to fruit smoothies and soup, as well as imported beer and wines.

201 South Division Street
Peekskill NY
914-737-1701
beanrunnercafe.com

We hope to see you there!

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