Posted on 10/20/2008 7:11:42 AM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Two years after South Dakotans rejected a nearly total ban on abortion, voters on Nov. 4 will decide another sweeping but less restrictive ballot measure that would probably send a legal challenge of Roe v. Wade to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The initiative would outlaw abortions but includes exceptions for rape, incest and pregnancies that threaten the life or health of the woman. Some voters said they wanted those exceptions when they rejected the tougher 2006 measure 56 percent to 44 percent.
Opponents say the new measure would jeopardize the patient-doctor relationship because physicians could be criminally charged for exceeding its bounds. They also argue that its exceptions are too narrowly defined and that it would force some women to carry an unhealthy fetus.
Leslee Unruh, the executive director of VoteYesForLife.com and the measure's main proponent, said it's legally sound.
Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, said the initiative could threaten legalized abortion in every state, especially if it goes before a 2011 or 2012 Supreme Court that would probably tilt to the right if Sen. John McCain becomes president.
McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, supports the right-to-abortion principles of Roe v. Wade and would be less likely to appoint justices who would consider overturning it.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Do we really want to enshrine in law that babies whose fathers
are criminal rapists deserve the death penalty?
Or that babies can be killed for the “health” of their mother?
Ever read Doe v Bolton?
“the medical judgment may be exercised in the light of all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age - relevant to the wellbeing of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.”
As long as the “health of the mother” clause is included in any of this legislation, the unborn will have no protections.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.