Office of Legal Council nominee criticized for ‘bizarre’ defenses of abortion

catholic news agency ^ | 03-31-09 | staff

[em2vn]

Dawn Johnsen, nominee to head the White House Office of Legal Counsel, faces criticism from a pro-life group for her opposition to the federal partial-birth abortion ban and her comments characterizing pregnant mothers as “inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery” and comparing pregnancy to slavery or being hit by a drunk driver.

[em2vn]

Just another of Obama's haters loosed on the United States.

[SolidWood]

being hit by a drunk driver

That's what happened to Dawn Johnsen's mom./s

[NYer]

It always helps to post the article in its entirety.

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Dawn Johnsen

Washington D.C., Mar 31, 2009 / 03:41 am (CNA).- Dawn Johnsen, nominee to head the White House Office of Legal Counsel, faces criticism from a pro-life group for her opposition to the federal partial-birth abortion ban and her comments characterizing pregnant mothers as “inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery” and comparing pregnancy to slavery or being hit by a drunk driver.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19 approved Johnsen’s nomination by 11 to 7 for a full vote on the Senate floor.

The Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life group opposing her nomination, reports some of its 154,000 members have sent over 26,000 letters of opposition to their U.S. Senators.

“Johnsen's opposition to existing federal restrictions like the ban on partial-birth abortion casts doubt on her ability to perform her duties faithfully as the head of the Office of Legal Counsel,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

The Susan B. Anthony list has voiced concerns about Johnsen’s pro-abortion rhetoric, especially as found in her amicus curiae brief in the case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services.

There, Johnsen said that abortion restrictions “reduce pregnant women to no more than fetal containers.”

Johnsen attacked arguments that pregnant women consent to their pregnancy, saying those “who are the inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery no more 'consent' to pregnancy than pedestrians 'consent' to being struck by drunk drivers.”

She also said that the experience of abortion is “no longer traumatic” and claimed most women respond to an abortion with “relief.”

Dannenfelser responded to these comments, arguing:

“Her bizarre characterizations of pregnancy as 'slavery' and mothers as 'losers in the contraceptive lottery' expose an unacceptable disdain for commonsense abortion restrictions and motherhood in general.”

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Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[dandiegirl]

The evil of the BO administration continues.

[NYer]

The evil of the BO administration continues.

It sure does stink ;-)

[anniegetyourgun]

It’s not at all a surprise. We elected a dark-hearted president (”punished with a baby”) - and he’s brought like-minded people with him.

[GeronL]

punished with a baaaayybeeeeee

[Gerish]

Well, she obviously is very cold-hearted, makes me wonder if she ever had children of her own. After looking at her pic, I guess probably not!

[em2vn]

Do you think a link is too much trouble to click on? I trust Freepers to decide if they want to read the entire article or not.
If I had thought it necessary to post the entire article I would have.
You post the way you want to and I will do the same. I don’t need your advice on how I should post on Free Republic.

[az_gila]

Well, she obviously is very cold-hearted, makes me wonder if she ever had children of her own. After looking at her pic, I guess probably not!

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Johnsen and her husband, community development finance executive John Mark Hamilton, have two children. Hamilton unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th congressional district in 2000, but was defeated in the primary.

You wonder how she can keep her family separate from her professional views....

[Oratam]

You wonder how she can keep her family separate from her professional views....

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

[TurtleUp]

I'm familiar with the process for becoming pregnant and the process for being hit by a drunk driver. While alcohol may be involved in both, there are huge differences.

The big contrast is that (excluding rape) both parents make the choice to be involved with creating a child. A drunk driver does his part at 30-70 mph and doesn't give you time to say "no thank you" or to decline to participate. If this moron can't see the distinction, she'll have a long and happy career as a liberal activist.

[Soothesayer]

I wonder how often she verbally abuses her children. Probably every morning and night before the kids cry themselves to sleep.

[fortunecookie]

Those 'nasty' fetuses! Taking over their mother-hosts bodies, forcing them to be reluctant containers until gestation ends. The horror! /end major sarcasm

Maybe she's gearing up for her own running for the Margaret Sanger award? Perhaps her odd behavior can be explained by her own guilt over causing her own mother to be (and I paraphrase:) “reduced to no more than a fetal container.”