There is doubt in my mind than an overwhelming majority of the citizens of Oklahoma are pro-life when it comes to the issue of abortion rights. I am also not criticizing their right to elect pro-life legislators who disagree with me on the main issue why I feel most comfortable within the Democratic Party.
I am deeply troubled by a new law which was passed by the Oklahoma legislature which would put some basic personal information of women who receive abortions within the state of Oklahoma on a public database. It does not actually give names of the women, but it does ask thirty five questions such as the type of abortion method used type of insurance, race, level of education etc. Most of these questions are just medical questions but there are some identifying characteristics that could cause the pro-life community to bother women who have had an abortion.
Supporters of The Statistical Reporting of Abortions Act would likely say they just want a more accurate count of exactly how many abortions are being performed in this country so they can update their literature or tell people about the Holocaust that is going on right under their noses. Of the thirty five questions not many of those have to do with collecting the kind of data that can help someone medically, but doctors do have a right to know this stuff. I find it amusing that some people who idolize Michele Bachmann, a woman who questions the validity of the census for a whole host of reasons would also support this bill.
To tell you the truth I would not be so afraid of this bill if people such as Dan Holman were not out there. Dan Holman is a man who likes to videotape men and women going into clinics which provide more than just abortions by the way and even ask them harassing questions. Holman was asked to please stop film politely several times until the man going into the clinic physically assaulted Holman. You can do plenty of Google searches into Dan Holman and then you will understand why a person with my point of views finds the man to be vile. I mention Dan because he and his wife like to picket our local Planned Parenthood which doesn’t provide abortions along with vaccination clinics and local parades.
If this bill was passed in hopes of getting young girls to go counseling or to work within a church program which discourages abortion and pre-marital sex, those programs are fine, but good heavens people don’t want their personal information published so they can be badgered by people who are playing a guessing game sitting at their computer all day trying to figure out if it was their who had that abortion they heard about last week. Women who I know personally who have had abortions go on to have children later. I just don’t see the point in posting data online about the most controversial topic within our society. I think the end result is just meant to stir up trouble, cause more fights and intimidate.
Frankly, the whole thing doesn’t surprise me. I wouldn’t give a nickel to any member of Oklahoma’s pitiful congressional delegation. I am including Democrat Dan Boren when I say that, there is usually one member within the Democratic house delegation who I believe deserves to be primaried for misrepresenting the views of their district so blatantly. It use to be Henry Cuellar who needed the boot, but Dan Boren isn’t really a pro-business or a pro-labor legislator. I just get the feeling the only person Dan Boren cares about is Dan Boren. Cuellar is now secure given that he now represents a district that better represents his views.
I could have written all day on this matter, but most people who read this website aren’t going to be swayed on this issue because there are so many intelligent people on both sides. Let me finish up saying that I feel sorry for the women of Oklahoma who feel the same way about abortion rights as I do. The pro-life community may have won this one, but trust me this fight is not over.
