This Weeks Sound Off

Mississippi And The Abortion Rights Powder Keg

The GOP presidential race thus far has been about the economy, the economy and the economy, with occasional diversions on issues like health care, illegal immigration and now sexual harassment allegations (see today’s surprise Herman Cain presser).

And despite the GOP’s best efforts to keep the debate focused on the economy — and President Obama’s failings therein — it may be headed for the biggest diversion yet.

Abortion.

]Voters in Mississippi will head to the polls Tuesday [Nov 8th] to vote on a “personhood” amendment that would designate a fertilized egg as a person – a move that would likely have the effect of outlawing abortion and, if you believe opponents, all kinds of other unintended consequences, such as criminalizing abortion and possibly restricting birth control and in-vitro fertilization. It could even criminalize a pregnant cancer patient’s chemotherapy, if you believe opponents.

Those potential unintended consequences are what makes Initiative 26 — or MS-26 — a powder keg. If passed, the abortion debate could hit a pitch not seen since the passing of Roe v. Wade. That’s because the “personhood” law would be unprecedented, and its backers have said they intend to take the issue to other states.

The measure has received the support of both the state’s GOP and Democratic nominees for governor, along with that of outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour (R). But even in support, Barbour and Democratic nominee Johnny DuPree have expressed reservations.

“I struggled with it,” Barbour acknowledged in an interview with AP last week. “Some very strongly pro-life people have raised questions about the ambiguity and about the actual consequences – whether there are unforeseen, unintended consequences. And I’ll have to say that I have heard those concerns and they give me some pause.”

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.

The fact that Barbour, a socially conservative Southern governor if there ever was one, had a tough time coming out in support of the the referendum shows that this is a dicey a political issue. It also shows how it could come to consume the presidential debate.

The “personhood” amendment has yet to rise to the level of a major national issue, but that could change quickly Tuesday night, provided that it actually passes.

Polling has been piecemeal and doesn’t provide a good indication of how likely the measure is to pass. A similar effort has failed twice in Colorado – taking less than 30 percent of the vote in both 2008 and 2010 – but Mississippi is a very different place than Colorado, and Tuesday’s election could be a pretty low-turnout affair, with the GOP expected to cruise to victory in the governor’s race.

Democrats have already made some political hay on the issue by noting that former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney , who used to support abortion rights, has come out in favor of the idea of a personhood amendment. And Rick Perry and Herman Cain have already struggled to enunciate their views on abortion, with Perry suggesting for a time that it was a states’ rights issue and Cain seeming to suggest abortion should be legal (both later backed off those statements).

Adding the Misssissippi amendment to the mixture could open an even-bigger can of worms.

“Any issue that takes away from the Republican nominee’s plans to revive economic and job growth is an undesirable distraction,” said GOP fundraiser Fred Malek.

So far, the GOP candidates, with the exception of Cain, haven’t had to deal with extensive questions about the issue. But if it passes, they are going to have to answer questions about the law’s alleged unintended consequences.

Abortion is an issue that has worked for the GOP – in recent years, the number of people describing themselves as “pro-life” has surpassed those who consider themselves “pro-choice” — and “values voters” are supposed to have delivered President Bush his 2004 re-election victory – but getting into the weeds on the issue isn’t exactly something that Republican presidential campaigns want right now.

Barbour has established himself as one of the smartest and most important graybeards in the GOP today, and his uncertain response to the issue shows just how delicate of an issue the candidates are facing.

It’s not hard to see this one leading to some similarly pained reactions from GOP presidential candidates. –The Washington Post

First and foremost, I am a pro-choicer. However, regardless of the circumstances, I do believe that abortion should be kept legal only within the first trimester. Following the first trimester the pregnancy should be carried to full-term during which time the mother can receive counseling and adequate healthcare while she decides whether or not to keep the child or give it up for adoption.

The problem I have with prop 26 is completely denies a woman the right to abort the fetus even within the first trimester … which in my opinion the fetus is not “human” by any sense of the word.

The down side is that staunch pro-lifers want to end abortion without obligating themselves to the care of the fetus until such time the new born is placed with a caring and loving home. In most instances, the new born either ends up in foster care or placed in an orphanage with the likelihood of never knowing what it means to be a part of a family that loves and cares for them, thus becoming societies cast-a-ways.

We cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater. Ending abortion within the first trimester will do more damage and eventually coast each of us to care for a child who never gets a chance to live a wholesome life-style. Pro-lifers are all to ready to end abortion, but are not willing to accept the consequences in the event the new born goes on to a life of social rejection, crime and possible prison. If we’re going to do away with abortion then we need to be ready to step in as social segregate parents to insure the new born has a chance to a healthy and productive life. Therefore, I hope that prop 26 goes down in defeat.

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Anti-abortion ‘Personhood’ Amendment Fails In Mississippi

A constitutional amendment that would have defined a fertilized egg as a person failed on the ballot in Mississippi on Tuesday, dealing the so-called “personhood” movement another blow.

Mississippi would have become the first state to define a fertilized egg as a person, a measure which was aimed at outlawing abortion in the state but, opponents contended, would have led to all kinds of unintended consequences.

In the end, those concerns won out in a strongly anti-abortion state. The amendment trailed 59 percent to 41 percent with more than half of precincts reporting. The Associated Press has said it will fail.

Had the measure passed, many thought it would have led to a new nationwide dialogue on abortion.

The measure earned the support of both Republicans and Democrats in Mississippi - including both of the major parties’ nominees for governor - but some of them hesitated to support it, including outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour (R).

Opponents say that measure could have criminalized birth control, affected in vitro fertilization practices and even forced doctors to decline to provide pregnant cancer patients with chemotherapy for fear of legal repercussions.

“Personhood” supporters had tried to pass a similar measure in Colorado in 2008 and 2010, but voters in that state rejected it more than two-to-one both times.

The “personhood” movement is a more aggressive maneuver than many anti-abortion advocates prefer. –The Washington Post

I’m glad the citizens in Mississippi voted down prop 26! This constitutional amendment is to broad and to restrictive. Also, should prop 26 become part of the states constitution then it leaves the welcome mat out for pro-lifers to add more restrictive amendments in regards to one’s end-life choices.

Yes, life is sacred, but so is one’s right to decide their own fate and destiny!