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Gawd NARAL is awful. Adios. See ya. Good riddance.
This is an unforgivable move by Keenan — way beyond the Lieberman move which was indeed despicable. But bolstering the right wing strategy of fetal pain of all things is so beyond the pale I can hardly believe Keenan can look at herself in the mirror.
Fetal personhood is THE BIG GOAL of the right wing Christians. PERIOD. One could argue (though I would disagree) that many of the other obstacles — parental consent, waiting periods, etc. — are less about fetal personhood and more about overall opposition to abortion and/or a belief that women are infants and incapable of making life decisions. But measures that are aimed specifically and rhetorically at the goal of establishing the concept of fetal personhood in the public’s mind — that is the ball game. That’s about the overall legal structure. It’s about privacy broadly, which underpins gay rights, the rights of pregnant women to make their own decisions free of coercion, the rights of singles and marrieds to contraception, and on and on…
And finally, there are some great & fierce pro-choice groups in addition to Planned Parenthood that actually do the work and don’t spout right wing BS and who do so against huge odds — they deserve our support:
- NAF (National Abortion Federation, represents independent clinics nationally and keeps excellent stats on clinic violence)
- CRR (Center for Reproductive Rights, pro-choice legal & policy group — one of the fiercest)
- ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project (legal advocacy)
- Planned Parenthood Legal Defense Fund (PP’s legal arm)
- National Network of Abortion Funds (coalition of state funds that raises $ for low-income women who can’t afford a procedure; this is a very common problem nationally — most clinics need thousands of dollars each week to aid patients who are having trouble scraping the $ together in time to not need a 2nd trimester procedure, for ex — and a little $ goes a long way; they can help you find your local state fund, too.)
(Update: This post was originally identified as being written by Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon. It was the result of a miscommunication between us over my desire to post a "comment" she had made -- and we were talking about different ones. The "Amanda" in question is a regular reader. The post is still great, apologies to all -- JH)
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Amanda!
Welcome Amanda and thank you!
Christmas!
Men have no business determining what women should be doing with THEIR bodies. Period! When the day arrives that men can get pregnant, then I shall change my tune.
People ask who they should give to instead of NARAL, and the above is a good list.
Still looking for a link for PP legal defense fund, couldn’t find it so if you do drop it into the comments.
The whole abortion debate is becoming- well- peculiar…
We don’t debate whether or not to HAVE abortions- even though goopers could propose a constitutional amendment any time they like- so instead we get:
can ya abort it when it’s older?
can ya abort it without tellin yer parents
can ya be brought across state lines ta abort it.
can ya abort it if ya pull it out first
and on and on and on….
Come on Goopers show us what yer made of- give us the constitutional amendment- and take it right up the political backside!
Thanks, Amanda. Theocratic opinion to the contrary, it’s good to have choices.
Doctors will be given little cards like cops use when arrestin someone:
“You may hate yerself for the rest of yer life- there are risks of death- the fetus may suffer- if you cannot afford a lawyer–whoops.
I really hope that as we return to progressive values, we can lose baggage like NARAL. As I’ve said, there was no need for this. The science doesn’t support the premise.
Keep abortion safe and legal, and provide both the family planning education and the economic prosperity that makes them rare.
As Christy said earlier. It’s a no brainer.
a copy of this post will be included with my “ain’t gonna happen” response to NARAL fundraising pitches. thanks for the list.
Are you here, Amanda?
I have a question about Planned Parenthood’s legal defense fund. I receive fundraising letters from PP, but I don’t recall receiving any specifically from their legal defense fund.
Does PP’s genral budget (including contributions from people like me)provide revenue to the legal defense fund, or does the defense fund raise its own money separately?
Thank you, Amanda!
I’ve had enough of NARAL’s continual habit of selling out to the GOPers…
Not only did they endorse Lieberman…
Not only have they endorsed outright GOPers like Nancy Johnson and Lincoln Chaffee…
But they’re now even losing their own goal of protecting choice!
They need to be put out of their misery…
They’ve completely lost their way, and we as progressives shouldn’t help them lose their way even more.
general. please excuse the typo.
Thanks, Amanda and Jane. This is really helpful info.
Cujo, left a reply for you on the last thread.
PLEASE ADD
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
It’s the only organization that is willing to take on the wing nuts on this issue on religious grounds. Its funding sources are meager and we need to have this voice out there combatting the right wing. Disclosure, I’m co-convener of the Religious Leadership Council of said organization.
We are working to get more youth involved in the movement as well as setting up organizations in seminaries so that this can be discussed in the religious setting before new ministers go out into the field.
Since the repigs have been so set on this wedge issue to bring them cash, they have to push it and push it hard with the religious folk. Keeps them alive. Sadly for us all the same is true for NARAL. PP and the others provide a needed service. We need to continue to support them for that.
Almost all of the people power of RCRC is volunteer. Small staff, small budget. If we had 5% of what any of the “pro-life” orgs, had we could crush them with our message. Whether you are religious or not, and I know lots of people here are not only not religious, but hostile to religion, we need to have this voice in the fight. Otherwise we look like we have ceded the moral high ground on Choice. We have most certainly NOT!
Please help keep us viable.
Rereading Jane’s intro, it sounds like Amanda’s post started out as a comment. Does that mean Amanda is not sitting in on this discussion?
RevDeb @ 15
WOW!
I may not be religious anymore, but most of my family is…
I don’t have a problem with that…
But what I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH is when some folks try to IMPOSE THEIR “RELIGIOUS” VALUES ON ME! This sounds like a great organization, and perhaps I’ll have to think about adding it my list of charities to give to this Holiday Season! : )
Amanda is not here for a discussion or anything but I invited her to stop by at some point and answer people’s questions.
Greetings, potential baby receptacles and gentlemen,
We at NARAL request your urgent financial support for our ongoing efforts to do whatever it is we have been doing even if we are no longer quite sure what that is. Our work is important and the cost of the wienies and the Kool Aid alone has been daunting. In addition to the kneepads we had to buy for our work with Joseph Lieberman, we have also had unexpected expenses in our research projects, most notably in answering the question what do the letters N.A.R.A.L. stand for anyway.
Please send your check today. It’s probably too late for the Christmas party but most of us are planning vacations in the spring.
Your friends at NARAL.
Hugh @ 19
Hmmm…
So this is what NARAL has been doing with our money…
But how can Kool Aid and knee pads cost SO MUCH?
; )
Wonder if these people would like to visit for a grillin—er I mean discussion?
Daddy Clusterfuck bursts into tears cause his SANE son is outta work and the crazy one is ruinin the country.
atdnext @ 17
Which is precisely why this organization exists- so that no one religion can impose their idea of what reproductive rights is upon anyone else.
Not sure if this is news, but the Senate Armed Services Committee approved Gates.
Unanimously.
Gates approved them too.
I agree about the intent of promoting the concept of fetal personhood. It’s an attempt to take functional and mental characteristics we ordinarily attribute to another interactive person and foist them onto a fetus. In this case the relatively complex mature expression or experience presumed to be affected by anesthesia is emotional relief.
Whenever PP or Naral call to ask for a donation I patiently explain these issues to the caller. I tell her that I know it isn’t her fault but that she should know about these things and talk to other members about them.
I bring up the things we’ve discussed here about “Short Ride” Joe, “Srip Search” Sammy and now this.
They usually get a laugh out of “Strip Search” Sammy’s nickname but they often sound really surprised to hear about these things.
Well put. With the primary season coming, and some ostensible allies looking for ways to appear “moderate,” it’s important to hit this stuff hard. Thanks, Amanda.
Riesz Fischer @ 27
Please clarify. I am still trying to figure out which of these organizations should be supported, and I don’t know a lot about any of them. Amanda, in the post above, suggests Planned Parenthood Legal Defense Fund as one worthy of funding. Yet in your comment you indicate that in your view, “PP” is not worthy. Does your position on that extend to PP’s Legal Defense Fund, or only apply to the parent organization? And if you don’t like PP, why not?
(not arguing, just asking). Thanks.
neurophius,
The Planned Parenthood clinics provide a much needed service. When in doubt, give to the local PP if they have clinics. The legal defense fund also does needed work. They are always leading the battle in the courts to try to stave off the wing nuts. That should give you enough options. Along with NAF and NNAF (a worthy cause to which I give. the notes above explain why).
OT but you probably expect this by now:
Your biweekly gas and oil prices
Average price for regular gasoline 12/05/06 in 50 states and DC
$2.80 plus 1 state : Hawaii
$2.70 plus 0 states
$2.60 plus 1 state : Oregon
$2.50 plus 3 states : California, Nevada, Washington
$2.40 plus 3 states : Alaska, Connecticut, New York
$2.30 plus 13 states
$2.20 plus 23 states
$2.10 plus 7 states
$2.00 plus 0 states
Average national price for regular gasoline: $2.293, up $.005 from yesterday
Most recent low: $2.196 on November 7, 2006
Highest average price: Hawaii $2.831
Lowest average price: Oklahoma $2.148
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp
Average daily change in the national average for regular gasoline beginning at the peak:
August 8-15: down .56 cents/day
August 15-22: down 1.06
August 22-29: down 1.19
Aug 29- Sept 5: down 1.54
September 5-12: down 1.7
September 12-19: down 1.8
September 19-26: down 1.7
Sept 26-Oct 3: down .9
October 3-10: down .61
October 10-17: down .56
October 17-24: down .30
October 24-31: up .11
Oct 31-Nov 7: down .2
November 7-14: up .47
November 14-21: up .05
November 21-28: up .1
Nov 28-Dec 5: up .73 cents/day
Crude Oil:
Nymex Crude Future $62.43, down $.01
Dated Brent Spot $63.96, down $.35
WTI Cushing Spot: $62.43, down $.01
If you look at the trends above, after being fairly flat, gas prices increased significantly last week. Looking back to Election Day November 7 (and the day when gas prices hit their low), 24 states had average prices below $2.20. Today only 7 do.
In oil, low prices simply could not be sustained in the face of oncoming winter. Supply and weather forecasts are currently what cause daily fluctuations but prices are about where I would expect them to be.
Tony Snow: Bush Disagrees With Gates, Says We Are ‘Winning’
What’s going on here? Karl Rove, I find it very difficult to think this “disagreement” is an accident.
http://www.editorandpublisher......1003468542
I had been a member of NARAL for years until some of their recent actions, ending with endorsing Holy Joe Lieberman after Ned Lamont took him in the primary and that may still come back to haunt us in ways that NARAL is incapable of imagining. They are like the Log Cabin Republicans in their delusions of relevance, believing that they will get respect from people whose stated goal is the work against their agenda. People like that shouldn’t be in the gene pool.
It ain’t an accident, imho OK– it was the easy way to get him approved unanimously and then on to more of the same caca.
Same with the ISG and the upcoming elections.
boosh/cheney will do the things only they want to do.
I’d been a supporter of NARAL for a number of years. Since I am active in a pro-choice group it seemed a natural thing to do. Then they did what they did with HoJo and I swore off. I’ve told that to phone solicitors and the latest appeal was by mail and included a pen. I used the pen to write a note on the pledge card which I sent back. $0. for them because of their endorsement of HoJo. That was enough. Anything else just adds insult to injury.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 32
Winning what? A place in the Guinness Book of Records for “greatest number of senselessly slaughtered Muslims?” The hatred of six billion humans? A fondue pot?
yeah, EvilDr.Puma.
horrible.
‘We Can’t Afford to Leave’
twolf1 @ 38
shades of Vietnam… with a promise of the entire region exploding.
good grief.
What I don’t understand is why choice is a “debate”. It’s like torture….why are citizens of the United States of America debating choice in the twenty first century? Are we not technical? Are we not enlightened? Why are men entitled to control our bodies as well as theirs’? Poverty, hunger, torture, despotism, tyranny, slavery, plague, famine…why do we discuss these things endlessly when we have it in our power to conquer all of these ills? Why do we debate what is axiomatic? Women have the inherent right to control their own reproduction. To say anything else is tantamount to slavery.
Bush wants to stay the course. McCain wants more troops. And Hillary wants to “revisit” the issue ’sometime’. I want out of Iraq.
neurophius @ 29
As RevDeb says, there’s a difference between PP clinics and their legal defence fund. But PP endorsed “Short Ride” Joe:
http://www.firedoglake.com/200.....arenthood/
I would have a hard time holding my lunch down while donating any money to anyone who endorsed that slimy excuse for a man.
NARAL is like far too many old-time ‘progressive’ institutions (AFL-CIO, the ‘centrist’ wing of the Democratic Party, etc.).
They have gotten fat and comfortable in their sinecures, and are only aroused to action when their address on Easy Street gets a drive-by shooting.
Then they use the levers of power to squash the threat.
We are that threat, and don’t think they won’t squash us, given the chance.
Only two answers. Defund the bastards and vote for someone else. Now. Every time.
Once we leave a sufficient number twisting in the wind, the rest will get the message.
Well said, MargaretPOA @ 40!
(I might add war, oppression, ethnic cleansing, global warming and all the other horrors currently practiced/ignored to that list.)
diogenes @ 43
Agreed. We need to do the same thing with certain Democratic politicians.
twolf1 @
38
Helen Damnation! Pelosi went to bat for Reyes to replace war apologist Harman, and this is his way of saying thanks?
No way Pelosi did not have this discussion before hand - this is some treacherous bullshit!
Looks like Bush was right -we’re gonna be there as long as he wants. Grrrrrrr!
More troops in is throwing gasoline on an out of control fire.
stoopid, but that’s the hallmark of these agonizing long 6 years.
MargaretPOA @ 45
From your mouth to God’s ears, sister!
I want any politician, regardless of political party, who wants to continue the killing and horror in Iraq, to pay a very heavy political price.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 49
But they’re “Pro Life”, don’t ya see?
there is a new thread
Are we witnessing a little bloggus interuptus.
punaise- how does one get there?
thread bobbin’?
here
http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/05/5913/
The answer is obvious in Iraq. All we have to do is start treating the middle eastern people as people….adult people. As long as we treat them as an inferior group, they, like any community will strive to realize self determination. The answer in Iraq is step one: Tell the Palestinian people that we respect the results of their free elections and restore aid to them. Step two: Tell Israel if they like the aid they have been enjoying, they will also respect the Palestinian people and actually work toward a solution, rather than rattle their sabres and deny them their rights and their dignity. Step three: Immediately withdraw military forces from the middle east. Begin treating all peoples as equals and valuable. On a related subject, we had better spend some effort on alternative energies which have been ignored or actively suppressed. I’m not saying that we should “surrender” or “kowtow” in any way. I’m just saying that that is the reason they hate us. They don’t hate us for our “freedom” or any other pointless and misleading Bushism, they hate us because we treat them like errant children who need our supervision. We are able to live without being in the middle east in any way that we are not welcome in the middle east. It comes down to greed and the standard way of doing things in the world. It’s time for everybody to grow up before it’s too late.
Fully conceived new thread.
To all the right-wing religious fundamentalist fanatics, the FETUS is that which they worship as an IDOL in place of God.
EvilDrPuma @
36
Since the dawn of time, the fertile crescent has been called many things, many metaphors, untold analogies, countless comparisons…but fondue pot????!!!!
But, you know, with George W. Bush involved, somehow that makes the most sense.
Late to thisd again, but I think NARAL is in a very twisted way living up to its name - it doesn’t say anything about supporting abortion rights, it’s just about them.
This was an unbelievably stupid gaffe by NARAL. It’s particularly unfathomable in light of the recent election. They have proven themselves completely unworthy to being a leadership organization putatively devoted to a women’s right to choose. Vote with your wallets. No guts — No money.
Hey everybody,
I just emailed Jane and am copying my email here too…
–Amanda
**************
Hi Jane,
So I feel very strange sending this to you…I was the Amanda who posted the comment on the original NARAL thread today — the one that was frontpaged — http://www.firedoglake.com/200...../#comments
Alas, I am not the excellent Amanda Maracotte of Pandagon. My name’s Amanda, I live in Boston & am a longtime FDL reader…A case of mistaken identity, I think.
Thanks for posting my comment on the front page — I just logged on after getting home from work and I did a double — nay, triple — take! :-)
–Amanda
PS — I did post my email with my original post, so you can check that this is legit, etc. — I’m sure you get a ton of strange email :-)
Thanks, Jane.
Thank you for the links to new organizations that I did not know about. Another way to make a contribution. I would rather give to sources that help women directly, rather than some DC lobbying group. Thank you!
Having worked at non-profit social advocacy organizations, I know it is true that the staff and boards can engage in “mission creep” and end up ignoring or betraying the basic mission of the organization. I’ve seen it. The “members”, ie. people asked through direct mail and phone solicitations to pay the bills, are often viewed as just mindless, faceless checkbooks. Not pretty.
On an unrelated note, i think the heart of the darkness here regarding the anti-woman movement (meaning anti-choice) is ultimately about denying women any rights whatsoever due to their perceived preordainment into biological servitude as the placental vessel for fetuses produced by males. This is ugly dangerous stuff that should never be underestimated. To wit: the only organized terrorist effort in the U.S. I am aware of is targeted solely at pregnant women and their physicians.
Oh. and thanks for putting a boot up NARAL’s ass. They richly deserve it.
By the way, Today is FREE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION DAY at Planned Parenthood.
Call 1-800-230-PLAN for a Planned Parenthood near you, and tell everyone!
It’s so important that everyone have some in the medicine cabinet, just in case.
PS. Screw Nancy Keenan. Or better yet, don’t.
Jane Hamsher @ 5
The name “PP Legal defense fund” is not used anymore and hasn’t been for the past 5 or so years. But if someone would like to make a gift to support litigation efforts, they would send a check to PPFA and note that they want their contribution used for that. If someone wanted to make the gift online, they would choose “national.” There’s also the option to donate locally — meaning that the donation will go directly to the local Planned Parenthood.
MargaretPOA @ 40
Certainly they do - but after they have reproduced and a living human is alive inside them, this person must be protected from the mother at all costs. To say anything else is tantamount to genocide.
Douglas Watts @ 65
Anti-woman? Aren’t women just over half of millions of unborn children who are murdered by abortion each year? So who exactly is anti-woman?
‘Perceived preordainment…’? In case you haven’t noticed, it is an irrefutable FACT of biology that women, not men, carry unborn children from conception until birth.
TB @
69
Aren’t women just over half of millions of unborn children who are murdered by abortion each year?
No.