Re: Abortion -- Ohio Gets It Right

[4Q Basket Case]

Ohio has passed an amendment to its state constitution allowing abortion.

While I think abortion rights advocates are overstating the breadth of the victory, I also think Ohio got it right.

The amendment concentrates on the issue of viability outside the mother's body and defines that point at somewhere between 22 weeks and 26 weeks -- I've read several summaries quoting different limitations, but not the amendment itself. It also allows exceptions for the mother's health.

It's so common sense that I would guess it allows other exceptions in instances where a once-healthy fetus becomes non-viable after 26 weeks, though I don't know that for sure. If that's wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

If you listen to only TV coverage, you'd think Ohio allows unrestricted abortion up to birth....which isn't the case. I personally would draw the line at 24 weeks, but I'm not going to quibble over potentially 2 extra weeks.

This is a lesson for both extremes. The population as a whole gets queasy with late term abortion of a healthy fetus. It also thinks that a total ban on abortion with no exceptions whatsoever is ridiculous.

Kudos to Ohio for ratifying a common-sense position.

 

[Go Bama]

Ohio has passed an amendment to its state constitution allowing abortion.

While I think abortion rights advocates are overstating the breadth of the victory, I also think Ohio got it right.

The amendment concentrates on the issue of viability outside the mother's body and defines that point at somewhere between 22 weeks and 26 weeks -- I've read several summaries quoting different limitations, but not the amendment itself. It also allows exceptions for the mother's health.

It's so common sense that I would guess it allows other exceptions in instances where a once-healthy fetus becomes non-viable after 26 weeks, though I don't know that for sure. If that's wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

If you listen to only TV coverage, you'd think Ohio allows unrestricted abortion up to birth....which isn't the case. I personally would draw the line at 24 weeks, but I'm not going to quibble over potentially 2 extra weeks.

This is a lesson for both extremes. The population as a whole gets queasy with late term abortion of a healthy fetus. It also thinks that a total ban on abortion with no exceptions whatsoever is ridiculous.

Kudos to Ohio for ratifying a common-sense position.

I agree this is a good compromise between the two extremes. I suspect the vast majority of people would support a national law similar to this one.

The results:

56.6% for
43.4% against

IMO, that's a pretty large margin in a red state. It's clear from the map that there is a clear difference of opinion between rural and urban voters.

 

[mdb-tpet]

I'm quite glad Ohio at least has a moderate position on their law books now. I fully expect the GOP to ignore this new amendment and continually write draconian laws anyway only to waste everyone's money and time in the courts over and over.

 

[92tide]

what seems to be labeled as the "extreme" is pretty much the mainstream position in the current gop.

i'm wondering how we are differentiating between "extremists" and "non-extremists" in the gop.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Ohio has passed an amendment to its state constitution allowing abortion.

While I think abortion rights advocates are overstating the breadth of the victory, I also think Ohio got it right.

The amendment concentrates on the issue of viability outside the mother's body and defines that point at somewhere between 22 weeks and 26 weeks -- I've read several summaries quoting different limitations, but not the amendment itself. It also allows exceptions for the mother's health.

It's so common sense that I would guess it allows other exceptions in instances where a once-healthy fetus becomes non-viable after 26 weeks, though I don't know that for sure. If that's wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

If you listen to only TV coverage, you'd think Ohio allows unrestricted abortion up to birth....which isn't the case. I personally would draw the line at 24 weeks, but I'm not going to quibble over potentially 2 extra weeks.

This is a lesson for both extremes. The population as a whole gets queasy with late term abortion of a healthy fetus. It also thinks that a total ban on abortion with no exceptions whatsoever is ridiculous.

Kudos to Ohio for ratifying a common-sense position.

It was a slap in the face to Republican politicians, including their rather popular governor. The whole party is having to reevaluate its 2024 campaign plan...

 

[Jon]

what seems to be labeled as the "extreme" is pretty much the mainstream position in the current gop.

i'm wondering how we are differentiating between "extremists" and "non-extremists" in the gop.

no such thing exists, it is an extremist party at this point

 

[CrimsonJazz]

It was a slap in the face to Republican politicians, including their rather popular governor. The whole party is having to reevaluate its 2024 campaign plan...

The stupid thing is that internal and external polling would have told them this before election day, but Republicans choose to live in a reality where the will of the people is inconsequential.

 

[Jon]

The stupid thing is that internal and external polling would have told them this before election day, but Republicans choose to live in a reality where the will of the people is inconsequential.

David Frum, “ if conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism, they will abandon democracy”,

 

[Ratal]

Growing up, I was taught that the main differences between Democrats and Republics were death penalty, taxes, government size, gun control, and abortion views. I know there are more, but those have always been the most core values from my viewpoint.

I believe that we are now seeing that it is easy to say you are pro-life when you have an option. I think the removal of the federal protection for abortion rights has forced people to re-evaluate their belief. IMO, I think that the results in Ohio shows that there are more pro-choice Republicans than there are pro-life Democrats.

Side note that I found interesting. I am from Kentucky. I was curious to see if the new Commissioner of Agriculture was for recreational marijuana. There was no mention of it on his website. However, he stated that he was pro-life. Voters should not need to know how you feel about abortion if you are over Ag.

 

[NationalTitles18]

So they basically codified Roe V Wade.

 

[jthomas666]

David Frum, “ if conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism, they will abandon democracy”,

And as if on cue:

GOP lawmakers, Michigan Right To Life sue to block voter-approved abortion rights - UPI.com

A group of Michigan GOP lawmakers and the anti-abortion rights group Right To Life of Michigan on Wednesday sued to overturn the will of voters who approved a 2022 constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights.

www.upi.com

GOP lawmakers, Michigan Right To Life sue to block voter-approved abortion rights

 

[Crimson1967]

Growing up, I was taught that the main differences between Democrats and Republics were death penalty, taxes, government size, gun control, and abortion views. I know there are more, but those have always been the most core values from my viewpoint.

I believe that we are now seeing that it is easy to say you are pro-life when you have an option. I think the removal of the federal protection for abortion rights has forced people to re-evaluate their belief. IMO, I think that the results in Ohio shows that there are more pro-choice Republicans than there are pro-life Democrats.

Side note that I found interesting. I am from Kentucky. I was curious to see if the new Commissioner of Agriculture was for recreational marijuana. There was no mention of it on his website. However, he stated that he was pro-life. Voters should not need to know how you feel about abortion if you are over Ag.

Does the Ag Commissioner’s view on pot really matter? I doubt legalizing it is up to him. I suppose if it is made legal he could control how the growing licenses are distributed.

 

[Crimson1967]

Obviously, we can’t have a complete democracy because there is no way everyone can vote on every issue that comes up.

But if the Michigan constitution is amended vox populi, that’s the way it is. They are free to bring up another amendment to repeal the abortion one.

 

[Huckleberry]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1724087749664210989

State Rep. Jennifer Gross has asked legislative researchers to draft the "Issue 1 Implementation Act."

It would give the Ohio General Assembly "exclusive authority over implementing" Issue 1, and make it an impeachable offense for any judge to rule on or attempt to enforce it.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I know nothing about Gross’s district. I’m guessing it’s hardcore red.

If so, she’s playing to her audience — the religious fundamentalist wing of the Republican Party.

Fighting a 57-43 statewide margin of defeat, I doubt that even she thinks the motion has a chance of passing.

If I’m right about her district, she’s just playing to a constituency and ensuring that she can’t be primaried from her right.

 

[Padreruf]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1724087749664210989

State Rep. Jennifer Gross has asked legislative researchers to draft the "Issue 1 Implementation Act."

It would give the Ohio General Assembly "exclusive authority over implementing" Issue 1, and make it an impeachable offense for any judge to rule on or attempt to enforce it.

In what universe can the legislature limit the judicial? Not in this country...