Roundup: It’s Election Day! What’s At Stake?
Today is the day to vote, so a short reminder of what's at stake for reproductive health and GLBT issues.
Think you know every important race for reproductive health happening today? Well, it’s more than just Amendment 62 or control over the senate. Here are some of the races anti-abortion factions are focusing in on as key to their cause, and some feedback from LGBT advocates on both sides of the aisle as to how they will be effected by the election.
The Washington Examiner has a list of top races to watch that could make or break the abortion status quo.
And who would think that the race for Attorney General would make a huge difference in reproductive rights? Well, that became more clear after Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli started pushing an anti-choice agenda. Now the anti-abortion groups have picked more AG races to concentrate on, in a chance to up the stakes.
“This is the most important election cycle ever for the issue of life,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “The lives of innocent children hang in the balance in many races across the nation where abortion.”Two races that have thus far garnered little attention, but have enormous implications for the future of abortion nationwide are the races for Attorney General in Iowa and Kansas.In Iowa, incumbent Tom Miller is being challenged by Republican Brenna Findley, an attorney and former Congressional chief of staff who is a dedicated pro-life supporter. Miller, a 32-year Democratic incumbent is a rabid supporter of abortion with strong ties to Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPH).Miller has actively worked to shield PPH from criminal investigation regarding their dangerous remote webcam abortion pill distribution scheme that denies women assess to physical examination by a licensed physician prior to an abortion, something that is considered a “standard of care” in nearly every state.“The Miller-Findley race for Iowa Attorney General is critical because as long as Miller remains in office protecting his friends at Planned Parenthood, they will move forward with their plan to expand telemed webcam abortions into all fifty states. That would represent the largest expansion of abortion services since Roe v. Wade. The outcome of this race could literally affect nearly every community in the nation.”Another pivotal election with national implications is the Kansas Attorney General’s race. Democratic incumbent Steve Six is an appointee of radical abortion promoter Kathleen Sebelius, who now serves as Obama’s Secretary of Health and Human Services. Six is opposed by pro-life Republican Derek Schmidt.Six is known for helping to gag evidence in a case where a Kansas Planned Parenthood has been charged with 107 criminal counts, including 23 felonies, for illegal late-term abortions and manufacturing evidence. His actions caused a needless two-year delay in the case. As long as Six remains in control of the Attorney General’s office, the prosecution of Planned Parenthood remains in jeopardy.Since organizations must obey all laws to receive tax funding, a successful prosecution could endanger Planned Parenthood’s ability to receive tax dollars nationwide. Taxpayer funds are what keep Planned Parenthood afloat. Defunding could cause the collapse of the abortion giant.“These two attorney general races could be game-changers in the abortion issue. They are literally life and death votes for the people of Iowa and Kansas that will affect every state,” said Newman. “Please join Operation Rescue in prayer over the next 24 hours for pro-life victories across the nation and especially in these two critical races.”
Interested in what the LGBT community thinks this election could bring for the movement? Poligot has statements from both conservative and progressive LGBT organizations on what they think could be the fallout come November 3rd.
R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans:
Log Cabin Republicans are expecting sweeping wins for our party on Tuesday, especially in the House of Representatives. From coast-to-coast, our members are currently coordinating with the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (NRCC) on races of note for us, such as phone banking for Charles Djou in Hawaii or in person canvasing for Nan Hayworth in New York.
Like many voters, Log Cabin Republicans are primarily focused on the state of the economy, market growth for employment and reduction of government spending. As to Republican lead legislation in 112th Congress benefiting the gay community, we can expect the new majority leadership to include tax equity as their initial pro-equality measure. A better economy and job growth is beneficial to all Americans regardless of one’s sexual orientation.
Michael Cole, press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign:
When anti-equality forces controlled Congress for a decade (1994-2005), they stymied any progress on LGBT issues and made attacks on our community part of their governing agenda. Among their efforts were attempts to: pass a federal marriage amendment; strip courts of jurisdiction to hear LGBT rights claims; block DC’s domestic partner benefits and needle exchange programs; cut HIV/AIDS funding; increase failed abstinence-only programs; and block openly LGBT appointees. A Congress controlled by anti-equality Republican leaders could very well return to this playbook, and even go further by cutting Justice Department funds for enforcement of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act or trying to roll back Obama administration advances for LGBT people, like benefits for the partners of Foreign Service officers or hospital visitation protections.
Under a Republican Congress, key positions that control the fate of pro-LGBT legislation would be held by notorious anti-equality legislators. Potential House leaders Reps. John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Mike Pence have consistently scored a perfect zero since they came to Congress. Other leadership positions are critical as well.
Christopher Barron, chairman of the board of GOProud:
If Republicans govern as true conservatives and stay focused on the issues that got them elected then I believe life will be better for average LGBT Americans. A conservative majority in the House could and should push for social security reforms, healthcare reforms, tax reforms and other pieces of legislation that will improve the lives of LGBT people in this country.
If, however, Republicans do not govern as conservatives — if they forget why they are getting elected, then we will hold them as accountable as we have held Nancy Pelosi and the big government crowd of liberals running Congress now. Let’s be honest though, the bar for success for LGBT Americans has been set fairly low after four years of Democratic control that has produced lots of partisan rhetoric and very little in the way of tangible results.
Michael Mitchell, executive director of Stonewall Democrats:
It’s not just Rep. John Boehner I’m concerned about; it’s all the other Republicans that will be heading up committees. If our community thought it was hard to get LGBT legislation to a floor vote the last two years, I guarantee it will be much, much harder under the GOP, especially with extreme Tea Party members running some of the committees.
As one example, I’m very concerned what will happen in the committee that handles appropriations for the District of Columbia. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-3), the ranking Republican on that committee and likely committee chair if the GOP takes the House, is a vociferous opponent of marriage equality and is certain to do whatever he can to overturn marriage for same-sex couples in the nation’s capital.
Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:
Life will change for all Americans, including LGBT Americans, under this scenario. You can expect even greater gridlock on the Hill, meaning tougher challenges moving legislation, including LGBT rights legislation. We’ve all been frustrated with Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats dragging their feet on advancing equality for LGBT people. But, John Boehner is no Nancy Pelosi.
So, yes, it will be worse. Many people already view government as dysfunction on steroids. More political tug-o-war is bound to feed that sentiment even further. Also, divisiveness can lead to inaction. Is this good for America? We don’t think so.
Robin McGehee, executive director, and Heather Cronk, managing director, of Get Equal:
Life for LGBT Americans should have changed the day that Barack Obama was sworn in. On the whole, it has not. With the Obama Administration continuing to defend “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts, we are still hunting for our fierce advocate and still living under the veil of discrimination. Obviously, if we lose the historic majority that we have enjoyed.
We will certainly not find fierce advocacy in a Speaker Boehner, so we will be forced to continue looking for a fierce advocate in President Obama. We hope that, should the White House lose its double-majority in the legislature, Election Day will be a wake-up call to act on behalf of LGBT Americans with the passion promised to us during the 2008 campaign. The targets will change, because power will shift, but our equality is a bi-partisan issue and all those who control our injustice should be held accountable, today and after this important election.
Mini Roundup: Based on all of the excitement, I think maybe next cycle people should run on a “Free Birthcontrol For Everyone!” platform.
November 2, 2010
- Voter Guide 2010: 13th Assembly District Race – Patch
- Referendum fever – BBC News
- Pro-life advocates help prevent forced abortion in Austin – Catholic News Agency
- PPAL, Others Launch Contraceptive For Market – The Inquirer
- Panel Set To Consider No-Cost Coverage Requirements For Women’s Preventive … – Medical News Today (press release)
- Midterm Campaigns Ramp Up Abortion-Rights Rhetoric In Final Days – Medical News Today (press release)
- Navigating New York Crisis Pregnancy Centers A ‘Battlefield,’ Opinion Piece Says – Medical News Today (press release)
- Global Health News: Canada’s Maternal Health Initiative; Mobile Giving … – Medical News Today (press release)
- Health care reform could mean free birth control – Michigan Messenger
- Races to Watch if you care about abortion – Washington Examiner (blog)
- Many Grade 8 girls skipping HPV vaccine – Haliburton County Echo
- Should girls have access to the pill over the counter? – The Guardian
- Cabinet committee to play major role in maternal deaths probe – Stabroek News
- Kansas judicial races get rare attention – NTV
- Pro-life group reports 541 babies saved from abortion during campaign – Catholic News Agency
- South African Pastor Says Jesus Had HIV – News One
- Man claiming he has HIV charged in assault on officers – News-Leader.com
- An abortion law we can all choose to support – Calgary Herald
- Their bodies, themselves: Girls need support to make healthy choices – Cherry Hill Courier Post
- Health law challenges: Birth control, grandfathering, state’s exchanges – News-Medical.net
- Abortion posters spark debates – Oklahoma Daily
- How will today’s vote go? – Denver Daily News
- Youth First: Talk to teens about sexual responsibility – Evansville Courier & Press
- Advocate to speak about women’s health issues in Afghanistan – Whittier Daily News
- Tight races, new faces — RI voters hit the polls – The Brown Daily Herald
- Sarah Yu ’11: Actually, let’s talk about sex – The Brown Daily Herald
- Fighting cervical cancer — with a camera – ABS CBN News
- Can Lisa MURKOWSKI Win Over Alaska’s Moderate Voters? A Dispatch from Anchorage. – New Republic
- Get the facts on family planning to avoid unintended pregnancies – Asheville Citizen-Times
- Mother-Baby Pack launched to prevent HIV transmission launched in Kenya Love … – Electronic Tech News
November 1, 2010
- Health Care Bill Might Make ‘the Pill’ Free – Truthdig
- Election Opinion 2010 – The UCSD Guardian Online
- The Question: What Could Tuesday Mean for LGBT Americans? – Metro Weekly
- Vote for supporters of abortion never justified, Vatican official says – The Pilot
- Abortion connection denied by major research foundation – WND.com
- Why the party matters in elections – Sacramento News & Review (blog)
- For Many Teens, Oral Sex Leads to Riskier Activity – BusinessWeek
- Editorial: A common-sense birth control policy – Minneapolis Star Tribune
- Two Pivotal ‘Under-the-Radar’ Races with National Abortion Implications – Christian News Wire (press release)
- Obama Administration Threatens Catholic Colleges on Birth Control, Abortion – LifeNews.com
- Women Could Get Free Birth Control With Health Reform Law – U.S. News & World Report (blog)
- Claiming to Give Options, Pushing a Pro-Life Agenda – Babble (blog)
- State and Local Health Officials Partner with CSU to Recommend, Provide Free … – Colorado State University News (press release)
- Free Birth Control Possible Under New Law – LiveScience.com
- Planned Parenthood and the Media get it wrong about sexual abstinence – Spero News
- Stephen Fry: Women’s sexuality doesn’t count – Salon
- Law to stop coerced abortions faces uphill battle – Toronto Sun
- Feminist-Wannabes: How The GOP And The Tea Party Want To Hijack Your … – Neon Tommy
- GOP closing arguments – Capitol Hill Blue
- Graduating from Family Planning to Maternal and Child Health – USAID (press release)
- Alliance to Focus on Family Planning in Africa, Asia – USAID (press release)
- Pregnancy Rates Show Mixed Bag For Tri-Cities – KEPR 19
- Birth Control for Free Under New Healthcare Law – ThirdAge
- Anti-Abortion Display Held At IPFW – Indiana’s NewsCenter
- NZ contraception limited: doctor – Stuff.co.nz
- Alaska Poll Shows Pro-Life Joe Miller Comeback Against Pro-Abortion Murkowski – LifeNews.com
- Hardcore Sex-Ed in Wisconsin – Christian Web News
- Will Birth Control Gel Replace The Pill? – YourTango
- Unplanned pregnancies, abortions more common in anorexic women–study – TheMedGuru
- Prediction: Republicans Will Pick Up 9 Seats in Senate for 50-50 Split – LifeNews.com
- The Abortion Debate: Open Hearts, Open Minds and Tragedy as a Fair Minded Word – Huffington Post (blog)
- Court To Decide University Patent Case – NPR
- New York Kills AIDS Prevention – Huffington Post (blog)
- Make birth control pills free. – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
- Prolife groups to map anti-RH bill strategies in congress – GMANews.TV
- Major State Ballot Measures Voters Will Decide on Nov 2 – Part 2, Social … – AXcess News
- Revolutionizing contraception – NewDesignWorld (press release)
- Conventional Yearly Pap Test Reduces Cancer Risk After CIN Treatment – Medscape
- Free pill is supposed to prevent abortion? Yeah, right. – New York Post (blog)
- Teen pregnancy rates – Muskeg News
- Cif readers on … assisted reproduction – The Guardian
- Kitzhaber Tries to Make Abortion an – RealClearPolitics
- Anti-HIV circumcisions use “dangerous” clamp, say researchers – Monsters and Critics.com
- A Law Up For Grabs – First Things (blog)
- Women Underestimate Importance of Long-Term Care Planning – PR Newswire (press release)
- Health care reform could make birth control pills free – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
- Chopping off foreskins NOT the answer to HIV in our prisons – Thought Leader
- Should the government provide free birth control for women? – Jamestown Post Journal
- Sierra Leone – one of the most dangerous place on earth to be pregnant – WalesOnline
- China starts counting its huge population – AFP
- Brazil: candidate who called for legalized abortion wins presidential election – Catholic Culture
- To My Daughter, On the Election – Care2.com (blog)
- Blogs Comment On NARAL Endorsements, Antiabortion ‘Wanted’ Posters, Other Topics – Medical News Today (press release)
- ‘Jesus had HIV’ – BBC News
- Doctors challenge abortion guidelines – TVNZ
- Family planning: Get yourself on fertile ground – Metro
- ‘No On Fabe’ Questions Judge’s Abortion Decisions – KTVA CBS 11 News Alaska
- UN Pledges Action To Eliminate Wartime Sexual Violence, Incorporate Women In … – Medical News Today (press release)
- Planned Parenthood Of Mont. Sues Over Teen Birth Control Coverage – Medical News Today (press release)
- Milwaukee, Wis., Teen Pregnancy Rate Drops After Launch Of Prevention Efforts – Medical News Today (press release)
- Long-Contested Ariz., Abortion Law To Take Effect – Medical News Today (press release)
- Advisory Panel Debates HPV Vaccination For Boys, Young Men – Medical News Today (press release)
- Increase access to pill – News-Leader.com
- Scott, Rubio draw 1000 GOP faithful in Sarasota; Sink gets 200 Dems at Delray … – Palm Beach Post
- The new abortion war: Could Britain follow militant US ‘pro-lifers’? – Daily Mail
- Slum life escalates maternal, childhood deaths – Africa Science News Service
- Debate the gruesome reality of denying abortion – Ottawa Citizen
- Harry Reid’s November surprise? – Salon
- Rape victims getting younger – Mid-Day
- Legislative races will shape NC political terrain – Charlotte Observer