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Supreme Court Strategizing Should Include Birth Control

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 6, 2009 11:26 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The battle for David Souter’s seat on the Supreme Court will be a pitched fight over Roe v. Wade, Cynthia Tucker writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Here’s a suggestion for a pragmatic president with excellent political instincts and the moral capacity to see the ethical quandaries inherent in Roe," she writes. “Find partners for a highly public crusade to encourage contraception. And challenge abortion-rights opponents to join that crusade.”

“They can hardly argue with the logic,” Tucker writes. “If contraceptive use goes up, the abortion rate will decline.” Some will never be convinced, including “narrow-minded traditionalists who hide behind their ‘love’ for the unborn, despite the fact that they oppose all government support for poor children already born.” But moderates on either side of Roe provide “broad support for a practical approach to curbing the abortion rate.”

A demonstrator holding a condom in Rome.
A demonstrator holding a condom in Rome.   (AP Photo)
A volunteer compares the quality of different brands of condoms.
A volunteer compares the quality of different brands of condoms.   (AP Photo)
A protester holds up a condom during a rally in Sydney, Australia.
A protester holds up a condom during a rally in Sydney, Australia.   (AP Photo)
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There will always be hard-core Roe opponents who have no interest in making common cause with those of us on the other side. There will continue to be ultra-conservatives who detest the idea that women have control over their own bodies. - Cynthia Tucker

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
riffran
May 7, 2009 5:35 AM CDT
Being a pro-lifer myself, I don't think birth control is "abortion"...thats just plain silly. But I also feel it's the choice of the person who is pregnant, to decide if they want to carry the pregnancy...so for the pro-lifers, do what your morals dictate with regards to your own life..and for the pro-choice, the same, and both sides deal with what follows and leave each other the hell alone
kirei_gaisuto
May 6, 2009 9:48 AM CDT
I'm pro-life and I totally agree with this. While I don't agree with abortion, it's legally necessary to prevent women from going to back alley clinics or clothes hangering themselves in their homes. Better access to birth control means fewer unwanted pregnancies, which is better for everyone. Believe it or not, most pro-lifers think this way. The loud extremists just get more press. Also, you don't have to be religious to believe a fetus is a life.
cornelison
May 6, 2009 6:20 AM CDT
The Catholic Church has always been hypocritical. They allow anyone into their churches to get $$$$ donations. Their patriarchy has hurt women for centuries. If they excommunicated all women who've taken birth control, had abortions & had sex before marriage the pews would be half-empty.

 
abortion • contraception • contraceptive • US Supreme Court • David Souter • Obama administration • President Obama

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