Rep. Speier Criticizes Conservatives For Failing To Empathize with Women
23 replies, posted
[url=http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/18/rep-speier-reveals-abortion-on-house-floor/]Think Progress[/url]
[release]Since gaining the upper-hand in the House, Republicans have led what Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called “the most comprehensive and radical assault on women’s health in our lifetime.” Blindly constructing bills to redefine rape, to leave women to die rather than perform an abortion, and to cut off support for women’s health care clinics, the House GOP has beat the anti-choice drum while woefully ignorant of how such sanctimony affects women in the real world.
Yesterday, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) shattered that bubble on the House floor as the debate to defund Planned Parenthood neared its third hour. Speier planned to speak on a different topic but when Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) read a lengthy account of an abortion procedure in graphic and gruesome detail and described it as “child abuse,” Speier confronted his “preposterous” ignorance with an intimate revelation — she had to have an abortion:
SPEIER: You know I had really planned to speak about something else. But the gentleman from New Jersey just put my stomach in knots. Because I am one of those woman he spoke about just now. I had a procedure at 17 weeks, pregnant with a child that had moved from the vagina into the cervix. And that procedure that you just talked about is a procedure I endured. I lost a baby. But for you to stand on this floor and suggest as you have that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous. To think that we are here tonight debating this issue, while the American people, if they are listening, are scratching their heads and wondering “what does this have to do with me getting a job? What does this have to do with reducing the deficit?” The answer is nothing at all.
Watch it:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHdEzLIP3s&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL[/media]
Speier’s courageous revelation shines in stark contrast to members like Smith — who introduced the bill redefining rape — and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) who cavalierly detail abortion procedures without any real knowledge of the deeply emotional and physical pain inherent in such a private decision. The difficulty and danger in bringing a child to bear, and the heart-wrenching decision not to, comes with the territory of being a woman. As Speier so eloquently proves, such a responsibility deserves respect, understanding, and above all, privacy.[/release]
This reminds me of when McCarthy got his own bubble popped when the lawyer said "Have you no decency left sir?"
This...is just...right. Despite the reasons behind her argument, or least why she had to say anything in the first place, her words have made me feel just that much better. Thank goodness someone like her stands up in the face of these misogynistic pricks.
In every blue, depressing day, there is still, always, a flicker of light that can be seen.
Oh my god that was amazing.
She definitely put him in his place. I wish there were more people like Rep. Speier out there.
The sad thing is it probably didn't have much of an effect. When you hate women what they say doesn't matter much.
......If only more democrats did this when they were in power.
You go girl!
Now that, ladies and gentlemen, was a textbook verbal beatdown.
Rock on.
what a badass
I would feel like I real dick-wad if I was anti-abortion.
Republican response/excuse to ignore the facts presented to them:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVCtkzIXYzQ[/media]
Fuck yes that's the kind of commitment we need to see.
Speaking as someone that has actually met Speier several times (It helps to have a father with heavy political connections.) this makes me incredibly happy.
Though it's not out of character. My father told me that at a Democratic summit in a Country Club in a relatively wealthy area of the Bay Area, the president of the club began rambling and bragging basically about his extensive wealth.
In response, Speier got up and basically told him that, having grown up in South San Francisco, (Generally seen as a more run-down area, though today that is no longer necissarily true.) she had no intention of listening to some jerkoff waste her time.
Which is part of why I love living in the county she represents.
Right that's it. You guys, gather up all the politicians you have like this, get on a boat and come over to the UK for a bit. This way we get the benefit of the smart and honest you have in Congress, and you get the benefit of not having an opposition party with the intelligence and integrity of soil
Sorry bro, I'd rather stick with my massive stockpile of nukes. (Which would be used against you if you're implying that you would actually entrust the republicans with the launch codes.)
Over the last couple of months, I have decided that I will not respect anyone who votes Republican. They hate anyone who's not Christian, white, rich, old and male.
[QUOTE=sp00ks;28145999]Over the last couple of months, I have decided that I will not respect anyone who votes Republican. They hate anyone who's not Christian, white, rich, old and male.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like a narcissistic rant about how you think your views are superior to everyone else's, complete with a massive generalization to top it all off.
edit- just to clarify I don't support the GOP bills this is about, but let's not make stupid generalizations about everyone who has different views.
I don't think I'm better than everyone else, just Republicans.
This seems mildly related:
[IMG]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/340/12659829642011.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=Cloak Raider;28145191]Right that's it. You guys, gather up all the politicians you have like this, get on a boat and come over to the UK for a bit. This way we get the benefit of the smart and honest you have in Congress, and you get the benefit of not having an opposition party with the intelligence and integrity of soil[/QUOTE]
The impression I got when I was there in London was that you hate your government every bit as we do.
Though I suppose more fault lies with Cameron then it does with Parliament.
[QUOTE=1nfiniteseed;28143685]Speaking as someone that has actually met Speier several times (It helps to have a father with heavy political connections.) this makes me incredibly happy.
Though it's not out of character. My father told me that at a Democratic summit in a Country Club in a relatively wealthy area of the Bay Area, the president of the club began rambling and bragging basically about his extensive wealth.
In response, Speier got up and basically told him that, having grown up in South San Francisco, (Generally seen as a more run-down area, though today that is no longer necissarily true.) she had no intention of listening to some jerkoff waste her time.
Which is part of why I love living in the county she represents.[/QUOTE]
Oh she's rad.
[QUOTE=Cloak Raider;28145191]Right that's it. You guys, gather up all the politicians you have like this, get on a boat and come over to the UK for a bit. This way we get the benefit of the smart and honest you have in Congress, and you get the benefit of not having an opposition party with the intelligence and integrity of soil[/QUOTE]
Sorry, we need them here. Think what the idiots would do in their absence.
[QUOTE=1nfiniteseed;28148588]The impression I got when I was there in London was that you hate your government every bit as we do.
Though I suppose more fault lies with Cameron then it does with Parliament.[/QUOTE]
Cameron is actually doing some good, more so than Brown. Tony Blair was a good centrist but Brown was fucking useless. Also the war is putting a serious toll on the UK as is the massive social security spending thats not being used wisely. They should just stop giving welfare to chavs and fatties and, instead, give it to people who actually need it.
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