Atheists & Agnostics
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Tennessee voters by a solid margin backed Amendment 1, a measure that gives state lawmakers more power to restrict and regulate abortions.
The measure was perhaps the most closely watched and most contentious Election Day vote in Tennessee's midterm elections, which had few contested high-profile candidate races this year. It also was one of the most expensive ballot measures in Tennessee history.
...
Backers of the amendment were jubilant, embracing at the offices of Tennessee Right to Life, the campaign headquarters for the effort.
"Obviously for those of us who believe life is sacred, this was the necessary first step toward protection not only for the unborn but for women and girls who fall prey to people looking to profit from untimely or unexpected pregnancies," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life and a coordinator for the "Yes on 1" campaign, who has devoted much of the past 14 years fighting for the measure to get on the ballot.
Harris said his group's next step is returning to the legislature to persuade lawmakers to restore a package of laws stricken by a 2000 state Supreme Court decision, including requiring a short waiting period for women seeking an abortion, a requirement to provide educational materials and greater regulation of abortion facilities.
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/04/amendment-takes-early-lead/18493787/
Tennessee out-crazies all the other states with its proposed constitutional amendment.
By Dahlia Lithwick
Thats right. Tennessee is trying to amend its constitution to never protect abortion, ever, under any circumstance. And how did the state get here? In 2000, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in a case called Planned Parenthood v. Sundquist that the Tennessee constitution affords even more protection than the U.S. Constitution to Tennesseans seeking abortions. The court determined that a womans right to terminate her pregnancy is a vital part of ... the Tennessee Constitution, and it held that Tennessee could only pass very narrow restrictions on abortion as a result. As part of that decision, the court struck down several laws passed in 1998 by the Tennessee legislature, including a measure requiring hospitalization for second-trimester abortions, an informed consent provision, and a two-day waiting period. Republicans in the state legislature immediately reacted by attempting to amend the state constitution. Those proposed amendments failed to pass the state legislature until 2011. Now its on the November ballot.
Dont be confused by references to rape and incest and the life of the mother in the language of the proposed amendment. As Eleanor Clift writes, The second sentence is craftily written to leave the impression that exemptions are either in place, or could easily be put in place. But the proposed wording would in fact allow the state to regulate all those interests out of existence. There is no question that this measure goes far beyond the proposed personhood language in other states to ensure that legislatures could pass any future legislation, including regulations that could ban abortions even to save mothers lives or to protect incest victims. It would allow laws that criminalize harm to a fetus or even ban access to methods of birth control deemed to be abortifacients.
...
The insidious beauty of Amendment 1 is that it operates as a Trojan horse to permit any and all future regulation. And as one local blogger notes, the fact that state legislators wont disclose which kinds of measures they seek to pass establishes that this is precisely the point. As Stacey Campfield, a Tennessee senator from the 7th District (Knox County) told the Family Action Council of Tennessee: After (Amendment 1) passes, I have several ideas but for fear of those ideas being used to help defeat Amendment 1, I will refrain from talking about those at this time. I doubt there are any ideas I would oppose that would restrict abortion in Tennessee.
This referendum has implications that go far beyond the state borders. As all the states surrounding Tennessee passed more and more anti-choice legislation in recent years, Tennessee came to be the state that neighboring women turned to to obtain services denied to them in Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. This meant that by 2010, 1 out of every 4 abortions in the state was sought by an out-of-state patient. Terrell (director of Choices, a Memphis reproductive health clinic that provides abortion services) explains it this way: If Amendment 1 passes, the state of Tennessee would quickly join her Southern sisters in passing the kind of extreme regulations that make access to abortion impossible. This is, of course, the goal of the amendments drafters and supporters.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/10/tennessee_anti_abortion_amendment_1_voters_will_decide_whether_legislature.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/02/tennessee-abortion-measure-myths-facts/18375351/
Okay religious apologists, go ahead.
Tell me that I should ignore religion because it doesn't affect me.
That I'm the fucking bully when they are the ones interfering with MY right to not have children and abort a fetus that may kill me if I carry it to term.
That I'm angry because of some childhood trauma.
That I should stfu and sit down because I'm making other non-believers look bad.
That religious leaders like the pope don't deserve every bit of venom directed at them.
Tell me again.
I dare you.
~ thanks for listening, A/A, I would post this in the Religion forum except I know I'd end up regretting it.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)What's to regret? That a few apologists for the RCC and other fundies might get their knickers in a wad? That they might resent being called out on their bullshit (again)?
And frankly, if a DU jury would hide this, then the site has totally lost its core principles in a swill of religious privilege, and isn't worth frequenting any more anyway.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I just wasn't in the mood to deal with it without responding in a way that would get my posts deleted.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Fuck the apologists.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Anti-theists have no reason to despise religion, do they?
Lars39
(26,109 posts)These shit for brains voters.... Doing what their illiterate asshole preacher tells them to do then grinning like a potty training reject. Totally lost patience with these idiots.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I have to watch video clips of these fuckers, jubilant because their lies were so effective.
mr blur
(7,753 posts)That's where it belongs.
You might get the usual mealy-mouthed waffle or the apologists will deflect but not everyone who reads there is a hypocrite or a bigot.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Maybe people will start to realize that being silent isn't the answer.
madmom
(9,681 posts)beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)There should be nothing to regret in doing so. There are people there who need to read this, and think about it. What is the problem with posting it? Do you worry about having it hidden? If it is hidden, that is a sin in itself. Do you think that it will upset some people? Well, they should be upset, and let them show their ass to the world.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Now I'm ready.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)I'll cover you.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)But I don't want anyone else to be attacked because I poked the bear.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)I don't mind a lively discussion occasionally.
onager
(9,356 posts)No need to worry your pretty little head, ma'am. There's a vast army of Right-Thinking Liberal Xian knights riding to your rescue...
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)LostOne4Ever
(9,288 posts)[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]How people on a progressive message board are able to defend (and even praise) people like the pope and not get kicked out. [/font]
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Because religion needs to vigorously defended from extremist atheists, don'tchaknow?
LostOne4Ever
(9,288 posts)[center][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=5 color=teal]Just wanted to let you know
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LostOne4Ever
(9,288 posts)[center][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=5 color=teal]I just wanted to say[/font]
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LostOne4Ever
(9,288 posts)[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]Is letting you know that we are aware that you are watching this thread and don't care bothering you?
You are the one who decided to link to here in an effort to misrepresent BMUS and shame us all somehow. Well guess what?
[center][/center][/font]
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Nothing like being stalked and seeing my posts misrepresented by people who hate me.
LostOne4Ever
(9,288 posts)[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal] But don't let them get to you!
That is what they want and we can't give them that![/font]
trotsky
(49,533 posts)You would think those who claim to follow Jesus would want to behave better, but hateful behavior seems to be an all-too-common feature of Christians. It's just especially disappointing to see it on a liberal political site.
I have found DU's ignore feature to be especially helpful to shield me from the worst of DU. You might want to consider using it.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Or the bigotry.
Their behaviour can be inspiring.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Watch what you say in our safe haven, because it's not really safe.
I will still respect their houses.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)Do you really think that "public" really means "private"? Of course we know that things said here are open season.
But I also respect their houses as well. I have never even clicked on any of the spiritual and religious groups to see who is there or what is discussed. It is not my business.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)But I would never use their posts against them in another forum. It's too much like the r/t poster who stalked a member of A/A and used his participation in a mental health support group to smear him.
They're welcome to their safe havens, and a few of them do respect ours.
For the ones who don't, I say let's give them something to squirm about.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Uh.... how the hell do you do that????
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Spend millions of dollars lying to people, present it as a way to "protect women" and call it a state's right to regulate the "abortion industry". The dog whistle was loud enough to get the votes they needed.
I keep hearing on DU that we don't have to worry about abortion rights because the right doesn't want to overturn Roe v Wade.
This proves they don't have to.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)We are grateful to God and to the good people of Tennessee for this victory, Harris said. Despite millions of abortion dollars flooding our airwaves with deceptive ads, the people of Tennessee saw through the falsehoods and made their voices heard.
Harris told LifeNews that Yes on 1 coordinated a statewide grassroots campaign heavy on volunteers and smaller financial contributions from individuals, churches and pro-life organizations.
We recognized that we would never have the financial resources of the abortion industry so began planning long ago to build a team of advocates who could educate and organize their local communities, Harris said. That effort paid off, especially in rural regions of the state where volunteers raised funds and awareness of both the amendment and the 2000 court ruling in Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee v Sundquist, a decision which claimed a fundamental right to abortion.
Harris also gave special credit to clergy and religious leaders throughout the state who made support for the Amendment a priority.
In the end this could be characterized as pastors and pulpits in opposition to Planned Parenthoods abortion-profiteering. We owe a debt of gratitude to men and women of faith who refused to accept Tennessees designation as an abortion destination and who actively used their influence to promote the protection of innocent human life.
Excerpt is from LifeNews.com
onager
(9,356 posts)Out these fuckers.
I know, I know...liberals/Democrats must be BETTER than the opposition. We have to take the HIGH ROAD. I've heard that a million times.
And IMO, that's exactly why we keep getting our asses kicked like this.
Having grown up in the Deep South, I know most of these pompous Bible-banging bastards have skeletons rattling around in their closets.
I bet most of them would shut their yaps pretty quickly and "retire," if they knew those skeletons were soon going to be dancing across everybody's TV screen.
This could not only do wonders for the political climate, but provide many hours of priceless entertainment.
The Ethics Police always tell me we can't do that, because "innocent people might be hurt."
Well, how many innocent women will be hurt by this new law?
I'm also told that outing hypocritical politicians/preachers doesn't work.
Actually it works very well. Has anybody seen Rev. Ted Haggard on TV bloviating about "family values" lately? Jimmy Swaggart went from lunch at the White House to begging for spare change on mostly-ignored TV stations. The goofball ayatollah of satellite TV, Jim Bakker, went to prison. And his lovely, modest, non-cosmetic-using wife dumped him for another guy. You might remember her as the woman who Glorified Jesus by building an air-conditioned doghouse for her pets.
Or go back to ancient history, 1998 - when the Repubs were demanding the impeachment and conviction of Bill Clinton.
First Saint Newt Gingrich fell off his pedestal, replaced by Bob Livingston as Squeaker of the House (not a typo) . Livingston rode into office on a very high horse, demanding Clinton resign.
It only took Larry Flynt and his checkbook about 48 hours to send Livingston packing, when a former mistress popped up.
Speaking of Clinton, his campaign manager James Carville had some good advice for situations like this: If you see your opponent is drowning, throw that sumbitch an anvil.
Atheist Amen!
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I borrowed this from spanone's thread about CNN, remember Scott Desjarlais? I wrote about him on DU last election cycle, here's a quick recap:
Desjarlais, a physician by trade, was first elected in 2010, but this election marked his first time on the ballot since a full accounting of his torrid personal life burst into view two years ago.
His divorce proceedings, made public in late 2012, revealed that the pro-life Republican had slept with multiple patients and impregnated one of them before pressuring her to get an abortion. He also demanded that his ex-wife terminate two pregnancies.
But never mind all that: Desjarlais, who has apologized for his past, represents a conservative district and has an R next to his name. He won easily.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/05/politics/scandal-congress-digital/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
To see just how fucked up the state is, have a look at Bradley County
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-District 4), who narrowly won his primary in August, retained his seat in defeating Lenda Sherrell (D) by 63-28 percent.
DesJarlais carried Bradley County, but with a thinner margin of 58 to 35 percent.
All four of the states constitutional amendments passed, having met the threshold of 50 percent one plus of the total number of votes in the governors race.
Bradley County voters enthusiasm was greater than the statewide vote projected.
Amendment 1 concerning abortion regulations passed 52 to 47 percent, as local voters voiced their approval 68 to 31 percent.
I've been in chronic WTF? mode since he was elected the first time.
I know commenting on people's looks is shallow and illiberal but how would like to have to look at this face for the next who knows how many years?:
Like puke with eyes.
onager
(9,356 posts)beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I've been attracted to men of all ages, shapes and sizes, and just looking at Desjarlais makes my uterus shrivel.
onager
(9,356 posts)Maybe the CNN title is right - Scandals don't matter in politics anymore.
Republican scandals, anyway.