Fla. agency gets teen's abortion blocked

[Rose Siding]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The state's social services agency was granted a court order to block an abortion for a pregnant 13-year-old girl living in a state shelter, prompting an emergency appeal Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union.
....
The girl learned she was pregnant two weeks ago and planned to have an abortion Tuesday. Her caseworker arranged for transportation and help. But the state Department of Children & Families asked a Palm Beach County juvenile judge Tuesday morning to block the procedure.

The state agency argued the 13 1/2-week pregnant girl -- described as L.G. in court documents -- is too young and immature to make an informed medical decision, according to the ACLU appeal.

A judge granted a temporary injunction and ordered a psychological evaluation.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/04/27/fla_agency_gets_teens_abortion_blocked/

[Krupskaya]

1. "Too young and immature to make an informed medical decision...."

So have the baby and take care of it. Oh, and we've cut all your social services. Ta-ta!

[Eloriel]

13. She's too young and immature physically as well

Pregnancy and childbirth are HARD on women. MUCH harder still on children, not yet fully developed themselves.

Sick, sick, sick, sick. It just doesn't take much insight to see that the flap about abortion isn't about "protecting life" but about punishing females for being sexual AT ALL.

And who is the lucky father, I'd like to know? (Maybe it's in the article? I'll go look.) I have a horrible feeling about this....

[Eloriel]

17. We need to know why she's in state custody and who is the father

She is in state PROTECTIVE custody which means that her parent(s) were not adequately caring for her -- had either abused or neglected her. She may have plenty of problems of her own, most abused/neglected children do.

At age 13, there's a chance that the father is someone it SHOULDN'T be, like her father, an older brother or family "friend." Also, 13-year old girls who are sexually active have often been the victim of sexual abuse during their earlier childhoods.

This situation, the state forcing a CHILD to carry a pregnancy to term and have a child against her will, absolutely infuriates me -- actually, enrages is a better word.

[TahitiNut]

26. She's been statutorily raped twice, now. Once by the state.

This is appalling. I'm far from being "pro-abortion" but I'd almost support a law that made it a regular and standard procedure for any child 14 and under. Almost. It's almost a de facto 'danger to the life of the mother' situation, imho.

[Megahurtz]

105. I think this girl needs to

escape and run to another State and get an abortion.

[pfitz59]

117. House of Reps is trying to stop that...

Make it a felony to cross state lines for an abortion. I kid you not!

[rocktivity]

29. Doesn't this girl have parents?

I presume she'd be living in a juvenile facility otherwise. What do they have to say?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Rose Siding]

118. She "was abused or neglected, she has no legal parents but the state"

snip>
Because L.G. was abused or neglected, she has no legal parents but the state. But even as her custodian, the state has no more right to stop her decision than her parents would, the ACLU said.
...
ACLU attorney James K. Green echoed those criticisms in the case of L.G. Until she became pregnant, the 13-year-old also had no guardian to represent her interests in court.

The state, Green said, should be more concerned with how L.G. was able to get pregnant in state care.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/04/28/m1a_dcf_0428.html

[renaissanceguy]

30. It's a shame they have to punish her like this.

These RWers are SICK BASTARDS.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21272015

[NNguyenMD]

51. Aren't pregnant teens automatically considered to be emancipated adults?

[Mad_Dem_X]

76. The first thing I thought as well...

Too young and immature to have an abortion, but not to have a baby????

:wtf: :argh:

[fishwax]

106. no kidding

:puke:
:grr:

[Atman]

2. Too young to make an informed decision...unless she caps somebody

Then she's old enough to be fried like an adult. Gotta love those republicans!

[Erika]

7. Especially in Florida

Now we'll see if Florida mandates her to give birth against her original decision. I guess the state can privatize its adoption services and make fantastic money off of young girls forced to bear babies. New entrepreneurship, GOP morality. Force children to bear children, sell the baby, discard the mother, and private enterprise makes a fortune.

[holboz]

71. Great post...

It's so frightening, yet sounds so plausible when you consider who is in charge. I get so angry with these people and their sham of "compassionate conservatism". I can't imagine being 13 years old and facing what this poor girl is facing with a pregnancy.

If Americans don't wake up and get these sods out of office starting next year then this country is fecked.

[Megahurtz]

102. Of course!

Those right-wing fucks just want to make big bucks off of selling the baby!:argh:

[Misunderestimator]

68. Exactly!

[fishwax]

107. My first thought too. You know they'd insist that she be tried as an adult

if she were accused of a crime.

But she's too immature to make this decision.

[w4rma]

3. 13 year old girls have *no buisness* having babies. (nt)

[CottonBear]

4. If she's "too young and immature to make an informed medical decision"

then she's TOO YOUNG TOO HAVE A BABY!

Jesus Fuckin' Christ. :grr:

[Kimber Scott]

27. Amen. nt

[renaissanceguy]

31. It's their way of punishing her for being raped or whatever the case

may be. And it's their way of punishing women for having vaginas.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21272015

[deadparrot]

5. sigh.

Even as a lapsed Catholic, I really, really hate the idea of abortion.

But this is...pretty sick, I guess is the best word for it.

Why does this shit always go down in FL?

[ngGale]

39. This shit is going down in Florida to buy...

Jeb the office his brother will be vacating.

[Horse with no Name]

6. And even another week

will put her in her second trimester.
Then it will be illegal.
They got this girl by the shorthairs.
She is gonna be a mommy whether she wants to or not.
I'm sure there is some nice fundie family that can't have children that need an incubator.:sarcasm:

[iamjoy]

21. That's Their Plan

Delay with all sorts of legal shenanigans until it is too late to legally have an abortion, and immoral by most people's standards.

I hope if that happens some one sues on her behalf. False imprisonment...

[Erika]

36. Most people don't want children forced to bear children

But you made a very good point. If this child is held captive by the state and her will denied by the state, I think the state can be sued.

[ahem]

8. I'm just...just... argh...

I have no words.

[etherealtruth]

9. What goes on in the minds of public officials in Florida ... ?

This poor child is already living in a shelter --- what advantage to her or to society at large would forcing her to have a baby have?

[DanCa]

10. It's a mad house

I dont know what goes on in these idiots minds honestly .

[karlrschneider]

11. Nothing goes on in their minds honestly...

:eyes:

[DanCa]

20. Is it me or when the chimp thinks

you can actually see a gerbil in a cage running on a squeaky exercise wheel?

[Arkansas Granny]

66. From the look on his face

it must be a terribly painful experience.

[NVMojo]

12. Is this facism or Nazism?? A just plain old fuckedupism?

[0007]

63. A political game for Jeb to be renown for his Christian ways.

[rocktivity]

14. If she's not mature enough to decide to have an abortion

how can she possibly be mature enough NOT to have one?

:shrug:
rocknation

[BadNews]

22. Adoption will be expected.

[Shallah Kali]

38. What if the father wants the baby?

He is either an equally immature kid or an out and out rapist. Will the courts protect the offspring from either fate? {puke}

[Betty]

15. as we inch ever closer to the TOTAL Theocracy

that our own American Taliban is constructing for us all.

[rebecca_herman]

16. Poor girl

How sad and horrible I hope she is able to get an abortion.

[Erika]

18. New GOP morality at work - Privatize adoptions

Turn young girls into baby mills. Make a fortune off of it while claiming to be moral.

I just gave another $200.00 to the ACLU.

[mountainvue]

19. I hope the ACLU

can help this poor child.
And exactly how did she get pregnant at 13? Awful.

[Justitia]

70. She's been a ward of the state for several yrs - no BIRTH CONTROL INFO

meaning one of two things:

1. she has been victimized by some adult somewhere

OR

2. she has become pregnant by another child in equally tragic and hapless conditions (state child welfare system)

Being a ward of the state, she would have rec'd NO INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY OR BIRTH CONTROL WHATSOEVER.

This pregnancy was only discovered as a result of what seems to be a routine medical exam, apparently she had no idea (all too common).

[Erika]

23. Email address for Jeb Bush

It is [e-mail]

Because I have family there, I visit Florida quite often. I told him it would be a cold day in hell where I would spend a cent in a state that would force a child to give birth to another child.

[DawnneOBTS]

32. God Bless You!

Thank you for being another person to stand up to this asshole. A child should not have a child. Period. Adoption or not. I wonder if he actually reads e-mail, though.

[onenote]

24. next up: US Congress subpoenas fetus to be witness at hearing

Would you be surprised if that happened?

onenote

[halobeam]

25. My email to him:

Disneyland in California is where I'll be taking my children for their next trip. I live in New York. I will pay 5 thousand dollars more to avoid the state of Florida. It is in EVERY WAY ..... A SAD STATE.

I hope someone intervenes on this girls' behalf. I will pray for her.


edit to add: I am flamin' MAD.

[Erika]

28. I am also incensed by this.

How dare they force children to bear children. We are beginning to sound like some sort of theocratic third world country.

I hope all Du'rs email this jerk.

[countmyvote4real]

33. The same State Agency that loses track of the children in their care?

No good can come from this with their history of oversight.

When did we become a nation of busy-bodies that can’t see the forest for the trees?

Please see post #4 from CottonBear and post #17 from Eloriel for the real truth here. And like everybody else, I am outraged by the ever reaching claws of the state that care nothing about the consequences of their actions.

[Ysolde]

34. OMG!!

This is so wrong on so many levels. I'm so outraged and saddened at the same time! We're back to being chattel and incubators until it kills us. Looks like the Taliban won here, too. Poor kid.

[Colorado Blue]

35. 13???? So they're going to risk her life now? Damn. nt

[bling bling]

121. "So they're going to risk her life now?"

I'd love to see somebody in the media point out the irony of this to them sometime. But I'm sure nobody will. They'll just let the right-to-lifers use our national airwaves to scream bloody murder about the "culture of life" without calling them on their hypocracy.

[Colorado Blue]

126. They are full of s&*)t. The whole Terry Schiavo thing, she

should rest in peace, but really. The president himself and the whole congress and the Supreme Court, practically, get involved in that. Didn't THE POPE say something?

So here we have a chance to ruin a child's life, or give her a fresh start. Guess who's probably gonna win this one.

Swell.

[ngGale]

37. A child living in a shelter is going to be forced...

to have a child. Who's going to take care of both of them if this happens? We have no safety net, thanks to the same compassionate bunch. Pretty soon now, the whole country will be this way.:grr:

[Erika]

41. There is NO program to take care of the baby & its child mother

in existence. The baby will be taken over by the court and its child mother will become a discard of society.

[fishwax]

108. it's fucking sick

but that's compassionate conservatism for ya :grr:

:cry:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

40. Fucking Ay!

So they're going to make a 13 year old kid have a baby?! They think she's mature enough to deliver her child and give it away?!?! :grr:

[Erika]

42. You got it

The mother will be discarded completely as the baby is taken away from her to be placed with "responsible" mature parents.

[Shallah Kali]

43. Article on Yahoo

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050428/ap_on_re_us/abortion_dispute_1

[madfloridian]

44. DCF is all privatized now. Expect anything.

:(

[Erika]

46. This is sick

They are reducing minor girls to chattel of the government with the children they produce as a marketable product. The GOP are treating them as slaves of the government with the children turned over for sale. There is not too much more evil than that.

[WindRavenX]

45. Cases like these...

...just make me weep.
Unbelievable that people are forcing this child (and yes, she is still a child) to bring another life into this world when she herself is still so young :cry:
13. Jesus.

[Theduckno2]

47. This is so sad and what worries me is the wording of

"too young and immature" I should think that a lot of the pro-lifers believe that any woman wanting an abortion is selfish and immature. It almost makes it a catch-22 for them, if a woman wants an abortion she is acting immature, but if she doesn't she is a reasonable adult. I just don't see the Dept. Social Services intervening if this girl chose to carry the fetus to term. I'm glad I help support the ACLU.

[Erika]

48. The Dept of Social Services intervened

when she chose to have an abortion.

[Theduckno2]

52. Yes, I got that.

I just felt that if she hadn't chosen to have an abortion, the Dept. of Social Services would have thought her decision mature and they wouldn't have intervened. I just took their decision to be biased from the start.

[Sivafae]

49. Is she medically fit to even have this child? N/T

[NNguyenMD]

50. FUCKING CHRIST!!! STOP MEDDLING BETWEEN PATIENT/DOCTOR RELATIONSHIPS!!!!

UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!!!!

HAVE PEOPLE IN POWER NO SHAME!!!!

[Erika]

53. No Right Wing Sites Are Picking This Story Up

They are blind to it. Don't let them get away with it. If nothing else, contact Jeb. The right wing should not be allowed to steam roll us into silence.

[Judi Lynn]

54. Here's the Miami Herald story published tonight.....

Posted on Thu, Apr. 28, 2005

Girl, 13, fighting DCF bid to block abortion

The state and child advocates face off in court over the case of a 13-year-old foster child who wants to end her pregnancy.

BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER

[e-mail]
(snip)

.......The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, which are representing the girl, insist that the Florida law is trumped by a 1989 Florida Supreme Court decision, called the T.W. case. Citing privacy rights, the high court struck down a state law that required the consent of parents before a minor could obtain an abortion.

''DCF and the circuit court have instituted a process whereby the state will make a decision for L.G. based upon its own evaluation of her best interest,'' the girl's lawyers wrote. ``This it cannot do.''

L.G., whose parents were stripped of their rights to raise her, has been in foster care for several years. Though she is originally from Palm Beach County, sources say she was living in a group home in St. Petersburg when she became pregnant. She now lives in a licensed shelter home, records show.About two weeks ago, L.G. learned she was pregnant following a medical examination, records show.

''Almost immediately after learning that she was pregnant, L.G. informed DCF caseworker that she wished to terminate the pregnancy,'' according to pleadings filed by her attorneys.
(snip)

But Howard Simon, who heads the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida, a group that is partly representing L.G., called the state's action politically motivated. ''This is what you get when ideology drives child welfare decisions,'' Simon said.
''Putting aside the legal and the constitutional principles here, the fact that the state is preparing to force a 13-year-old to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term is just simply cruel,'' Simon added.
(snip/)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11508044.htm
(Free registration is required)

[Solly Mack]

55. The new Terri Schiavo for the "culture of life" agenda...(in FL no less)

That's a Bush dig, not a Florida dig

These folks will use anyone they have to...to include 13 year old girls. They don't care whose hardship and pain they take advantage of...

If the child is too young and too immature to make an informed medical decision, that would include being too young to decide to give birth. It's not like pregnancy is without complications to begin with, but in a child so young it is an even bigger medical decision to carry to term and deliver.
But I suppose to those culture of life folks, that would be "proof" of her maturity for her to give birth.( you know..the "if she can bleed she can breed" crowd)

Now, what about the male that got the child in pregnant? Shouldn't the DCF be concerned about that? Shouldn't they and the police be looking into that?

The child got pregnant living in a state shelter. That shelter needs to be investigated.

Anyone that would force a child to give birth is a child abuser. Plain out cruel vicious low life scum.

[entanglement]

56. Not a doctor, but isn't giving birth

at a young age like 13 very dangerous? IF so, how can the state of FL endanger her life while they're her guardians?

[Solly Mack]

57. It can be very dangerous on a child so young

But they don't care if she dies...they only care if she has an abortion

[bling bling]

123. That's right. Because life is only "life" when you're a fetus.

It's a very ambiguous term. But apparently, after the fetus stage, the term "life" only applies again if you're brain-dead and choose to die.

[FlaGranny]

93. Chances are she will require

a cesarean section.

[AgadorSparticus]

58. sanctity of life, my ass. i just cannot wrap my brain around this.

how can anyone think a 13 yr old should have a baby? are they THAT deluded or is there something sinister going on that i'm not aware of? I just can't believe can defend this lunacy.

[DanCa]

59. I just want to know

How does this square with the new gun law. I mean is all life sacred unless we can shoot it? I am sorry but these loons are pushing my buttons today.

[fluffyslayer]

60. Bullshit!

She's "too immature" to have an abortion, so they force her to have a baby? Now instead of one troubled teen, we have an even more troubled teen whose body is wrecked and a baby that is probably never going to have a chance. Way to go, culture of life. :grr:

[MaineDem]

61. This is just atrocious!!!

I can think of nothing to say...
:grr:

[Massachusetts]

62. The slow and subtle erosion of OUR rights continues

CULTURES THAT LACK HISTORY, BE THEY EVER SO POWERFUL, REMAIN IN THE CONDITION OF AN INFANT, IGNORANT OF WHENCE THEY HAVE COME,AND THUS, OF WITHER THEY GO. - Cicero

[Justitia]

64. OUTRAGEOUS! This girl is in real JEOPARDY. She lives in a group home.

Her life is shit already! She lives in a freaking group home with no support from her family. The state of FL is completely exploiting this child in the most vulnerable position!

She has no one and the state is abusing her, forcing her to give birth against her wishes - and I'm sure against better medical judgment. This is such a serious matter. Being a ward of the state, living in a group home means she will receive WOEFULLY INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE, the bare minimum, even without taking into account a pregnancy.

They are holding her prisoner until she gives birth, then they will take her child away from her, as it becomes a ward of the state automatically upon birth as well. She will be pressured beyond belief (and most likely lied to) to give the child up for private adoption. Of course, both sets of grandparents will still have to give permission and the opportunity to adopt her child - even though they have already abandoned this one - regardless of HER wishes!

I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THIS HAPPEN FIRSTHAND.

They will delay and delay until it is too late for this poor girl - her situation is just killing me. This young girl needs our help and protection. Thank God the ACLU is on the case - there is no time to waste, every addt'l day is critical.

:cry: :grr:

[FlaGranny]

96. Self-deleted. n/t

[Justitia]

97. Or she will keep it...

and will probably be sentenced to a life never much above poverty level and an unfinished education.

Not to mention the stigma of having been a 13-yr-old unwed mother and living with the consequences of your child possibly knowing none of this was your first choice. And most likely, remaining fatherless.

I cannot fathom how ANYONE would see this as the preferable outcome - except for sadists.

[Arkansas Granny]

65. Let me see if I have this straight.

She is too young and immature to make an informed medical decision, but she's old enough and mature enough to have a child. Does that make any sense? Don't the right to lifers think that she has a right to life also? Do the rights of a 13 1/2 week fetus matter more than the rights of a young girl.

Where are her parents and why do they not have any say in this? Is the pregnancy a result of incest or rape? Was she in the shelter when she got pregnant? If she doesn't have an abortion, what happens to the baby? Put in foster care or up for adoption because she can't care for it?

This is insane!

[Misunderestimator]

67. WTF?

[mimitabby]

69. this really makes me sick

[NVMojo]

72. they just keep sticking their noses in people's personal lives ...

[MARALE]

73. recomended

Because this is important. This is one of the best reasons that abortions are legal. Wow, I just am flabergasted that a judge stopped this. Wow. I am sick to my stomach to think about what this child is going through.

:nuke: :grr: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[LynneSin]

74. My suspicisions about the father....

It was said a caseworker was going to help get an abortion for her and some of you have posted questions about who the father is - suspecting it could be a family member of this girl.

But what I'm thinking - what if it's someone from the juvenile center? Another child living there or worse yet - an employee.

Why is this not being investigated. I have a strong feeling that while the Fristian Fundies get their panties in an uproar about this baby having a baby, out there is someone who should be arrested for child molestation and rape!

[Rose Siding]

75. More information: She was in the state's care when she became pregnant

snip>
Because L.G. was abused or neglected, she has no legal parents but the state. But even as her custodian, the state has no more right to stop her decision than her parents would, the ACLU said.
...
ACLU attorney James K. Green echoed those criticisms in the case of L.G. Until she became pregnant, the 13-year-old also had no guardian to represent her interests in court.

The state, Green said, should be more concerned with how L.G. was able to get pregnant in state care.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/04/28/m1a_dcf_0428.html

The article also compare's this situation with one in which Jeb forced a severely retarded woman to carry a baby to term after she'd been raped.

[Megahurtz]

104. OMG!!!

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

[athenap]

77. I hope and pray

That someone helps this girl run away to a safer place, and she can receive the medical treatment she has chosen for herself, and really--needs. Otherwise, I really fear that we'll be reading the follow-up to this story with the headline that reads, "Teen commits suicide rather than be forced to bear child." Why does reich-wing America hate children? Sanctimonious bastards.

[Justitia]

79. New law just passed in the House will stop that - crime to help minors

leave state for svcs.

And that means anybody - cab drivers, bus drivers, siblings, etc

So, this poor girl is ALL ON HER OWN, while being mentally / physically tortured by the state of FL.

[Jimbo S]

78. Too young to make a decision, but not too young to be a mom or

make decisions in raising the child.

[slay]

80. This is what happens when fundies end up in power

The far right are the most insane people I've ever heard of. This poor girl is being forced by madmen to stay pregnant against her will! :( :mad:

[ernstbass]

81. I fear this is only the beginning

The zealots are emboldened like never before.

[Sabriel]

82. The next step is... an arranged marriage to some old guy.

Can that be far behind? The Talibornagains haven't tried to capitalize on that industry yet.

[rocktivity]

83. According to this latest report, it's not a done deal

DCF out to block 13-year-old's abortion

The girl...lives in a shelter for abused and neglected teens and found out two weeks ago during a doctor's appointment that she is pregnant.
How LONG has she been there? Was she pregnant before she moved into the home?

(The judge)...agreed to delay the abortion until the court could give L.G. a psychological evaluation to find out whether an abortion could cause her emotional harm.
Whereas forcing her to carry and bear a child against her will at the age of 13 would be just what the doctor ordered.

The girl has received counseling from a women's health clinic, talked about her decision with responsible adults and knows the medical risks of abortion, the ACLU and Legal Aid Society wrote in the appeal.
Sounds like she made a mature and informed decision to me.

And now for the good news.
Is the DCF justified in trying to block a 13-year-old girl in state custody from getting an abortion?
Yes 8.85% 17
No 91.15% 175

:headbang:
rocknation

[still_one]

84. Fla. Agency Gets Teen's Abortion Blocked

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=28&u=/ap/20050428/ap_on_re_us/abortion_dispute

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The state's social services agency was granted a court order to block an abortion for a pregnant 13-year-old girl living in a state shelter, prompting an emergency appeal Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union.


snip


WHAT IS WRONG WITH FLORIDA???????

[davidinalameda]

85. the heat, the humidity, Jeb?

:shrug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

87. Jeb is Catholic..it's their doctrine to force 13 year olds to give birth

Kid at his eighth grade graduation

DUDE..YOUR MOM IS HOT!


response

that's cause she's only 26!

Heck..just think..if her kid follows suit, she could be a grandma by 27

[ewagner]

86. This is going to be

THE.
NEXT.
BIG.
MEDIA.
SHOW.

If CNN, MSNBC, FOX get ahold of this it will be 24 hour, non-stop coverage.....and this one, my friends, will probably invoke violence.

watch this one closely.

[still_one]

88. first thing we MUST do is get our own televsion network

[McCamy Taylor]

89. WOW! Nazi-ism in action in Florida. If her parent steps forward to OK

the procedure, will Jeb and Co. have the parent stripped of parental rights? That's what I'm betting they will do. Florida has gone absolutely crazy. Jeb must have some super rigged Diebold machines down there if he hopes to retain power come next election.

[The Witch]

90. Reversed logic

The state agency argued the 13 1/2-week pregnant girl — described as L.G. in court documents — is too young and immature to make an informed medical decision, according to the ACLU appeal.

Therefore, she should be forced to become a mother? Like she's not too young and immature for that?

Or to give up a child? What is that, a piece of cake?

[Justitia]

91. Agree. I think her decision is a VERY mature one!

She took a good look around at her current situation and made a very responsible decision not to bring a brand new baby into the mix.

Sadly, a lot of other 13 yr old girls, abandoned by their families, might decide to create one of their very own by continuing the pregnancy. They see it as someone who is "guaranteed" to love them back.

I'd say this 13-yr-old is mature and responsible beyond her yrs.

Let's hope someone can stop the state of FL from fucking up her life beyond repair.

[Malva Zebrina]

92. I expect to see more and more of this

as religious take over more and more. Not only for children like this poor girl, but for all women, who will be forced to once again, seek abortion in secret and more will die and more will have children they do not want, cannot afford, or whose beliefs are not the same as Catholics or the fundamentalists who are in the forefront of this movement to take complete control over another's life, body and rights.

It is the "culture of life" and the folllowers claim to be "pro-life and those mentioned above will, according to their leaders, vote in more "pro-life" people as instructed, and vote against pro-choice people. They would be, in spite of all the religion, those who would force a pregnancy on a woman, virtually capsizing and couping another's body as their own to do with what they deem justice, according to their patriarchal religious madness and then, arrogantly call it "moral" to do so.

[Az_lefty]

94. What the Hell is wrong with Florida???

I used to live there years ago and it was a wonderful place. Real laid back and everyone seemed to get along. Where did all these wacked-out fundie-talibans come from?????

[lateo]

95. Well then she is too young to be a mother using that logic.

What happens if she has the baby and it needs medical attention? Will this young mother suddenly have the ability to make "informed medical decisions"?

Idiots.

[GiovanniC]

98. I Need Someone to Invent a New Word

It would be something that encompasses, "Goddamn motherfucking goat-raping gap-toothed rat-bastard cock-sucking oozing custards of involuntary rectal fluids", but times like ten thousand.

Then you might come close to approaching how I feel about these assholes.

[geniph]

112. The word's already been coined, by Dan Savage

it's "Santorum."

[BreweryYardRat]

99. Good God.

I'm ashamed to be a Floridian right now.

[AnneD]

100. A 13 yo body is too young and immature to have a baby

as are their minds to young and immature to parent. Wander what the market will bear for a young baby----of course it depends on their colour. Look I've seen 13 yos give birth. It is heartbreaking and unnecessary to put a kid through that. Just because they can doesn't mean they should. Count me disgusted.

[Megahurtz]

101. HOW DARE THEY DO THIS!!!

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Bullshit, Bullshit, Bullshit!!! She is old enough to make an informed medical decision!!!

In the State of California, 13 is the legal age to choose which parent you want to live with, and the legal age to BABYSIT ANOTHER CHILD!!!

This infuriates me to no end! I hope the poor girl really sticks it to them by having a miscarriage!

Sick Florida backwoods redneck right-wing fucks!!!:freak::freak::freak::freak:

:rant:

[chomskysright]

103. AND they just passed a bill yesterd demanding PARENTAL CONSENT re:

abortions.

way to go! Congressional people who voted should HAVE TO RAISE THIS CHILD.

[keroro gunsou]

109. my letter to mr bush

this is the letter i just e-mailed to gov. bush of florida....

gov. bush,

though i am not a resident of florida, i feel moved to offer my opinion in light of recent events.

i recently read a story on yahoo.com's news section regarding a 13 year old girl, who is currently pregnant and in want of an abortion.

i need not remind you that abortion, though distateful in many circles, is still legal in the united states.

i think it is barbaric that one of your state's agencies is seeking to force the girl in question to carry the child to term. i'm no medical expert but a lady that young carrying a child is in line for some serious risks and complications. the baby is also in for a rough ride.

you claim to speak to a culture of life, but you don't seem to value all life. by preventing this lady from seeking her legally allowed, you place her life at risk, which is not acceptable in any reasonable society. with the young lady's life at risk, so i the baby's. it's a domino effect. by endangering one, you endanger them both.

second, a girl this young cannot care for a child without a proper support system in place. family is important at a time like this, but in her case, since family is out of the picture, the state, unfortunately must take up the slack.

this whole issue is a tragedy all around, with so many issues, i cannot address them all. i don't claim to offer you any solutions, just some advice, take it or leave it. do right by the girl, she's got her whole life to consider, and plenty of time to be a mom.

anyway, your state's a nice place to visit, don't let it get tarred with the reputation of being home to religious fruicakes and other assorted nutjobs.

[halobeam]

111. I like your letter

btw... I also liked the assorted "fruits and nuts" description....very fitting.

[truebrit71]

110. My daughter is 13.....How DARE THE FUCKING STATE do this??

:grr:

They have absolutely NO business getting involved with this. The ONLY state activity should be to find HOW SHE GOT PREGNANT WHILST IN THE STATE'S CARE....

This is starting to get really stupid...These fundie-morons need to be stopped....

[Colorado Blue]

127. I do not care if she is 13 or 53 - the state has no damn

business telling women they have to bear children. PERIOD.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Meanwhile it is obvious SOMEBODY fell down on the job of caring for this child, not that this story is (sadly) unique. But having readily available birth control information would help, maybe, and they don't even want to have THAT around, Jesus shouldn't be offended.

Oh help. As if a real Christian would withhold care from a child. And didn't Jesus specifically offer a hand to a prostitute?

[geniph]

113. SICK SICK SICK SICK SICK

Using this poor little girl's personal tragedy of abuse to further their ideologically-driven political goals is just plain abusive. They're abusing this child. She should be removed to a state with a sensible CPS agency!

I mean, how can anyone even wrap their brains around this level of cognitive dissonance - they're so concerned with the fetal tissue gestating in her uterus and its "rights" that her rights as a living, breathing, thinking human being go right down the toilet and she can be held hostage to an unwanted, involuntary pregnancy - kept a virtual slave until she delivers.

When did this become Ceaucescu's Romania?

Somebody slip that girl a cup of pennyroyal tea, stat!

[CelticWinter]

114. Well isnt this just fricin peachy

to make a 13 yr old WAIT to see if she is "stable" enough to have an abortion. What a bunch of fuckin narrow minded pinheads. My fear now is this frighten lil girl is going to go out and get a back street abortion or inflict injury on herself to lose the baby. Its bad enough being 13 and in the system with little or no support for yourself, but to be pregnant on top is more than a child should have to endure. She is nothing more than a political pawn in some RW twisted "save the world campaign" since they couldnt save T.S. now they will exploit a child. Im so pissed off right now I am seeing red, how dare they force a baby to have a baby, just so they can take the spotlight off them and focus it somewhere else. Looking out for her welfare, I think not, only ass they want to cover is their own.

[rebecca_herman]

115. Small update

I guess the appeal went through today because I read a judge is now considering whether to overturn the first ruling. It was on some small Florida news site I forget exactly where, it was like an hour ago that I read it.

Found it: http://www.local10.com/news/4427799/detail.html I hope the judge has the sense to make the right decision! What must this poor girl be feeling right now. :(

[yorkiemommie1]

116. please keep us posted

on this horrendous situation.

[Scairp]

125. This poll needs help

Seriously. Please vote often.

[Erika]

119. Let's keep our eye on Florida

Are they going to lead the states in making girls/women chattel of the government. She got counseling, she chose abortion. Will the courts "government" force her to carry to term regardless of her wishes?

[bling bling]

120. Hmmm. Yet another showdown is about to take place

between the freaks on the right and "radical" judges over a woman's decision about her own life or body. And in Florida, no less.

And yet again, it's the right-wing butting into our private lives and trying to overturn our private decisions. And if the judge overturns the court order, we'll get to hear about how the radical liberal judges are destroying the morals in America.

And the women who voted for Bush because "Kerry didn't woo them enough" can thank themselves when they find themselves losing the rights they've simply taken for granted all their lives. Shame on you.

[halobeam]

122. Whats most horrific to me, is that people think this is good.

They REALLY do. I heard a woman say "whelp, maybe this will make 'em think and they'll keep their legs together like they should."

It boggles my mind, how heartless and disconnected some people are. What makes people so incredibly inhumane? I will NEVER understand.

This young girl has the ACLU watching out for her. This is very good. I can't stop thinking about her though. She needs more of a hand than they can give her though. She needs to know she's NOT alone.

A public outcry for her... a HUGE public outcry for her would be GREAT... What about if we started up a collection for her, how much we would help her? I know nothing about how to go about this, but I'd love to do what I can for her.... ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[Justitia]

124. I can't stop thinking of her either. She is a "throwaway" child who is

being held hostage and abused by the state of FL.

I know what it is like to be in a group home, and completely, utterly alone. Blackness and despair. The most gut-wrenching cries to be allowed to go back home, no matter how bad it was there.

And then to be pregnant against your will on top of it all - unimaginable.
This girl has become the victim of a very cruel sport for these sadists.