Obama Intends to Lift Family-Planning 'Gag Rule'

[question everything]

JANUARY 23, 2009

Obama Intends to Lift Family-Planning 'Gag Rule'
Move Would Restore Funds to International Groups Involved With Abortion; Timing Shows Sensitivity to Foes of Roe v. Wade
By LAURA MECKLER
WSJ

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will issue an order restoring U.S. funding for international family-planning groups involved with abortion. But he chose not to do so on Thursday, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. President Obama was breaking with the tradition set by his recent predecessors to make an abortion-related order on the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling, another example of his attempt to support liberal policies he believes in while trying to defuse emotional political debates.

Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both used Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision guaranteeing legal abortion, to change U.S. policy toward organizations involved with family-planning and abortion. Under the original policy, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, U.S. funds for contraception and other family-planning services could not go to organizations that advocate, counsel or offer abortion. Opponents call it the "global gag rule." Mr. Clinton, a Democrat, lifted that restriction when be became president in 1993, and then the Republican Mr. Bush changed it back in 2001. President Obama plans to reverse it yet again, according to officials inside and outside the administration. His timing was unclear, though several advocates expected it soon.

But he chose not to move on Thursday, as tens of thousands of abortion opponents marched in Washington. He issued a statement that both affirmed his support for Roe -- and his determination to reduce the need for abortions. "While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make," the president said in a statement. "To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services," he said.

(snip)

Other abortion opponents were not mollified. Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, thinks the change in policy amounts to U.S. tax dollars funding abortion and sees no positive outcome. But she called the delayed timing "a politically savvy move" by the White House. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which offers abortion and family planning, says she doesn't care when President Obama changes the policy, as long as it is changed. "He has clearly stated his opposition to the global gag rule and his intention to overturn it," she said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123267481436808735.html (subscription)

[BrklynLiberal]

1. No words...

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party:

[givemebackmycountry]

2. The truest thing I have read tonight was from another post....

I find it impressive that "change you can believe in" has so quickly become "change I'm already starting to see."

I am so very impressed with our new President and his family and associates.

Let's go get some shit fixed.

[tsuki]

3. Dress Yoest in a burka and drop her in Afghanistan. She'll be right

at home.