Sources: Obama may quickly reverse abortion policy

[kpete]

Source: CNN

By Suzanne Malveaux
CNN White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama is considering issuing an executive order to reverse a controversial Bush administration abortion policy in his first week in office, three Democratic sources said Monday.

The sources said Obama may use the occasion to reverse the "Mexico City policy" reinstated in 2001 by Bush that prohibits U.S. money from funding international family planning groups that promote abortion or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion services. It bans any organization receiving family planning funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development from offering abortions or abortion counseling.

The "Mexico City policy," commonly referred to by critics as "the global gag rule," was devised by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 at a population conference in Mexico City.

President Bill Clinton lifted the ban in January 1993 as one of his first acts as president, but President George W. Bush reinstated it in his first executive order on January 22, 2001, the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/19/obama.abortion/i...

[DixieBlue]

1. I really hope he does this.

With all the stories coming out about what he's going to do ... I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high.

[depakid]

2. A return to reason

High past time....

[llmart]

3. YES!

[Piewhacket]

4. Will he also be pulling all the 'faith based initiative' money? Just wonderin.

Because when Bush reinstated the policy he said: "taxpayer funds should not be used to
pay for abortion or actively promote abortion."

So I just wondered whether all the taxpayer funds Bush funneled to 'faith based initiatives'
to pay for religion and actively promote religion should be similarly viewed.

[DCKit]

5. Please note they felt it necessary to call it "abortion policy" and not "family planning".

Those of us who oppose the fake "pro-life" crowd need to stop using their terminology.

If they want every fetus to be born, they need to provide universal health care and a human services establishment which ensures a safe haven for every child. Call them on their hipocrisy.

[catzies]

10. Yes, yes and YES. Sick of their false framing that skews everyone's thinking!

Well said.

[Virginia Dare]

6. This policy has been horrible for women and children..

all over the world. Good move. Change is coming.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

7. HOnestly, I don't understand why the removal of reproductive rights, which MAIMS and MUTILATES

women and children, and sanctions violence against women and girls has always received so little notice here or anywhere? Violence against women has increased here and abroad, even as many other forms of violence have decreased.... Does that issue ever capture public attention here?

I don't get it? Isn't this human rights violation more damaging, more hateful than...oh god, if I spell it out I'll get flamed all to hell......

THANK GOODNESS Obama sees the violation inherent in misogynistic rulings!!!!!

[defendandprotect]

8. This should be a given . . .

It's been reversed and reversed again by Dems and GOP --

[Flirtus]

9. kick needs One more rec

"Legal and Rare" - Mine saved my life.

[Desertrose]

11. K&R

[marshall]

12. Why can't conservatives just get on the Margaret Sanger bandwagon?

She believed abortion and birth control were an efficient means of controlling the poor population. It's a weird way of looking at it, but if it gets us all on the same page they can believe whatever they want.

[Endangered Specie]

13. Now thats change I can believe in...