Teresa Heinz Kerry nearly had abortion

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON -- Teresa Heinz Kerry nearly underwent an abortion some 30 years ago on a doctor's recommendation because she had been taking cortisone early in her pregnancy, but a miscarriage rendered the decision moot.

In an interview that will air Friday on ABC's "20/20," the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry discussed her experience, the clamor for her to release her income tax returns, the campaign and her reputation for outspokenness.

During her first marriage, Heinz Kerry said she wanted a fourth child after the birth of her son Christopher in March 1973. She said she had a "severe reaction to something," was taking heavy cortisone medicine and did not realize she was pregnant.

"I told my doctor I think I'm pregnant and ... he said well then if you're pregnant, you have to abort that baby ... and I was very upset ... I didn't want to have an abortion, but they gave me 15 days because it was early and the night before I was due to go in, I miscarried it. So God was very kind," she said.

Heinz Kerry stressed that she favors abortion rights "because I'd like to have that choice myself."

~snip~
more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story...

Wow, this lady has guts.

[bluestateguy]

1. Better to get this out of the way now.

Otherwise the story can morph into "Teresa Heinz had an abortion" without enough time to set the record straight before election day. .

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

29. So what if she did?

If you're talking about keeping the facts straight, I agree. But if you're talking about the deleterious effects that an abortion would have on the campaign, I disagree. Nearly 25% of all pregnancies worldwide are aborted. It's legal. It's none of my business, unless she's anti-choice and is being hypocritical; and even then it's borderline.

[Just Me]

39. Yup. Seriously, if I had a remote: I'd make this stupid thread disappear.

[crossroads]

40. Repubs can turn truth into lies, as they turn lies into truth

don't they? Masters at it...

[goclark]

2. Yea! Theresa

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. omfg

This isn't anybody's business, really.

[Tina H]

13. If a women wants to talk about her abortion decision . . .

(and/or miscarriage) on national tv, she does turn it into a fair subject for public discussion.

I bet Ms. Kerry knows that and she seems to have courageously made her decision.

[AspenRose]

14. Pre-emptive strike

because the Repugs would try to make it an issue and everybody's business.

[joe1991]

21. That wouldn't stop the Smear-Merchants from bring it up

....say a day or two before the election.
You are right but better to disclose this on her terms that the GOP's.

[buycitgo]

4. so what? Barbara Bush had an abortion

about 58 years ago

problem is, it's still alive, sorta

[Paradise]

6. thank you,

i really need a good laugh this afternoon

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. *GUFFAW*

[smirkymonkey]

12. LOL! That's priceless!

Still, "NEARLY" had an abortion means she DID NOT have one. Therefore, no story, nobody's business.

It didn't happen, it shouldn't be an issue. It's not like the Kerry's are anti-choice, which might make them hypocritical. The point is she was given a choice and wasn't forced to make it, fortunately.

Puke hypocrisy makes me sick.

[hyphenate]

28. Well, technically

She did have a brain dead baby. It just happens to live on like an automaton.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Yay, buycitgo! n/t

[Piperay]

31. ROTFLMAO...

Good one!!!

[rocktivity]

33. Reminds me of a photo I took at the last NYC peace March

You can click here to see the rest. Fortunately, I keep clear plastic over my keyboard in case of a post like this.


rocknation

[crossroads]

41. Good one!

[Tellurian]

5. I saw Sen. Kerry's new commercial. He has a lovely wife and daughter..

Mrs. Kerry has caring pleasant face and a wonderful smile.

They look like a great couple!

[Tellurian]

11. Smart move on Kerry's part before the Rethugs change from Medals to Abort.

GO KERRY!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

20. Tellurian, would it be a big deal if Ahnuld groped Kerry's daughter?

You were the one who posted "Oh, please..." when I recently excoriated Ahnuld for molesting 16+ women in the workplace.

So now you are a feminist? What's up there, Tellurian? You a big Ahnuld fan?

[Tellurian]

30. First off--Molesting and groping are not synonomous...

say what you mean, and mean what you say!

If Arnold wasn't famous would you care?

[JohnOneillsMemory]

34. OK, they aren't synonymous. But the toll on a woman's sense of safety is.

Yes I would care if he weren't famous.

I've had to defend my mother from an abusive husband, girlfriends from stalkers and even a groping and leering doctor. Yes, DOCTOR.

This behaviour by men terrorizes many women and I get pissed when this behaviour is treated lightly merely because it is common. That makes it even more outrageous, because it is so common.

And to have someone famous get away with it creates an atmosphere of tolerance for 'boyish pranks' the same way some dismiss the events in Abu Ghraib as 'frisky pranks.'

Make sense?

[Tellurian]

35. No, it doesn't..

Courts issue TRO's addressing domestic violence and gender related abuse.

And Physician harrassment cases are fair game for attorneys..

Now you've upped the ante to terrorizing?

Terrorizing women is not merely common.

Groping is-

Getting pissed over things that become emotional roadblocks sometimes require enhancement of coping skills.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

43. Women deal with physical terror of men all the time. Ask some of them.

I can't believe you suggest filling out paperwork and working on 'coping skills.'

My landlady just had to get a restraining order against her husband who was getting rough with her kids. She said he's had a temper for years and she's trying to learn not to live in fear but it is hard.

My fiance's first husband was abusive and all her girlfriends have had to 'cope' with freaky men more than a few times. It is terrorizing and pervasive.

I was just at a health care clinic that had lots of poor women as clients. They have to hand out pamphlets advising women to get help for abuse all the time. The nurse told me she deals with terrorized women all the time and it depresses her. Unbelievably common.

I think you don't know how common and devastating male intimidation of females is in our culture. This isn't whining. This isn't clutching at victim status for attention. This is criminal.

And Ahnuld is a vicious and chronic offender who has been rewarded with the governorship of the fifth largest economy on the planet. Read about the women on his sets who were afraid of losing their careers if they blew the whistle on him because Hollywood has protected him as a cash cow. There was an expose written about him When he went to film festivals for interviews to promote his movies, journalists were forbidden from asking about the book exposing him for the pig he is.

Ugly man, ugly business, threat to women, children, and our culture.

Check it out. Ask around. You'll be surprised and pissed, too.

[Tellurian]

45. Sorry...J O'N...

Thats the way it's done in a civilized society. There are laws protecting women from abuse. You've provided anecdotal evidence as examples of hard core abuse situations requiring intervention.
The topic for discussion is groping...Arnold's groping.

You've gone off on a rant ranging from groping to terrorizing and never really made your case about Arnold. He doesn't terrorize his family. He isn't abusive to his children and by paternal standards is viewed as a good father and husband. The key element in your statements relating to Arnold are accusations of groping on movie sets. Has Arnold been sued for abuse by any of his accusers? Has Arnold been convicted of a crime? It seems to me you are being seduced by tabloid journalism and forming opinions based on heresay not factual evidence.

If you don't like Arnold for whatever your reasons are, then so be it. However, I feel I should be accorded my opinion whether it agrees with your sensibilities or not. nes pas?

P.S. Thanks for the clarification of your moniker.

I liked the John O'Neil, you speak of.

[iverglas]

50. whew, somebody here thinks that "groping" isn't a big deal?

As far as I can see, you've got it all pretty right. Everything you've said makes perfect sense.

Yup, there are a million little things that contribute to the oppression of women; maintaining a level of terror that inhibits our ability to self-determine and to participate in public life is a big factor. And "groping" -- and leering and hooting and commenting and the whole lot of it -- they're all part of the complex mechanism by which women are reminded whenever possible of our vulnerability and of the wisdom of not getting uppity or choosing our own paths. And that is very definitely a terrorizing process. I mean, apart from the fact that "groping" is a plain old assault.

Just like planting a bomb is a plain old crime, but also has, and is unquestionably intended to have, the effect of forcing someone to do or not do something that s/he/they would otherwise choose to do. That's the whole definition of terrorism.

I forget whether I was watching Brit, US or Cdn TV last week; don't remember what the show was. It involved an incident in which a young woman was walking on a dark street, and became aware that a group of men were following her. She hurried up, they pursued. They began to call out at her, culminating in something along the lines of "you know you want it, bitch". She ran headlong into the street. At that point they called her name -- they were friends of hers, engaged in one of those "pranks". Unfortunately, when she turned in disbelief to look, she was struck by a car and killed. The young men were dumbfounded.

Fiction, yes. But a very effective illustration of the real dynamic and the very real problem. Women do experience well-founded fear, and too many men don't have a clue, and actually contribute to the problem that women live.

The bad guys cause the problem. The ordinary guys don't participate in it, or at least don't do so "intentionally". The good guys do something about it. Some men I know make a practice, if they happen to approach a woman while walking on the street when there are few people around, of crossing the road. They know that they are not a threat to the woman, but they know that she does not know this and has no choice but to regard them as a possible threat if she wishes to be safe. They alter their own behaviour; they know that even if they themselves are harmless, their presence is not neutral in the situation, and they take responsibility for the effects of their presence. It isn't their fault that their presence is threatening to women but, they being aware of its effect, they would be intentionally creating that effect if they did not alter their behaviour.

Behaviour like that doesn't stop the terrorization of women, but it does reduce the level of background fear that we feel. Speaking and acting against the behaviours that actually create the fear, of which "groping" is hardly an insignificant example, is obviously also necessary. But don't forget that while "defending" as you do is important, being conscious of the effects of your own actions and presence also is. Sometimes the effect of "defending" can be not dissimilar to the effect of the offending behaviour itself; it can reinforce the perception and experience of male power, and the natural and admirable urge to defend may at times need to be examined and perhaps restrained. Just a caution.

Somebody's probably thanked you for your concern and commitment before, but let me do it too.

.

[kimchi]

8. HTF does this pass for news?

They picked that one angle out of the entire interview for a reason.

[beyurslf]

9. Just to make sure I understand

What Kerry did or didn't do with ribbons or medals he earned in a war 30 years ago is relevant so probe away.

What his wife did 30 years ago long before she met JK and long before they were married is also relevant so probe away.

What GW did prior to his religious conversion 20 years is not relevant and should never be questioned.

Just so we are all on the same page.

[radwriter0555]

10. YES, the GOPERS ARE REPORTING ON A MISCARRIAGE...

how LOW can they go?

[aquart]

15. Is that a dare? Are we starting a pool?

I think we haven't begun to plumb the depths of GOP desperation.

[truthisfreedom]

18. they already have Theresa beat though... laura bush killed her high-school

boyfriend. true.

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:axerYIeNzdgJ:www.n...

[prodigal_green]

16. A miscarriage is an abortion

by definition, they are the same thing. The only thing at issue is how it is induced. That is why the whole abortion debate is absurd.

[crossroads]

42. A miscarriage is an act of God

an abortion is an act of will/choice. IMO For some pregnancys it should be mandatory.

[Maddy McCall]

44. The medical term for miscarriage is "spontaneous abortion" FYI

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bolokshi]

22. Wise Move!

A very touchy subject, better now that later when the neos will jump on it. Word of advice please let Schneider whatever his name is now so he can give youyr polling result now!! "the voters have spoken blahblahblah..........this does not look good blahblahblah..........hope he does not runaway with it.

[UTUSN]

23. What's the Problem? This Was a MEDICAL Recommendation

Besides that, it never happened.

Besides that, we are pro-CHOICE, NOT pro-ABORTION.

Besides that, she was a Republican back then, no?

[Dr Fate]

24. This is no one's business.

Shameful that this even resembles an issue...

[Just Me]

25. Brilliant!!! n/t

[Cocoa]

26. off to Gitmo with Teresa

per Karen Hughes.

[Nancy Waterman]

32. It is actually a very good example for people to think about

She very much wanted a child, and she didn't want an abortion, but she likely would have had a very deformed child (I assume?) which is why the doctor insisted she abort. It gives the lie to the fundie image of licentious women using abortion for birth control.

[TexasBushwhacker]

36. Exactly what I was thinking

This is one of those awful situations that the anti-choice don't want you to have a choice in. They don't want a woman to be able to have an abortion if the fetus is determined to be profoundly deformed or retarded. They don't want a woman to be able to have an abortion if she's pregnant as the result of a rape (or even a teenage victim of incest!). They don't want a woman to be able to have an abortion even if her doctor says that continuing her pregnancy could threaten her life or her long term health. These are all difficult choices to make, but thank goodness we still have THE CHOICE!

[bluedog]

27. Babs quote.........

For me, abortion is a personal issue - between the mother, father and doctor.... Abortion is not a presidential matter."

--Barbara P. Bush, from her autobiography "Barbara Bush: A Memoir"


anyone got this book and can verify this statement?

[FlashHarry]

37. Wow! She "nearly" underwent a legal medical procedure???

Say it ain't so!

[fujiyama]

38. Teresa Heinz

is a terrorist supporter!

In all seriousness, I really find it disgusting to probe into the candidates' wives medical history. Though, I have to say it's better that she come out in the open before the RWers started throwing this shit all over.

[Citizen Daryl]

46. To the Reich-Wing, an abortion is okay if God performs it. n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

47. Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

All though I'm sure the freeps will call this an abortion. It has all the makings of a 'lie and repeat the lie until it sticks' type issue.

[mulethree]

48. What would cortizone do if a pregnancy like this continued?

There are so so so many drugs that are not tested for pregnant women or nursing mothers. Is cortizone known to be bad that way? or is it just one of these untested on pregnant women drugs?

[noonwitch]

49. Whatever happened to privacy?

I don't see where any of this is my business or anyone else's in the country.

[bullimiami]

51. too bad for all of us that "Bar" didnt have one.

how is this news?
if it _is_ news <because of the fundamentalist christians> then where is the story that W got his girlfriend an <which should have been illegal at the time . right?> abortion.

[Triana]

52. So??

I don't see anything wrong with that. Not sure I understand why it's even considered 'news' being that both Teresa and John are pro-choice. Unlike bu$hit et al, they live their morals and beliefs-they walk their talk.

Cool.

(ed: corrected spelling of 'Teresa')

[leesa]

53. Is this any of our business?

[LeftHander]

54. What almost didn't happen....is not news...

I almost had surgery once.....