Jessica Valenti: Republicans said they weren't going to target women. They lied.

[Nevilledog]

https://jessica.substack.com/p/abortion-every-day-22323

In the states…

For years, Republicans have swore up and down that they have no interest in prosecuting women over abortion. We always knew that was a lie, of course—women were being arrested long before Roe was even overturned. But still, they stuck to that messaging. Until now. Over the last week or so, we’ve seen Republicans in Kentucky and Alabama debate bills that would classify abortion as homicide—with the South Carolina GOP considering legislation that would make abortion punishable by the death penalty. Yesterday, Georgia joined the fray: HB496, the Georgia Prenatal Equal Protection Act, which would make abortion after fertilization a homicide. (That means that conservatives who believe that IUDs and emergency contraception stop the implantation of a fertilized egg could argue that a woman who uses those forms of birth control should be arrested for murder.)

Meanwhile, I’ve been telling you about the battle between Tennessee Republicans and Tennessee Right to Life, the anti-abortion group that opposes lawmakers’ efforts to add in an exception for women’s lives. While the organization opposes the bill altogether, the main bit they claimed to take issue with was that the legislation would allow doctors to use their “subjective” judgement on whether or not a woman’s life was in danger. Well, it looks like Republicans have caved to pressure from the organization and amended the legislation:

“Among the changes, all references to ‘good-faith’ judgment on the part of physicians would be changed to ‘reasonable,’ which could increase legal exposure to medical providers who might be charged with a felony for performing an abortion to save the woman or prevent a debilitating illness.”

The new version of the bill also dropped language about medical emergencies, and is so vague that it would be unclear if a pregnant woman with cancer would be able to receive chemotherapy. Even with those changes, Tennessee Right to Life continues to oppose the legislation, saying that “even with slightly improved definitions, this legislation is unacceptable to the pro-life position.”

A Kentucky Republican has filed a bill to add rape and incest exceptions to the state’s total abortion ban—the legislation would make abortion for sexual violence victims legal before 15 weeks if the doctor has a “reasonable belief the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.” You know what I’m going to say: Exceptions aren’t real.

*snip*

[gratuitous]

1. Say it once, say it twice, say it again

Women are 100% in the political cross-hairs, and their demotion to second class citizen status by the Dobbs decision is just another step on the path. Democrats are doing quite well in the off-year elections so far, but we have to keep hammering on Republicans as the party of women's oppression. It's a resonant message, it turns out voters, and it's true. Just listen to Republican office-holders all across the nation. They're not hiding it.

[Skittles]

2. HEAR, HEAR

TRUTH

[Timeflyer]

3. To Republicans, persecution of women is a return to normality.

In the good old days, women couldn't legally obtain birth control, thanks to the Catholic Church and Anthony Comstock. They could be picked up by the sheriff while just walking down the street, f he suspected they were immoral, had VD, or just needed a good scare and a public pelvic exam (the American Plan). They could die in a back alley abortion, or suffer lifelong damage from illegal abortions, but that would teach them a lesson. And they were taught to be ashamed of their sexuality, and stay silent about abuse.

Until men develop uteruses, the war on women will continue.

[plimsoll]

4. I'm sure Alito believes the 19th amendment was improperly decided.

I mean if you're going to make it up as you go along, why not start with where the problem really starts.

Where is that sarcasm emoji when you need it?

[Wounded Bear]

5. K & R...nt

[republianmushroom]

6. Jessica, have you noticed, for the last 6 years, republicans have "lied" a lot.

it is part of their playbook.

[thenelm1]

8. "Only" the last 6 years?

They've been lying about pretty much everything for as long as I can remember. And I'm on the far side of 65.

[Evolve Dammit]

7. Ward, you're being a little hard on the Beaver. That's what they want. A Norman Rockwell visual and

a total male-dominated and controlled society like 50's TV. We need Carry Nation and Elizabeth Stanton. And we have them in Liz Warren and Katie Porter and countless others. We ain't going back. Period. Fuck 'em all.