Abortion Bill Roils Virginia Politics

Gov. Bob McDonnell gestures as he delivers his State of the Commonwealth address on Jan. 11, 2012. (AP)

Virginia lawmakers are working behind the scenes today on a controversial bill that would require women to undergo an invasive procedure called a “transvaginal ultra-sound” before having an abortion–even if their doctors protest. Both Houses of the Virginia Assembly have passed a version of the bill. But the measure has drawn a lot of criticism and protest rallies on State Capitol grounds.

Democratic House Delegate Lionel Spruill of Chesapeake told his colleagues yesterday that because the bill requires the insertion of a vaginal probe it “forces a legal rape.” But Republican Delegate Kathy Bryon, one of the sponsors of the legislation, said most women in Virginia seeking abortions already have ultrasounds. Planned Parenthood confirmed that it is a standard procedure for the group, but added that it was up to the doctor and patient to make the final decision.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a rising star in the Republican party, has backed off his earlier, unconditional support of the measure.

Washington Post: Virginia governor no longer fully supports ultrasounds before abortions
The Virginia Pilot: Virginia assembly again delays ultrasound vote

Guest:

Anita Kumar, Washington Post Reporter at the State Capital in Richmond

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

Dianegriffen254

WHAT is the reason for these trans-vaginal ultrasounds to be given? (other than some body is making more money)
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F76GBN4MI5XBLSWZGZ6QXOILEM Michael
  
  The reason is to humiliate, hurt and punish women the Republicans don’t like — in other words it’s a form of torture (which from George Bush and Dick Cheney onwards, Republicans have strongly favored)
  - Roy Davis
    
    Bullshit, Michael, simply bullshit.
  - Roy Davis
    
    Hogwash, Michael, simply hogwash.
Anonymous

The association of the picture with this article gives me chills of fear. Smirking old men forcing probes up the vaginas of young women. Let’s take the health access and civil rights away from men for a change. I wish I were in Virginia to add one more woman to the brave women protesting for their rights. What hypocrites the Republicans are, oh sorry, maybe all the Republicans are men, so if they destroy the rights of women only, maybe they aren’t hypocrites. The laws are made by men for men, right?
Stan

“When the government has the power to make medical decisions for us, we, in essence, accept that the state owns our bodies.”
–US Congressional Representative Ron Paul
Stan

Here is the other quote I was looking for on the subject.
Big Brother right in your face.

“If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls who live under tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson
BHA in Vermont

Clearly this is another attempt by “pro life advocates” to make getting an abortion as inconvenient as possible. There is no medical reason for doing a transvaginal ultra-sound.
If they force this bill through then they, NOT the woman or her insurance company, should pay for the procedure.
Anonymous

No one in the entire world has a right to tell another how to live their lives. Period! Santorum is one sick puppy! Santorum is not a
political candidate, he is a pounding pulpit preacher wanting to take America
back to religious persecution times. Santorum has began preaching his version of
religion, while courting the TEA party members. Santorum keeps trying to take us
back to Religious Zealot times where women are chattel and can be bossed around,
barefoot and pregnant. Santorum’s version of America is sub-servants for the
rich with slave labor in America’s industries. Rick would take us to war to keep
the “Military Industrial Complex” in business. The TEA-GOP-Republican headless
horsemen don’t care. They will push their agenda at any cost. These four
headless horsemen are heading hellbent into the abyss have no idea of reality
and no real world experience as an everyday Jane or Joe. Santorum, Romney,
Gingrich and Paul are so far out-of-touch, they could have their own reality
show and no one would watch it. When extreme’s force their medical views and
issues onto the general public, They step way iover the bounds of humanity. Call
it what you may, women are better equiped and knowledgeable about their own
bodies than any politician in any state house or Washington
DC.
Lavada

“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful”. Seneca the Younger, philosopher, statesman and orator

“The world holds two classes of men – intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence.” — Abu Ala Al-Ma’arri (???? – 1059)
“Religion is the masterpiece of the art of animal training, for it trains people as to how they shall think. ” ― Arthur Schopenhauer
Susie

I am extremely against this bill.
I live in Virginia.
I voted against McDonnell and Cucinelli, and will continue to do so.
I am 100% pro-choice.
I am a mom of three boys.
I have had both kinds of ultrasound. The intravaginal is painful, unpleasant (you have to have a very full bladder), and in the situation of this bill, degrading.

No man or woman should ever be able to put something inside of someone else’s body without their full consent. SPEAK UP AMERICANS!!
- Roy Davis
  
  Hi Susie,
  
  As a 100% pro-choicer, what do you have to say about the “full consent” of the babies that are killed, everyday and everywhere, by the “choice” of abortion?
Sweet ‘n’ Tender

These Republicans are totally insane… why is it white males that are always dictating to woman what and what not they can do with their bodies? This is shameful … it’s 2012 for heavens sake.
Sweet ‘n’ Tender

What right do these republicans have to force their religion on me? What if your not religious? What if your religion doesn’t match theirs?
There is NO ROOM in Politics for religion, this is s free country and the President has a responsibility to represent ALL Americans, not just the ones that go to his brand of church…
- Roy Davis
  
  Dear Sweet ‘n’ Tender, the freedoms you enjoy and that prevail in the United States have only come about because religious-minded men with morality and a sense of the dignity of every person, engendered by that self-same religious outlook, had the cajones and the brains to institutionalize the morality born of their religious outlook into our Constitution! To say there is no room for religion in politics only guarantees that your liberties will eventually (perhaps very soon) disappear. Think!
jonathan

Last I looked, we were the land of the free and a country founded on liberty. Apparently these Virginia lawmakers either do not understand or are choosing to undermine these basic principals of our republic.
- Roy Davis
  
  Look Jonathan, this bill and particular requirement for a particular type of ultrasound is probably over board, but it isn’t about taking away liberty. Its about restoring respect for life by reducing the number of women who “choose” to kill their babies. This is a worthy objective, if poorly sought in this case.
  
  By the way, it is “principles,” not “principals.”