Pro-abortion groups target South Dakota pro-life initiative

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Washington D.C., Aug 16, 2008 / 12:00 am (CNA).- A South Dakota initiative on the November ballot that would ban abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the mother’s life has mobilized national abortion rights groups in opposition. The groups see the state ballot’s Initiated Measure 11 as a “first step” in a legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

“Let’s not kid ourselves," Nancy Keenan, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, told reporters at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. "The people behind this effort [want] to make South Dakota the first step in a long-term campaign to mount a legal challenge to Roe."

According to Cybercast News Service, Keenan was joined by Cecile Richards, who is president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Richards said the initiative is a “cynical effort” to use South Dakota to further their goal of challenging “the fundamental right of women in this country that supported the right decision to make these personal decisions.”

A South Dakota proponent of the bill questioned the location of the press conference, which was held far from her home state.

“It seems desperate to me that they would hold a press conference in Washington, D.C.," Leslee Unruh, a leader of the South Dakota organization Vote Yes for Life, told Cybercast News Service.

Vote Yes for Life is the organization behind Initiated Measure 11, South Dakota’s third recent attempt to ban abortion. Two years ago South Dakota voters rejected a referendum for a complete ban on abortion by 56 percent to 44 percent.

Unruh explained that Initiated Measure 11 was drafted after surveying voter opinion concerning why they voted against the 2006 ballot measure. Such surveys found that South Dakota voters did not want to see abortion used as birth control and would accept a ban that included exceptions for rape, incest, and cases where the life of the mother is endangered.

She told Cybercast News Service that the ballot measure is “designed to go to the Supreme Court.”

Unruh said national attention from pro-abortion groups could be counterproductive for Initiated Measure 11’s opposition.

"Grassroots always trumps money in South Dakota," Unruh said. "People in South Dakota don't like it if they think someone nationally is trying to tell them what to do."

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Tammy
Sioux Falls, SD 09/23/2008 01:53 AM EST

As a resident of South Dakota, I am appauled at yet another attempt of the legislature to try to control womens' bodies. Instead of spending over a million dollars to take this to a Supreme Court that believes in "Judicial Modesty" and will not overturn the principles Roe regardless of personal beliefs about abortion, why not take this money and fund programs to actually reduce unwanted pregnancies to begin with and provide financial and emotional support for pregnant women faced with this difficult decision. Instead, the religious right wants to say "tisk tisk, abortions are wrong" while at the same time cutting welfare programs for struggling single mothers. This seems most un-Christian like to me, especially for a group that claims to be basing their philosophy on "morals." Even if you accept the argument that some form of life begins at conception, do you totally disregard the woman's rights to control her own body? Roe tried to strike that balance through the viability standard, to balance the state's interest in the life of a fetus with the mother's Constitutional right of bodily autonomy. This law forces women to be incubators, something that is against the 13th and 9th amendments and the due process and equal protection clauses. Sadly, it will be the poorest women who will suffer, the ones who cannot afford to drive to a different state, if this disgusting law is passed. These women are the ones who will suffer the indignity of being second class citizens.

Published by: Chris Jongeling
Blunt, SD USA 09/15/2008 11:20 AM EST

To all who have commented on my state's misguided attempt to re-victimize women who have already been victimized, let me tell you that Initiated measure 11 requires that if a woman wants an abortion after having been raped or subjected to incest, she is required to report the complete circumstances to her doctor, who is required to record the details in her medical record and submit her name to law enforcement. The woman is required to tell when, where, how and by whom the crime was committed. There is already a huge problem with sexual assaults being underreported because the victims are afraid (justifiably) of being revictimized by the police and court systems. Now we are going to make it difficult for her to get medical care because she knows that she will have to go through that very system to get help. More abortions in back alleys, more women dead from botched abortions, more babies thrown into trash bins. This isn't progress, this is a return to the dark ages. I'm glad my daughter no longer lives in South Dakota, where women are treated worse than livestock.

Published by: Colleen Barry
New York, NY 08/19/2008 08:58 AM EST

100's of 1,000's are behind "A South Dakota initiative on the November ballot that would ban abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the mother’s life". Strongly behind you, Colleen

Anyone that wanted to objectively learn about abortion, including medical facts and new discoveries and all the problems abortion causes for individuals, couples, families, communities, city's, states and everyone, would easily be behind this initiative.

Published by: Holly Harrington
Oswego, New York USA 08/16/2008 09:36 PM EST

John Lennon once said, "Give love a chance". Well I say lets give life a chance. Lets give reason a chance. The lady who was the symbol used for Roe v. Wade no longer believes these so called truths of Roe v. Wade. Now that modern medicine is better there is so much that is positive out there to help couples with their families. Go for Life South Dakota, give life and love a chance. Love aint easy its work and we need to feel productive in this country again. Lets use our brains.

Published by: Mary
Fort Worth, TX, USA 08/16/2008 02:12 PM EST

Good for South Dakota! Wish Texas would do the same. God Bless those good folks who see the light.

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