It's National Blog for Choice today, and the question that NARAL is posing for us is:

What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?

That's easy for me: an instant repeal of Bush's last-minute rule that individual health care-givers be allowed to consult their consciences when it comes to giving care or advice regarding abortion, information regarding any other facility which provides abortion advice or care, and by extension, any form of advice or care regarding birth control if that person's beliefs lead them to see birth control as abortion. Just erase that sucker right off the books. Bush shoved it through (I was too heartbroken to write about it), and I would like to see it gone, please, Mr. President.

I would also like to see funding returned to those world medical care programs that lost it when Bush proclaimed that those programs that used abortion, even in countries where abortion was legal, would no longer receive American funds. That was one of the little bastard's first acts in office.

Those are two places to start. They've been on my mind.

On the 19th, when I was flattened with the first day of a three-day migraine, Senator Hillary Clinton sent the following to me.

Heres the link to the NY Times article she and Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood co-authored, posted in a previous thread by eponablackhorse.

I wish Clinton had done this sooner, but I'm really glad she did it.
It's been pointed out to me that Clinton was going to bat against this measure earlier this summer, long before I'd even heard of it, so I am rescinding my remark. I feel erasing it would look as if I were pretending I never said it, so I'm striking it out instead.


_______________________________________________________

A special message from Hillary Clinton about Planned Parenthood and the women, men, and families they serve


Dear Tamora,

The Bush administration is at it again — threatening reproductive freedom and women's health. Their latest new proposal from the Dept of Health and Human Services could jeopardize health care for millions of women.

That's why I'm working with my colleagues in the Senate, and my friend Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, to stop them.

Cecile and I wrote an article that is appearing in The New York Times today [see above link/tp], alerting the nation to what will happen if the Bush administration moves ahead with the HHS rule.

Those who are anti-choice, anti-family planning see the period of transition between administrations as a window of opportunity. In its final months, they're pressing the Bush administration to do one ridiculous thing after another. We need Planned Parenthood to make sure that common sense wins out over ideology.

One day, we'll live in a world where Planned Parenthood can simply go about its work providing women with essential health care information and services. But, that day isn't here yet. Until it arrives, you and I will have to keep counting on Planned Parenthood to speak up and challenge dangerous ideas that undermine women's health. And Planned Parenthood will have to keep counting on us to support and sustain its vitally important work at critical moments like this.

Sincerely,
Hillary Clinton


Sorry for the tardiness, but I had to post this here, tardy or not!

Here's another Planned Parenthood petition against what's now being called "the conscience rule" that is being considered by Health and Human Services, the rule that will let individual health care providers decide if their convictions allow each one of them to give women abortion advice and care. Please sign it, or one of the other petitions linked here, here, here here, and here (Planned Parenthood's first petition).

The deadline, September 25th, for public comment on this rule is eleven days away. Don't let it slip by without registering your opinion.

And remember, if McCain and Palin win in November, even the adoption of non-legislative rules in these matters may be wiped clean away by a one candidate who has said he wants a Supreme Court that will rule on "strict constitutionality," and has said that he regards Roe v. Wade as being anti-constitutional by that analysis, and a vice president (under an old and unhealthy president) who is anti-choice. Act while you can.

Right before we left for Dragon*Con, Tim shot me a petition from the ACLU, giving us yet another source to use to put the pressure on Health and Human Services. I hope everyone is keeping an eye on this and keeping the pressure on, particularly since, except for Keith Olbermann on MSNBC a while back, no one in the mainstream media is even talking about this.

It's truly scary, how quiet people are being about something with such potentially disastrous consequences. I don't know about you folks, but I'm more worried than ever.

edited to add:
lilithschilde suggests getting in touch with your senators and congresspeople to see if they can bring some pressure to bear, and I think it's a good idea.

into the hands of everyone but the woman concerned part 3

nanashi_jones posted this very useful piece of information in part 2, which I am now re-posting so everyone will see it!

Here's the bill in all its glory:

45 CFR Part 88

I find having the words on hand lends extra venom to responses.

The bill itself directs "electronic comments" to go through Regulations.gov, so if anyone wants to go that extra mile, that option is open.

One way that can help is citing the specific broadening of words like "sterilization procedures" so that it is not left vague. Telling government officials to change something gives them wiggle room and leaves them asking "What something?" and a terrifying space to rewrite and claim compliance. If we can call them on a specific word or phrase, they have all the wiggle room of a steel box.

Thanks, nanashi_jones! This is a big help!

into the hands of anyone but the woman concerned, Part 2.

This AP article provides more information about the new rule, exactly what it says, how it can be stretched, and when we should worry.

I say we should really worry, right now.

If you haven't signed the NARAL petition or the we'll-ask-you-for-money-first Planned Parenthood petition, I ask that you consider doing so. We have to move fast--September 30th isn't that far away.

kallaneboi has also thoughtfully provided us with a link to MoveOn's petition.

Probably everyone knows this by now, but I want to cross-post what Planned Parenthood is saying about Bush's latest attempt to have government take control over women's bodies:

President Bush's regulatory change lets health care providers define abortion, which could threaten access to birth control and broader reproductive health care, and allow federal funding for so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" that refuse to inform patients of or provide patients with a full range of reproductive health care options.

Now that the new rule has been issued officially, we need you to speak out during the official 30-day comment period before the rule can go into effect.

We need as many people as possible to submit comments to the Department of Health and Human Services before the official comment period ends on September 25.

[this part is from the generic letter they are asking people to send]
I am writing to oppose the so-called "conscience" rule recently submitted by Secretary Leavitt. This regulation poses a serious threat to women's health care by limiting the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate health information and services.

At a time when more and more families are uninsured and under economic assault, we find our health care system is in crisis and our president taking steps to deny access to basic care. Women's ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology.

You can find the mail, edit it and sign it, at the Planned Parenthood site linked above, on the main page, under "Breaking News," the link that says take action today,. The mail goes to the Department of Health & Human Services, which makes the final ruling. If you want more information, click on this link for Planned Parenthood's longer release on the subject.

I don't know if the clown prince has nothing more to lose, so he's jamming every fucktard idea he had out there to see what he can get away with, or he thinks these things are his precious "legacy," or he thinks we're so fixed on the presidential race that we won't notice his sleazy maneuverings, but I hope there are plenty of people who will tell him that once, just bloody maggot-swilling ONCE, he won't get away with it. That he is going to fail in yet another attempt to force his parochial views on this entire country, that we are going to hold to that silly, old-fashioned idea of liberty for all.

It's not Bush's to take. Don't let anyone give it to him. Please.

Edited to add:

If you'd like a structure that doesn't hit you up front with a request for cash before delivering information or a way to protest, you might want to try NARAL's protest. You might also want to look at NARAL's home page--they are lobbying for a strong pro-choice plank at the Democratic National Convention in September.

That's tomorrow, folks! Time to remember Roe v. Wade and what choice means to us; how important it is that we HAVE a choice. Will you be there, bloggiting away? I will!

You can also click on the icon above to go to NARAL's site for more inforama!