Glenn Grothman: most Americans an "angry fringe element"?

Hi everyone,

Glenn's press release from Wispolitics.

Sen. Grothman: Thanks pro-lifers for large turnout Saturday
2/3/2009

Contact: Senator Glenn Grothman
1-800-662-1227 - Capitol
262-689-8421 – Cell

Citizens Across the State Urge UW Hospital and Clinics to Stop Plans for Late-Term Abortions

MADISON: Today, State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) thanked members of the Pro-Life community for their peaceful dignified demonstration Saturday on the Library Mall.

“I’m usually not one to exaggerate things, but it appeared we had 1,200–1,600 people there on Saturday standing for life in the heart of the UW-Madison Campus,” said Grothman. “We know Planned Parenthood and their ilk were emailing people and trying to get supporters to turn out in support for the UW’s proposed late-term abortion clinic, but they only had 50-60 people. It appears the pro-abortion community had to rely on odd angry permanently protesting sorts like the International Socialist Organization to defend their extreme agenda.”

If you told someone that in Madison, Wisconsin, a pro-life demonstration would be 20 times the size of the pro-abortion demonstration, they likely wouldn’t believe it, but when you are dealing with these late-term abortions where the humanity of the babies is so obvious even the campus becomes overwhelmingly pro-life. Many of those who generally support abortion agree there is nothing mainstream about killing a viable child.

“Walking around campus Saturday morning before and after the demonstration, I found UW students shocked and appalled their university would be involved in something like this,” said Grothman.

“It was unfortunate that so many campus churches had their student retreats over the weekend, otherwise we would have had hundreds more join in this life-affirming rally,” observed Grothman. “I would hope the UW Hospital and Clinics Board would do the right thing and side with the vast majority of the citizens in the state instead of the angry fringe element like the ISO and NARAL.”

First, in nearly 30 years working in the field of reproductive ethics, I've never been able to find anyone who is actually pro-abortion. This is the bogeyman the anti-choice side needs to keep the fires stoked and provide a reason not to sit down over coffee and figure out how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. They're hemmed in by a religious proscription that potential humans are the same as actual humans. That's why they believe any interruption in reproduction is a sin. You can't interrupt the pregnancy, but you also can't interrupt the process of becoming pregnant either. In both cases you interfere with the potential life of a human being.

Second, a majority of Americans are in favor of abortions in the first trimester, fewer find the second trimester abortions appropriate -- except where the life of the mother is at stake -- and nobody finds third trimester abortions reasonable -- except in the most dire cases where the life of the mother is at stake. It might shock the Senator to discover that this is precisely what the law says as well. So, in what universe can you refer to the morality of a majority of Americans as "fringe"?

So why all the noise? Maybe Glenn isn't familiar with the laws surrounding abortion? Or maybe he isn't familiar with the polls indicating overwhelming support for some abortions? Or maybe he isn't aware that even the current Supreme Court, the most conservative in history, is not going to overturn Roe v. Wade?

Doesn't seem likely, does it. But then why does it sound like they're all protesting something that's illegal when it isn't?

Maybe this isn't about yet to be born children but about a yet to be born campaign for Sensenbrenner's seat when he retires? Glenn got the signatures to run against Sen. Kohl last time -- and then bailed out when the reality of his situation got through to him.

As always, I'm probably wrong.

hiho
Mp