Republicans should thank Renee Ellmers
Published January 24, 2015
by Doug Clark, Off the Record, Greensboro News-Record, January 24, 2015.
Conservatives don’t seem to understand what a big favor Renee Ellmers is doing for them.
A conservative writer doesn’t seem to think she’s fit to live. Aaron Gardner wrote at RedState: “Is Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) worthy of life? No, really, I see no reason why I shouldn’t expect an answer. Ellmers, and the others who conspired against a bill to restrict abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy that had 60% public support, should come out and justify her existence. Tell me why you are worthy of this life you have been given, Representative.”
For the record, I find fault with no one who is morally opposed to abortion. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, the case against abortion is powerful. Yet, legislating against abortion is fraught with danger — and not only because the Supreme Court has said women have a constitutional right to choose this option.
There are the details. With the bill in question, the details had to do with the victims of rape.
If abortions were banned after 20 weeks, would an exception be made for women or girls who were pregnant by rape?
The sponsors of the measure said yes — so much for the absolute commitment to “life” — provided that the rape victim first report the crime to police.
In other words, her claim must be officially checked out.
Rape victims should report the crime, but we know many don’t.
They don’t want to be examined, or questioned about the circumstances, or forced to testify in open court — or, in the worst of circumstances, accuse a relative or family “friend.”
I would never second-guess a woman in such a terrible situation. But many Republicans would. It echoes of when some of them said women can’t really get pregnant from rape.
Ellmers raised concerns. This isn’t how the Republican Party will win over women. So, even though she eventually said she would support the measure, leaders wisely thought better of it.
Now Ellmers is catching hell.
Republicans ought to step back. Many are hot to pass a “personhood” amendment that would give an embryo full legal protections from the moment of conception. Have they thought about the implications of that?
• Registering pregnancies with the government.
• Inquiries into “cause of death” for every miscarriage.
• Abuse and neglect hearings when the pregnant woman is suspected of not properly caring for her unborn child.
• Taking her into protective custody if necessary to assure the health of the child.
• Possible criminal charges if anything goes wrong during pregnancy and the mother is found to be at fault.
• And no allowances for terminating a pregnancy for rape, incest or age or health of the mother.
The Republican Party needs at least a few sensible people to keep it from going to such extremes. It should thank Ellmers, not try to get rid of her.
