On Roe vs. Wade Anniversary, Freedom of Choice Act Not Obama's Promised First Action

But Funding of International Abortion Reported to Be Coming

Daniella Nicole
Daniella Nicole, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 23, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
On the 36th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision to repeal all state laws that banned abortion, what did President Obama do to mark the occasion? Nothing. Despite organized marches and protests that took place in the capitol and around the country, President Obama did not comment or address the occasion. This may be because he was still learning the ropes of his new position and had more pressing matters to address.

That being said, in a July 17, 2007 speech given during a Planned Parenthood Action Fund appearance, he stated, "The first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing I'd do." The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) retroactively eliminates limitations set by Roe v Wade and other laws, and allows for non-parental notification and partial-birth abortion. In addition, it prevents any future limitations from being imposed.

While the anniversary came and went, the day after was a different story. On January 23rd, reports came out of the White House that President Obama would be lifting a ban against federal funds going to any international organization that performs or promotes abortion. This act would reverse the "Mexico City Policy" reinstated by President George W. Bush in 2001. Initiated by President Reagan (1984), the policy was in effect until President Clinton repealed it in 1993.

It is not the promised signing of the Freedom of Choice Act, but it is one more win for the pro-choice crowd.

The White House website states in the agenda section that "President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case."

According to the Project Vote Smart database, from March 2005 through February 2008, of the five listed abortion-related pieces of legislation up for vote, Sen. Obama gave no vote on three. He voted for the Unintended Pregnancy Amendment and no on the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.

If conservatives are to hold the President to his words, this is one promise they may wish he'd break. Based upon all of the evidence, it is likely that at some point during his first 100 days, the promised signing of FOCA will occur.

However, if FOCA is made law, will it set a precedent for additional retroactive and future-controlling laws to be put into place? Is one retroactive and forever unchanging law appropriate for a democracy? Before you answer, consider that such wording could be enacted in a law you would be against.

Sources:

One Million for Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood/Presidential Candidate Information Site

"Full Speech" link to Video of Full Speech by Barack Obama

http://www.imoneinamillion.com/

Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)

The Library of Congress - Thomas Library

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.2020:

Obama to Lift Ban on Overseas Abortion Funding

FoxNews.com. January 23, 2009

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/23/obama-lift-ban-overseas-abortion-funding/

The White House Website

Agendas - Women - Reproductive Choices

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/women/

Project Vote Smart

Voting Record Database

Barack Obama

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

'Jane Roe' Rethinks: Pro-life advocates welcome Norma McCorvey's change. Brian Caulfield.

Catholic New York. August 17, 1995

http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimony/janerethinkscny95.html

Published by Daniella Nicole

Syndicated blogger for The Fritch Show. Writer of web content, reviews, multiple showcased & featured articles, blogs, more. Published contributing author. Contributing editor. Niches: dating, relationships,...  View profile

  • July 17, 2007 Obama promises "The first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act"
  • Reports on the 23rd indicate he will lift a ban on funding international abortion
  • It's not the promised signing of FOCA, but it is one more win for the pro-choice crowd
The "Roe" in the Roe v Wade case, Norma McCorvey, admitted (1988) to lying about being raped to get an abortion, joined the pro-life cause in 1995, and never had the abortion. She gave the child up for adoption.

5 Comments

Post a Comment
  • Armywriter1/28/2009

    Women have reproductive rights as it is; the right to take BC or make the dude wear a condom or keep their legs closed. Obama would have citizens paying for abortions before having them pay for underprivilaged childrens education. Sending hundreds of millions of American tax dollars to fund abortion internationally during one of the worst recessions in history shows how committed he is to fixing the economy.

  • Betsy Ross1/26/2009

    The link got garbled:

    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1104737/whats_wrong_with_roe_vs_wade.html?cat=9

  • Betsy Ross1/26/2009

    Here is the link: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1104737/whats_wrong_with_roe_vs_wade.html?cat=9
    Also, I believe in our Constitution, we are in debt up to our eyebrows as it is right now, which is going to eventually cause higher taxes. There are more people who believe Roe should be now restricted to early term nonessential abortions than those who do not, since technology has so changed since it was decided and that is never referred to by all the militant abortion on demand groups. You have three months to decide, and that should be enough unless it is a medical emergency. Also, funding for global interests such as this one are not "legal" under our Constitution in any manner whatsoever in using public funds for such a cause outside the U.S.

  • Betsy Ross1/26/2009

    I have a slightly different take on Roe, although I am not at all opposed to early abortions as a woman's right and that there are definite circumstances when it applies. Roe was decided the year after I graduated high school, and it was never a "right to choose" or "privacy" issue at all, it was always a "right to life" issue. You can choose to have unprotected sex or not, that is your choice. However, partial birth abortions performed now in clinics in order to make the most money in the shortest time possible involved crushing the fetal skull and sucking the brains out of the fetus in order to deliver it more quickly instead of inducing labor, which takes longer and requires in patient care. That is the objection I have to any later term nonessential abortions and that now pregnancy can be determined within a matter of days. Please see the article at:

  • leslie burris1/23/2009

    I will always feel that abortion is not a legal issue and shouldn't be a political devise. Good article!

Displaying Comments

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.