State Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City) was one of the many Democrats in the Iowa Senate to rise and speak against a 24-hour waiting period being put in place before an unborn baby could be killed via abortion.
Bolkcom threw out many lines we’ve heard him espouse before:
“Abortion is normal, abortion is nothing to be ashamed of, abortion is health care,” he said. “I recognize that not everyone agrees on everything when it comes to abortion. Some people’s faith influences their beliefs about abortion. I respect that. I also respect the separation of church and state in making laws that apply to all Iowans. Iowans hold all sorts of beliefs.”
Bolkcom said every pregnancy is unique and people must have the freedom to make decisions about their pregnancy in consultation with their doctor.
“Everybody deserves the freedom to make medical decisions based on their own unique circumstances,” he said. “In fact, the majority of Americans believe that abortion should remain legal and safe.”
He said pro-life legislators must not trust women to make their own healthcare decisions.
“This unrelenting Republican attack on the freedom of women to make decisions about their pregnancies in consultation with their doctors has resulted in more unintended pregnancies, more sexually transmitted disease and much higher maternal mortality,” he said.
Mandatory delays, he said, are “demeaning.”
“What do you think about a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before unprotected intercourse,” Bolkcom said. “A 24-hour waiting period before unprotected intercourse would dramatically reduce unintended pregnancies. Of course, we know that ain’t going to happen.”
In his conclusion, he completely misses the irony of his message.
“We all want to be able to live a safe and healthy life and be free to define our own path,” he said. “I believe that includes the right of each woman to get abortion care in her community with dignity and respect.”
If we all want to be able to live a safe and healthy life, able to define our own path — what about the unborn?
What about the dignity and respect for the unborn?
