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Opinion
Thursday, February 8, 2001
For comments, contact Chris Borniger or Nathan Willis at 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Perspective
Partial-birth abortion ban could happen
In addition to smearing John Ashcroft as racist and bigoted, a motley crew of liberal special interest groups cited his opposition to abortion as a disqualification for attorney general before his eventual approval by the Senate last week.
wonderful as abortion rights.
To hear members of the National Organization for Women and the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, you'd think Ashcroft is one of only seven or eight cave-dwelling Neandertals who still oppose something so self-evidently wonderful as abortion rights.
Speaking on behalf of the "enlightened" left-wing lynch mob, Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said that "the vast majority of Americans support a woman's right to choose," and Ashcroft is simply "too extreme" to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer.
This idea that the "vast majority" of Americans favor abortion rights is, however.
a contemptible lie that's been festering for too long. Actually, poll after poll shows that Americans are almost equally divided on the issue of abortion.
John McCool columnist opinion@ansan.com
In a survey taken just before the November election, Gallup reported that while 47 percent support the right to an abortion, 45 percent oppose it. Although these numbers are significant, they certainly don't suggest an overwhelming consensus either way.
A true consensus can be found, though, on the issue of partial-birth abortion, which according to Gallup, an astonishing 63 percent oppose. In fact, Congress has twice passed bans on this procedure with bipartisan support, only to be vetoed both times by President Clinton.
If you're not familiar with partial-birth abortion (technically called "dilation and extraction") here's what's involved:
In the second or third trimester of pregnancy, the doctor partially delivers the fetus until only its head remains in the birth canal. With the fetus dangling in this position, only inches from birth, the doctor takes a pair of surgical scissors and jams them into the back of the fetus' skull, then spreads the scissors to enlarge the opening. Finally, the doctor inserts a tube called a suction catheter and vacuum out the fetus's brain, killing it.
According to the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, roughly 5,000 partialbirth abortions are performed every year in the United States—a ghastly procedure that the American Medical Association has called "not good medicine" and never medically necessary to protect a mother's health.
But now, Clinton no longer wields his poisonous veto pen. And with George W. Bush having vowed during the campaign to sign a partial-birth abortion ban upon becoming president, all the obstacles seem eliminated to finally outlaw this barbaric procedure.
Expertise. Last June, in another bizarre fit of judicial creativity, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Stenberg v. Carhart that Nebraska's law banning partial-birth abortion was unconstitutional, saying it placed an "undue burden" on the right to an abortion in lacking an exemption to preserve a woman's health. But if that's what will satisfy the amateur physicians on the Court, there's a ready-made solution.
A 1997 bill, H.R.3660, which easily passed the House of Representatives (287-141), banned partial-birth abortion but allowed for an exception if the procedure "is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury."
More than sixty Democrats courageously joined the Republican majority to pass this legislation. Congress should re-introduce the bill, pass it again and send it to President Bush for final approval.
Reasonable people can disagree on the constitutionality and moral merits of abortion, but I hope we can all come together and condemn a monstrous act of medical malpractice that is nothing short of infanticide.
McCool is an Evansville, Ind., graduate student in history.
Steve Sack/TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Kansan report card
Pass:
International student recruiters. Mirroring a national trend, international student enrollment at KU continues to rise. But you can bet they won't be enrolling here online.
Cultural India Club and Latin American Solidarity. Student groups raise money for foreign earthquake victims. Nuff said.
MTV. Finally, auditions for The Real World come to campus. Let's just hope they keep Say What? Karaoke back in the big city.
Fail:
Gov. Bill Graves and the Kansas Legislature. State leaders want to quit matching funds that students pay for technology. Funny how when our elected officials tighten their belts, we're the ones who get strangled.
Department of Student Housing. Residence, scholarship halls and Jayhawker Towers have become cockroach havens. That figures; the dirtiest form of life would choose to live in student housing.
Lawrence and KU roads. A nasty winter left a lot of streets with a lot of potholes. You don't need Firestone tires to have a blowout around here.
Perspective
First Lady sends status of women back to 1950s
OK, I voted for Ralph Nader. (As you know, he lost.)
But I have faith in the pendulum swing; if things radically change during George W. Bush's term in office, and if enough people think it is a change for the worse, then in four years a new president (learning further to the left) will repair the damage.
Instead of rehashing the same complaints about the system, I'd like to focus on an issue that often glides the spot.
even studies the spotlight - women in powerful roles.
The First Lady's name is never next to her husband's on the ballot; nonetheless, she and the relationship between her and her husband weigh into the presidential package. Not only is she a representation of societal ideals, she is also in position to influence future ideals
Sheri Martin
columnist
spinningatkanan.com
This election, we have gone from Hillary the out-
Laura is traditional; she is also ridiculously dull. She is not interested in politics. She has not articulated any view on capital punishment or abortion, issues that her husband has and will affect during his career. So what family-val-
not that knowledgeable about issues. "Ah, it's not that I hate her personally, I just wish she weren't the one woman in the United States in prime spotlight — especially after the modern icon Hillary Clinton. Prior to the election, polls claimed that the people wanted 'family values' and "solid morals," and this is the answer they come up with? The Bush family? (At least it was a narrow margin of victory.)
spoken, Hillary the woman wearing the pants,
Hillary the witch, to Laura. Laura the librarian,
Laura the stay-at-home-mom. Laura the "T- mnotthat-knowledgeable-baste-ofmost-hues." Ack
The writers of the Constitution created a brilliant government that kept rich, White men in power for more than two hundred years, a trend that doesn't look to change anytime soon. They wanted to keep the status quo. Who are the conservatives now who want to keep the status quo? Rich. White folk, primarily males.
uses proponents want are quiet women? That's what it comes down to, doesn't it?
A recent opinion column warned people not to vote for Hillary in 2004. Unlike the traditionally accepted format of political criticism, the column did not did not bring up political inadequacies of Hillary; it simply unloaded a gender-based attack that reeked of misogyny.
Many people find a woman in the presidency completely out of the question. I fear that Laura Bush only affirms the notion that women should have a secondary, minor role in politics.
The columnist called to attention her wardrobe and complained that she was too ambitious (which is hardly a unique characteristic of a politician). It was extremely distressing to read a column composed of such aimless sexist criticism.
She represents values? She is the wife of some rich guy who has raised two daughters while simultaneously harvesting a profound respect for her favorite book, The Brothers Karamazov. Wow, truly outstanding.
Returning to the present, I don't mind if Laura Bush wants to re-enact the 1960s on her own time. I just wish the United States could have a strong, potent female figure.
I only hope that Hillary plays a prominent role in the Senate and comes back to run for president in 2004. If she does, I recommend that you look at her platform and then make a decision. If the president can't be Green, maybe she could be a woman.
Martin is a Topeka senior in creative writing and Italian.
Editorial
Housing law opponents cannot rest
Students contributed to the City Commission's decision to modify the ordinance.
The City Commission Tuesday night witnessed first-hand what can happen when students get mad.
The commission backtracked on a housing ordinance whose ultimate passage had seemed almost inevitable. Commissioners cited pressure from about 50 students at the meeting as they voted to raise the proposed limit on unrelated people living together in certain parts of Lawrence to three instead of two
The commission should be commended for trying to accommodate obvious opposition from students and landlords. Such a step shows that the commission is willing to work with students, a notion that students previously had reason to doubt. For the first time, the commission signaled that it was willing to listen to both sides of the debate.
The commission's sudden about-face should only strengthen organized opposition to the ordinance because it shows that such opposition does have an effect. And the opposition must strengthen now.
After Tuesday's vote, students can expect groups that back the ordinance — such as the Lawrence Neighborhood Association — to intensify their pressure on the commission. That means students must continue to fight for their interests.
Even with a limit of three people per residence, the proposal still has major problems and would fail to accomplish its goal of making family neighborhoods more livable.
Because it classifies people by family status, nontraditional families could face discrimination, as well as students looking for a place that they can afford. It also would force landlords to violate tenants' privacy by asking about their relationships
And the proposal could force students out of older neighborhoods, leaving houses empty and landlords with little reason to maintain them.
Raising the limit to three people does nothing to address those concerns. Yet it is a step forward, primarily because it shows the commission is open-minded.
But that requires that students continue to speak up for their interests. Now that students have proved they have a voice, it is up to them to use it.
Nathan Willis for the editorial board
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
What do you think would happen if I locked the opinion page editors in the trunk of my car with a goat for a few days? Would that be a bad thing?
(Editor's note: We'd like to see you try. By the way, we have your phone number.)
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I was really moved about the article with the girl who had depression. Props to her for being able to come out and say that it's OK to be depressed.
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I made honor roll and I am also a chronic pot smoker.
Hey, all KU basketball fans: How about we all try to wear the same color of shirt to the game? Let's all wear blue.
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The women of Quinton's visit my dreams every night.
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I really wish people wouldn't hit cars parked on Tennessee street.
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The University of Kansas is lucky to have David Holmes in its faculty.
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Why does everyone say kudos when they call the Free for All? I mean, think of something better, you uncreative fools.
I just wanted to say thank you to the person who returned my KUID and driver's license. It's good to know there's still good people out there.
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We need a swing set on campus.
I think Tom Stidham and the KU basketball band do a great job.
I'm sick of the fact that nowadays, people have forgotten to have patience.
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I think it's pretty ironic that at a celebration for Bob Marley's birthday, I, a person of color, was constantly stared at and given dirty looks by so-called diverse hippies.
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