‘The stupidity is simply staggering’ – The Maddow Blog.
And including rape and incest exceptions might make the proposal slightly less offensive in a culture-war context, but problems remain. For one thing, the bill would require a woman to prove that she has reported her rape before she can exercise her constitutional right to terminate the unwanted pregnancy. For another, Franks’ original version also banned abortions in “medically futile pregnancies,” involving fetuses so badly compromised that they have no chance of survival. If this provision remains intact, it’s still intended to force women to carry such pregnancies through to the doomed birth.
But even putting these details aside, I get the sense Republican leaders are missing the point.
Making the legislation slightly more palatable to the American mainstream, and removing the offensive lawmaker from his role in championing his bill publicly, is predicated on a dubious assumption: that this is what the House of Representatives should be working on right now. It is, in other words, the best use of lawmakers’ time.
It’s really not. We’re talking about legislation that’s probably unconstitutional, has nothing to do with the nation’s top priorities, and can’t pass the Senate anyway, making the entire effort a vanity exercise intended to make the far-right feel better about itself.
Altering the language and changing the lead sponsor slaps some new paint on a car that won’t start. That’s what Dent appeared to be referencing when he talked about the staggering stupidity, and on this, he certainly has a point.


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