Shocker: Abortion Debate Turns Angry

Some group called OurVoice 2008, which hopes to mobilize young voters (ha ha, good luck), began a monthly debate series at Penn yesterday. Did they pick an issue where speakers could make strong political points and attempt to convince those in attendance of their point?

Ha ha, of course not, they had a debate about abortion.

An abortion debate hosted yesterday by OurVoice 2008, a group that aims to mobilize young voters, repeatedly broke down into a single vitriolic exchange between the pro-choice and pro-life debaters. [...]

But neither side made much effort to restrict their remarks to the subject at hand. Comfort, acting as moderator, frequently interceded to keep the debaters on topic. Audience members often broke into incredulous laughter, and personal accusations briefly flew between the participants.

Ooh, I hope gay marriage is next! And then capital punishment! Hmm, what else?

OurVoice 2008 hosts abortion debate [Daily Pennsylvanian]

Everyone You Know Has Been Pregnant

In yesterday’s Bulletin, Joe Murray examined new statistics on abortion.

According to a recent study following abortion-related trends, 90 percent of women will have an abortion by the age of 45–

Stop, stop, stop. What? Ninety percent? Did they only survey people who went into Planned Parenthood to get an abortion? Are they counting anyone who’s used contraception, ever? The “by age 45″ part is kind of tricky, too; there can’t be many, if any, abortions performed after that age.

Hmm. If 10 percent of the population is gay, then that means… oh, man, this is just too confusing.

Study: Abortion On The Decline [The Bulletin]

Most Successful Protest Ever

Hey, it worked! They got it closed! Or maybe they’re protesting to re-open it.

Protestors picket closed abortion clinic [AP/Camden Courier-Post]

City Council: With Our Work Done, It’s Vacation Time!

Woohoo! After one week as a “pro-choice city,” Philadelphia is now no longer one, as many of the people who voted for the bill decided it was more important to pander to angry Catholic constituents than stand by their convictions. Hooray!

The city wasn’t declared both a pro-choice and pro-life city, but instead the week-old resolution was simply rescinded. “I’m angry with myself for not abstaining,” said Councilman Jim Kenney, who voted yes last week. “It’s not something I think we should have forced on the public at large.” Or he got a lot of angry phone calls.

Blondell Reynolds Brown, who sponsored the original legislation, clearly got a lot of angry phone calls, too, but told everyone who disagrees with her she’s actually the only one who could possibly be correct: “I have learned as an enlightened pro-choice advocate that there may have been other ways to make my position known.”

Meanwhile, City Council passed over 80 bills, giving almost all of them less debate or discussion than the meaningless repeal of the meaningless resolution. And now they’re on vacation until September! Good work, guys! You earned that summer break!

Council repeals ‘pro-choice city’ resolution [Inquirer]

City Council Backtracks, Panders, Wastes More Time

Last week, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown helped pass a resolution declaring Philadelphia a “pro-choice city.” This was, of course, a pointless resolution that wasted more time than Mark B. Cohen does reading buying books.

Those in City Council who voted for the proposal apparently forgot a few things about this city. (1) Many citizens of this fine city are members of the Roman Catholic Church — official motto: “Complicit in the spread of AIDS in Africa since 1981″ — and (2) Philadelphians love to get really angry over things that don’t mean anything.

And, so, City Council is prepared to waste even more time with new resolutions declaring the city both pro-choice and pro-life! (Hey! What about Philadelphians who have no opinion?) I can’t wait ’til the resolution declaring the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as “sad” and one saying embryonic stem cell research is “an issue currently being debated.”

Frank Rizzo has simply planned a bill rescinding the pro-choice label, while Brian O’Neill have planned resolutions declaring Philly both pro-choice and pro-life and even Blondell Reynolds Brown is thinking about voting for O’Neill’s bill. Looks like somebody got an earful from her constituents! In fact, several people who voted for the “pro-choice” bill are suddenly backtracking, proving it’s not just national politicians who pander at every opportunity.

Councilman Darrell Clarke, who supported Brown’s resolution last week, said yesterday that he sees O’Neill’s alternative as “reasonable. It understands the diverse nature of the city and that we have diverse views on all issues, so I can probably support his resolution.” He said he was “not comfortable” with Rizzo’s language.

Councilman James Kenney, likewise, said he wants to reconsider the pro-choice resolution, which he supported last week. “I clearly support a woman’s right to choose,” said Kenney, who had not decided between the two resolutions that will be submitted today. “That’s my personal belief, but in retrospect probably we should not be forcing that belief or label on the city as a whole.”

In retrospect, City Councilpeople got a bunch of calls from angry little old ladies who go to church every day. And since those are the only people in this city who vote, it looks like it’s time to waste some more time!

Pro-life? Pro-choice? Hey - we’re both! [Daily News]
June 8: City Council Wasting Its Fucking Time Once Again

City Council Wasting Its Fucking Time Once Again

Yesterday, City Council took time out not to come up with some new ban or regulation for a change, but did spend time debating a bill to declare Philadelphia officially “pro-choice.”

The vote, which went 9-8 in favor of the people with nothing better to do, has no legal standing and never will, since abortion wouldn’t really become a city-by-city issue. But, hey, there’s that Planned Parenthood in the Gayborhood, so if this city’s so pro-choice even gays are getting abortions, then who knows.

The bill was sponsored by Blondell Reynolds Brown, who you may remember as the City Council member who was reelected because a bunch of people voted for Ben Ramos instead of Juan Ramos since his ballot position was better. (Philadelphia is a pro-choice city, but only the idiots actually get born.)

But, oh, Frank DiCicco almost voted against it, but his vote for it was pretty much better anyway. The Inquirer article didn’t say he rolled his eyes, but, oh, it’s more fun if he did.

The proclamation came very close to failing. As the roll was called, Councilman Frank DiCicco paused for several moments, clearly agonizing over how to vote, before finally saying “aye.”

Cardinal Rigali immediately condemned the bill, and then went to Africa to tell people if they used condoms to prevent AIDS (and, uh, abortions) they would burn for all eternity.

Now Phila. is officially ‘pro-choice’ [Inquirer]

Dear Fetus: I’m Sorry You Won’t Read This

Gather ’round, kids! It’s time to read Jenice Armstrong’s Daily News column! And, really, it’s just time to read the lead to it, which regardless of your feelings on abortion will have you scratching your head:

A friend drops a bombshell on you by announcing that she’s about to have an abortion. Would you know what to say? How to respond?

Or would you wimp out and take the modern approach and send her an e-card?

Armstrong goes on to explain there are even cards you can send if you’re a pro-lifer that aren’t really all that supportive. I kind of like this idea. I’m thinking of heading to Massachusetts and selling gay marriage cards that read, “Congratulations on your gay marriage! Repent now, or you and your gay lover will be spending all eternity in a fiery abyss.”

Jenice Armstrong | E-card not enough? [Daily News]

Bob Casey Jr.: The Son Of Bob Casey Sr.!

Philadelphia Will Do continues its series today on Penn’s Stephen Morse — he gets his own category now! If you’re unfamiliar with Morse, he’s the one who chastized black people for not being as good as Jews as well as the greatest architecture critic on the East Coast,

Oh, he’s also the knower of all truth and muckraker. Today he reports on Bob Casey, and whines that, well, Casey wouldn’t let him bypass the press conference and ask him questions outside before an event at Penn. Then, after criticizing the other “journalists” for submitting to a “press conference” — as if any respectable journalist would do such a thing! — and drops this more-exclusive-than-anything-on-Phawker report:

Very few people know that Bob Casey describes himself as a “pro-life” candidate.

Tune in next week for a scoop about how President Bush supports the War in Iraq!

Thanks for the elbow to the stomach! [DP's The Spin]

‘Bulletin’ Runs Best Lead Ever

In a column by Judie Brown, president of the American Life League:

When I first heard about the recently produced documentary, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, there was no real desire on my part to dig into the subject. After all, I thought, what has this got to do with ending abortion and stopping the spread of promiscuity that accompanies the entire panoply of birth control products?

Geeze, a little obsessed with your job, eh, Judie? After the jump, a bunch more excerpts to ease the pain of a Monday.

More »

Not So Vanillanova

When I was in college, the only thing the students felt about the public art at the school was that it was almost always hideous looking. I assume that’s probably true at most schools, excluding (or possibly especially) art schools, but Villanova happens to be striking some controversy with its new piece of art.

An article in today’s Daily News details a pro-life monument that’s going to be erected at Villanova. Sadly, it’s not the Britney-giving-birth one on display in New York, but a different one.

I understand it’s going to upset some kids, and that makes sense, but Villanova is a Catholic University, and if they want to put up a pro-life/anti-abortion (just pick the term you like, k?) monument they certainly have the right. They also have the right to put up an anti-birth control monument, an anti-fornication monument or a statue of basketball coach Jay Wright.

(In case you’re wondering, I picture the anti-fornication monument to be a man and woman dancing, with only their hands touching and a giant sign above it saying “Leave room for the Holy Spirit!” Possibly there would be a priest in the background, and he could be saying it in a big word bubble. I’d leave that up to the artist.)

What I kind of find most interesting is where they’re going to put the statue:

The piece is set to be erected near a walkway that freshman dorm residents take to get on the main campus, resulting in heavy foot traffic.

The path, because it is shrouded by trees and dark at night, has come to be known by students, staff and faculty as the “Rape Trail” although there’s never been a reported rape in the area.

And, really, what better place for a pro-life monument than the Rape Trail? Erhm.

Controversy over anti-abortion statue [DN]
Britney and Child as You’ve Never Seen Them Before [Gawker]