Why Are Many Republican Women Turning Abortion Rights


To understand why many Republican women are leaving the anti abortion camp and moving across the street to where "God's Worst Enemy" lives, abortion rights, we have to look at the long arch of abortion politics. I have on my shelf a book written by a woman who visited several countries where abortion is illegal. In most places women in prosperous urban areas were not concerned about abortion. It was easily available to them even though "illegal." Probably there is some thinking like that in North Dakota. "Abortion is available a few minutes away in Minnesota so why worry?"

I know women in Fargo who had abortions when it was illegal before the Roe v Wade decision. They had to travel but could do so. 

Now, however, in some states where abortion was legal before the overturn of Roe it has become increasingly difficult to travel to where abortion is available. Upper middle class women who before could navigate getting an abortion for themselves or for their daughters now faced more hurdles than before. They are making a new political calculation. The calculation is that now restrictions on getting an abortion affect me. They were not concerned when other women could not get abortions because they knew they could. Those men, the jerks, are in the way of me living my life. They have rattled the wrong cage. 

In articles I read about this, Republican women often say they are not part of "women's lib" and that they are "prolife." Their version of that these terms mean, however, is a little different than what has existed before. The term "life" includes their own personal life. They don't like the connotation of "women's liberation" but they like the concept of they, themselves, taking charge of their lives and considering themselves independent and rational in thought. 

What we know is the 2022 election showed "suburban women" were not in the Republican camp the way they were in previous elections. A few minutes ago I saw an interview with one of the many Republicans coming to Iowa trying to secure the Republican nomination for President. I can't even remember this guy's name--he was introduced as a "successful Texas businessman." The local TV guy pressed him on what should be done to stop the killings with "AK" weapons. He talked around a lot and then said, "We all need to pray."

I don't think praying will bring back Republican women who want abortion available to themselves and their daughters.

Comments

  1. tsmMay 8, 2023 at 6:05 PM

    did you now that the city of SanAntonio TX just voted down a pro-abort ordinance 72-28.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JonMay 8, 2023 at 7:49 PM

      tsm "did you know San Antonio TX just voted down a pro-abort ordinance 72-28."

      You called it a pro abortion measure. I don't know much about it except local news coverage did not consider the abortion part to be the most important part:

      "While anti-abortion groups also opposed the charter amendment, the most well-funded opposition centered on the expansion of cite-and-release policy. Opponents said it would embolden people to steal."

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more