|
JULY 9, 2009 ARCHIVED STORIES:
WASHINGTON (BP)--Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is under criticism for seemingly saying in a new interview she thought the initial purpose of Roe v. Wade was to rid the country of those "that we don't want to have too many of."
Ginsburg made the comments in an interview that will be in this weekend's New York Times Magazine but that is already posted online. She was referencing not only Roe but the 1980 Harris v. McRae decision, a 5-4 ruling that upheld the Hyde Amendment, which prevents Medicaid from funding abortion. Ginsburg made clear during the interview that she favors federal money financing abortions for the poor.
The controversial section of the interview began when she was asked, "If you were a lawyer again, what would you want to accomplish as a future feminist legal agenda?"
"Reproductive choice has to be straightened out," Ginsburg responded. "There will never be a woman of means without choice anymore. That just seems to me so obvious. The states that had changed their abortion laws before Roe [to make abortion legal] are not going to change back. So we have a policy that affects only poor women, and it can never be otherwise, and I don't know why this hasn't been said more often."
The reporter then asked a follow-up, "Are you talking about the distances women have to travel because in parts of the country, abortion is essentially unavailable, because there are so few doctors and clinics that do the procedure? And also, the lack of Medicaid for abortions for poor women?"
"Yes," Ginsburg said, "the ruling [Harris v. McRae] about that surprised me. Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. Which some people felt would risk coercing women into having abortions when they didn't really want them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong."
Ginsburg's comments set off a lively discussion in the blogosphere, with many wondering: Did she really mean that?
"So Ginsburg thought the court wanted a method of eugenics that the government could use to reduce growth in certain ... populations ... that we didn't want expanding? No wonder she has occasionally admitted that Roe was a bad decision," Ed Morrissey wrote in the HotAir.com conservative blog.
Another conservative blogger, Scott Ott at Townhall.com, said he would "grant the possibility that she may have been stating this ironically or tongue-in-cheek" and that she didn't support what she thought was Roe's intent. Read More
MORE NEWS
Health care: Competition, not govt. control
| If a life-saving drug or procedure costs more than $35,000, the British healthcare system can deny a patient that treatment. Consequently, in too many cases, saving on medical expenses is at the cost of human life. | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The U.S. health care system may be sick, Richard Land said, but the Obama administration's planned takeover may permanently cripple it.
"Our health care system is not a perfect system. It has significant flaws," Land said during his weekly "Richard Land Live!" radio program, but there are viable solutions to strengthen the system and benefit patients.
Read More
Johnny Hunt adds 4 to GCR task force
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Four members have been added to the Great Commission task force appointed June 24 by Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt during the SBC annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.
Read More
Akin commends, cautions Calvinist advocates
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--A healthy Christian is one who balances his theological beliefs with a humble and Christ-like life, Daniel L. Akin said at the annual Founders Ministries breakfast in Louisville, Ky.
Read More
Hunt sees 'perfect storm;' Akin, Stetzer, Platt offer views of SBC to young Calvinists
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--According to Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt, a "perfect storm" is coming.
Read More
GCR task force leaders engage students
FBC to end Criswell College ownership
Rare theology documents now online
EDUCATION BRIEFS: Muslim theology examined at MBTS; also, news from SEBTS, SBTS, SWBTS
|
 |
Erich Bridges
WORLDVIEW: Imam on the move
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Yusuf* was a young man in a hurry when I met him in London nearly two years ago.
|
|
|
BPNews 
Tell
A Friend 
