September 22nd update: Unfortunately, NARAL did not respond to my comment. However, to be fair, I've reviewed their statement and realize that I might have over-reacted. They may have been saying that the pro-life movement has a racist impact, but not have meant to suggest that the people who espouse pro-life thoughts are racist. If that is the case, I would urge them to be more clear about that.
I sent this message to NARAL tonight, in response to their eblast.
I am strongly
pro-choice, but am aghast at your terrible character assassination of people
who disagree with you.
As you
well know, pro-life people consider abortion to be murder and are opposed to it under
most circumstances (some are opposed to it under all circumstances). Your quote from Henry Hyde demonstrates this
position, but that he felt he was able to ban abortion only where federal funds
were involved.
We need
to respect each other in this country and discuss issues intelligently. I’m sure those of you working for NARAL
consider yourself to be tolerant, inclusive people, but that does not appear to
be the case when you demonstrate and encourage hate, as you have done here, by labeling
those who disagree “racist”.
From: Kate Ryan, NARAL Pro-Choice
America <can@prochoiceamerica.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2020 2:39 PM
To: Claude Thau <claude.thau@gmail.com>
Subject: [Q&A for Claude] The Hyde Amendment
Rep. Ayanna Pressley is fighting
to end Hyde in the upcoming funding bill. Will you join the chorus of voices
demanding Congress end Hyde now?
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Claude—
Our budgets are a reflection of our priorities.
As Congress votes on the federal budget for the next year, we
must challenge
our representatives to actively oppose the inclusion of a racist and
discriminatory insurance coverage ban, known as the Hyde Amendment, that
effectively bars access to abortion care for millions of Americans,
disproportionately harming low income women and women of color.
Here’s the good news: We have a leader in Congress who is
ready to fight for a budget that prioritizes equality, justice, the
health and wellbeing of our communities, and the freedom to choose
whether, when, and with whom to have a child. Representative Ayanna
Pressley, with Reps. Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, and Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez, is leading the charge to make abortion care accessible for
every body
by introducing an amendment to strike this abortion coverage ban from our
federal budget for 2021.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is proud to join with
Rep. Pressley and partners across the reproductive health, rights, and
justice movements to call for an end to abortion coverage bans. We can build the future we deserve — with enough
determination, with enough belief in ourselves and our cause. Will you
join the chorus of voices demanding Congress end Hyde now?
If you’re looking for more background on what exactly Rep.
Pressley is trying to end, you’re in luck! Read on to hear my answers to
5 of the most common questions I get asked about the Hyde Amendment.
Thank you for being in this fight with us,
Kate Ryan
Government Relations Director, NARAL Pro-Choice America
What is the Hyde Amendment?
The Hyde Amendment (and related restrictions) is a discriminatory federal
policy that bans abortion services and insurance coverage in
government-administered health-care programs except in very limited
cases. This far-reaching policy affects many programs, such as Medicaid,
the Indian Health Service, Federal Employees Health Benefits, Tricare,
and more, resulting in millions of people being denied insurance coverage
for the abortion care they need.
Who does this affect most?
These bans on coverage for abortion care affect Medicaid recipients, U.S.
service members and veterans, Native Americans, Peace Corps volunteers,
federal employees, and others. These anti-choice restrictions
disproportionately harm people of color and people who are struggling to
make ends meet.
Is the Hyde Amendment discriminatory?
Yes! Representative Henry Hyde, the original sponsor of the amendment in
1976, wanted to block all access to abortion, but at the time could only
restrict access for Medicaid recipients. “I certainly would like to
prevent, if I could legally, anybody having an abortion, a rich woman, a
middle-class woman, or a poor woman,” he said. “Unfortunately, the only
vehicle available is... the Medicaid bill.”1 Because people of
color make up 59% of Medicaid recipients, his dream has now become a
racist reality.2
Can you tell me more about what Rep. Pressley is doing?
Rep. Pressley has filed an amendment to the Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill
removing the abortion coverage ban from the bill, stating:
Let
me be clear, discriminatory abortion bans like the Hyde Amendment are
blatantly racist and perpetuate systems of oppression and white supremacy
that target people of color — especially Black people — and their bodily
autonomy.
This first ever
pro-choice majority in the House of Representatives has a mandate and a
responsibility to stand up for reproductive rights and justice for all,
not just those who can afford it.3
So what can we
do?
The LLHS funding
bill could go to the floor for a vote as soon as Monday — meaning we need
to get loud now. Add your name to call on Congress to end the Hyde
Amendment and other racist abortion coverage bans.
And if you haven't already donated to support NARAL in the
fight to ensure reproductive freedom is for every body, everywhere — no matter where
you live or how much money you make — you can pitch in here!
Sources:
- The Hyde Amendment
Denies Women Health Care. Yes, Abortion Is Health Care, TIME, Aug. 23,
2019.
- Distribution of the
Nonelderly with Medicaid by Race/Ethnicity, KFF, 2018.
- Rep. Pressley Statement
on Inclusion of Hyde Amendment in Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill,
House.gov, Jul. 6, 2020.
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Claude, you have repeatedly inferred in your blog that you supremely cherish "balance of power", yet you voted for the candidate that you concluded may well be bowled over by "progressive" Democrats on that incredibly serious matter. You and I share a similar perspective on many (even most) of the issues you have addressed over the past several months. And I don't find a lot of daylight between you and President Trump. And though he is deeply flawed in terms of character, interpersonal skills and intellect, you did not seem to conclude he is a threat to the "balance of power"...yet you voted for the guy whom you think might be such a threat!? You are quite correct to assert that "balance of power" (via court-stacking) has given Republicans the gift of a critical issue.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you have not come to similar conclusions (to your Trump assessment) about Biden in terms of his intellect and morality. And of late his ethics are also in question due to information surfacing about his son's sketchy business dealings (i.e., influence peddling)--though most media outlets evidence their own ethical compromise by failing to report/cover the matter. Perhaps we can agree that our two-party system is a shameful failure given the horrid nominees it has produced recently.
We could have a lively discussion about the many matters about which you have opined, and as mentioned, we would find quite a lot of common ground. But the issue that most emotionally inspires my political engagement is the right to life from conception to natural death, and it is one for which I have no capacity for compromise....I suspect you've no capacity for compromise on the other side of the issue.
Thanks for sharing your thoughtfulness...greatly appreciated.