In a remarkable moment on the House floor last night, California Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier stood in the well and admitted that she'd [once] had an abortion at the age of 17 in her 17th-week of pregnancy*. Her comments came during a protracted debate over Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood of America. Speier rose in indignation after Republican Congressman Chris Smith spent five minutes reading a graphic description of an abortion procedure for no apparent purpose except to shock people into disgust.
I happened to be channel-surfing when I stopped by C-SPAN and caught this extraordinary exchange. I went from wanting to throw my shoe through the TV at Smith's sanctimonious demagoguery to standing and cheering following Speier's emotional response.
Jackie Speier, by the way, has a remarkable life story.
*Corrected to clarify Rep. Speier was acknowledging she'd had an abortion in 17th week of pregnancy, not at age 17. We regret the error.
Jackie Speier, by the way, has a remarkable life story.
*Corrected to clarify Rep. Speier was acknowledging she'd had an abortion in 17th week of pregnancy, not at age 17. We regret the error.
She was talking about an abortion at 17 weeks, not at the age of 17.
ReplyDeleteMs. Speier was NOT 17 when she had to terminate her pregnancy. It was done when she was 17 weeks pregnant; she was in her 40s!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you both for the correction. My mistake. It's still a remarkable story from a remarkable woman.
ReplyDeleteWell, i hope she'll think it over. Remarkable in her appearance, and commitment in her tone, but very little love as a human being for the life of another even for her own child. A good mother? definitely no, only if she would be happy to suffer for the good and life of her child. She had done abortion at early age with thoughts and deep consideration, but only for herself, only for herself. A very very selfish attitude. Sounds strong on the appearance but all empty and heartlessness. It is better to live poor than to be rich and be a murder of your own child at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI believe strongly this site is built to support the abortion of children. And my view will not be posted on the internet. I hope you rethink about it. It is serious because, as a human person, although as a baby, one has the right to live, to be a person. An evil act will make the person evil and we have to answer to God at the end of our journey in this life. So do watch out. This life ends for all, but in the next, we will pay for how we lived here. Reconsider.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments. Anonymous #3 and #4, you're probably in the wrong place, but feel free to weigh in and contribute your misguided views anytime.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for posting this and for your support of Speir's speech.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ignorant comment above about her "selfishness"...if you listened to what she said you would know that this was a medical prodecure to terminate a wanted pregnancy, most likely to save her life, and with a pregnancy that would not have been able to come to term. Women are not incubators and must be able to make decisions that will save their lives.