The Religious Right is geared up to thwart Sebelius nomination

[EraOfResponsibility]

(Golly gee, if only Obama had picked Howard Dean instead, they would've gone much easier on him) :sarcasm: :eyes:

from The Hill

(SNIP)
Sebelius to face questions over abortion
By Reid Wilson
Posted: 03/01/09 07:53 PM
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), President Obama's choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has touched off criticism over her association with a Kansas abortion provider.

Sebelius vetoed a late-term aborition law in 2008, and in 2007 she held a reception at the Kansas governor's mansion that included Dr. George Tiller, a Wichita doctor whose clinic provided late-term abortions. Tiller was under investigation for violating that state's restrictions on some forms of abortion.

The reception, which Sebelius office said Tiller won at an auction, has nonetheless ignited a furor among anti-abortion rights groups and activists.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins called Sebelius an "extremely pro-abortion" pick to head HHS.

"In her time as an elected official in Kansas, Mrs. Sebelius has fought against popular pro-life measures such as parental consent and efforts to curb late-term abortions," Perkins said in a statement. "Additionally she has had a close personal and financial association with the nation’s most infamous abortion doctor, George Tiller, who specializes in late-term abortions and, by his own count, has performed over 60,000 abortions."

[WeDidIt]

1. EXCELLENT!

This nation overwhelmingly supports reproductive freedom.

So long as the whacko fringe controls the GOP, The Democrats have no place to go but up.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Do these people know the law of the land in these United States?

Geeze!

Like a Democratic President was going to name someone anti-choice as his Health Secretary! :eyes:

[Boomerang Diddle]

3. Bring it on! n/t

[EraOfResponsibility]

4. Tony Perkins palled around with David Duke

and if I'm not mistaken, isn't Perkins black???

[Jane Austin]

5. I think he's a pale redhead. . . . . . . . . n/t

[Webster Green]

6. The religously insane are the greatest threat to us all..

Thankfully, they've lost and are out of power now.

Suck it up fundies! We won!! Get over it!

Bwahahahaha! :smoke:

[EraOfResponsibility]

7. you got that shit right

[saltpoint]

8. Gov. Sebelius is a sturdy choice by President Obama and I

think she is going to fare just fine in the confirmation hearings.

She'll have a damned difficult task ahead and needs and deserves the support of progressives on the basis of her own merits but especially in view of the fundie nutbags' objections to her appointment.

[Pirate Smile]

9. Too late - Brownback and Roberts have already come out in support of her.

"Brownback backs Sebelius

A setback to the attempt to rally conservative Catholics against Kathleen Sebelius at HHS: Conservative Catholic Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas voices his support, in a joint statement with fellow Kansas Republican Pat Roberts:

Congratulations to Governor Sebelius on being nominated to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It’s an honor for the State of Kansas to have an elected official appointed to the president’s cabinet. We look forward to working with her on issues important to the state including a National Cancer Institute Designation at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Also, kind words today from Governors Schwarzenegger of California, Purdue of Georgia, and Huntsman of Utah, all Republicans."

[damonm]

19. Of COURSE, Brownback likes her in HHS...

Otherwise, she'd kick ass for his seat in 2010!

[crimsonblue]

21. KU is going to make MAD MONEY off this.

:D Muck Fizzou.

[MasonJar]

10. The worst that could happen is that she stays in Kansas and wins

the Senate seat in 2010. I actually believe that is what should have taken place anyway.

[jenmito]

11. GREAT NEWS! Glad to see Obama nominating her even MORE now!

[jonestonesusa]

12. Thanks for the post!

Congratulations to Governor Sebelius. She'll be effective in this office, and it's too bad about the possible confirmation struggle. I hope she gets more DU love in the months to come - she deserves it.

[Jennicut]

13. Abortion is legal here dingbats! Do they realize that?

I think Sebelius will go through just fine so long as she paid her taxes.

[olegramps]

14. I can understand their concern about "Parental Consent"

I would suppose a lot of those Red Neck Republicans wouldn't welcome some girl taking about their sex life with some "libral" commie.

[AllentownJake]

15. I guess they are experiencing the exact opposite of what I'm feeling right now

When I read an executive order or see the President speak I say...We actually did it....I guess they have the opposite feeling right now.

Wish I could get photos of their faces when they have that feeling to look out when I'm feeling sad...sweet sweet shadenfreude.

[Window]

16. What else is new? They are going to fight us tooth and nail on each and every issue

anyway. We just have to make sure our sh** is tight.

Peace,

:thumbsup:

[backscatter712]

17. If we could get Hilda Solis through, we can get Sebelius through.

IIRC, a few prominent conservatives, Brownback among them IIRC, have announced their support for Sebelius.

I don't think the righttards in the Senate can filibuster this.

[Ocracoker16]

18. anti-abortion groups will protest for sure

However, they won't be able to keep her from being confirmed. They know that too. They knew that Obama would select a pro-choice candidate for HHS. These groups will just do their best to be a menace. They will go on conservative outlets and bemoan the fact that we have a pro-abortion nominee for secretary of HHS. I think that she will be asked about this topic ad nauseum. However, I think that they will vote to confirm her. She already has the support of Sam Brownback who is planning to run for governor of Kansas in 2010.

[crimsonblue]

20. She won election TWICE in a very conservative state

This tells you all you need to know about the relevance of abortion to politics.

[Neecy]

22. a little background on this

The news reports keep harping on how George Tiller was 'under investigation', but they conveniently don't say WHO was investigating him - Phill Kline.

Kline was our former State Attorney General and later DA of Johnson County, KS. He was and is an anti-abortion nut and he made a career out of trying to drive George Tiller out of the state, even though he's one of the only abortion doctors left in Kansas. See, the way to get around legalized abortion is to drive out the doctors who will perform the procedure - and that's what Kline set out to do.

His zealotry has been a scandal even in Kansas. And a couple of days ago it looks like his pursuit of Tiller is going to cost him:

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, who received national attention and judicial criticism for his work investigating abortion clinics, will face a professional ethics complaint, a state document shows.

Two former Kline deputies, Stephen Maxwell and Eric Rucker, also will face complaints, according to a letter sent to an attorney representing the three men. The letter, dated Feb. 19 and obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, is from the state official in charge of investigating allegations of professional misconduct against attorneys.

The letter does not say what allegations prompted the finding, and officials say details won't be made public until a formal complaint is filed. But the Kansas Supreme Court, which determines whether attorneys are punished and can revoke their law licenses, has suggested Kline could be punished and even disbarred for his handling of abortion cases.

Kline, a Republican, was attorney general from 2003 to 2007 and Johnson County district attorney from 2007 until last month. He gained access to abortion-clinic patients' medical records as attorney general, and subordinates took copies to Johnson County. Critics said Kline invaded patients' privacy as he overzealously pursued an anti-abortion agenda. Supporters said privacy never was in danger and Kline was trying to enforce Kansas law.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwAFvgbJ5J_qGWGoVMZUknAKHiKQD96JINMO0

If the wingnuts are going to have hysterics over George Tiller, I hope the media presents the real story here - doubtful, I know.

[bunkerbuster1]

23. Bring it on.

The "pro-life" movement increasingly reminds me of Wile E. Coyote, running in mid-air, not aware that he has nothing but a thousand feet of empty canyon beneath him.

Go on calling rational people "pro-abortion." We can have this debate any old time, and we will beat you pro-criminalization buffoons like a yard dog.

[genna]

24. Pro life advocates risk marginalizing their fight if they cause a stink when there are bigger fish

to fry.

I think everyday that someone takes people's attention away from their pocket in THIS America, then each interest group risks being eaten alive by the public.


It is difficult in this atmosphere to attack someone off that subject. The media even finds itself at loggerheads when they try to make up new controversies and avoid what is really worrying people.

[WinkyDink]

25. "Anti-choice."

[genna]

26. What's in a name: anti-choice?

I've continued to struggle with the word choice.

I choose when and where I create life.
The government decides how I create life.
God gives life.


I can't really work out the problems inherent with both terms: life or choice.

[noonwitch]

27. Elections have consequences.

That's my new refrain when republicans complain about Obama picks or Obama policies.

[crimsonblue]

28. Last time I checked, abortion is legal.

Tiller provides a service needed in the country because of inadequate access to contraceptives and accurate education. I wonder which party opposes both....