Anti-choice wackjob Susan B Anthony's List making inroads to liberal states, we must fight BACK

[debbierlus]

Here in liberal Western Massachusetts, in the little town of Adams, a right wing anti-choice fringe group (Susan B Anthony's List) is utilizing the creation of a museum to rewrite the history and preach their anti-choice agenda.

Please read the whole post, this goes beyond what is happening in my small town (I am presenting what is going on locally to warn others and solicit suggestions on how to fight this anti-womens group). This shows how insidious the anti-choice movement has become and how they are determined to make inroads into the most liberal states.


Susan B Anthony birth place is Adams, MA (the town where I live). A group with strong ties to anti-choice Susan B Anthony's list and Feminists for life purchased the home and they are very close to turning it into a open museum. When they talk about Susan B Anthony, they claim that they believe Anthony would have been anti-choice and they are NOW planning to include their phony version of history in their museum exhibits. But, much, much worse then this - the people behind this museum are major players in the anti-choice movement and you can be sure that they will use this platform to fundraise and network against a woman's right to choose.

According to today's North Adams Transcript:

"The birthplace and museum will have a grand opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 14, 2010 which is the 90th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment. It will include a tour of the home and be followed by a public address by state Senator Marian Walsh in the Adams Free Library Memorial Room. The museum will feature exhibits on Susan B. Anthony’s legacy including her stances on temperance, Quaker life, slavery, abortion and women’s suffrage." (Note that the state Senator is NOT from our district, she is a pro-life democrat (another turncoat in our big tent party - I am already organizing a protest to occur outside the library where she is speaking and the ribbon cutting ceremony).

http://www.thetranscript.com/ci_14084728

In addition, they have recruited as their new director a woman named Sally Winn. Her credentials: She has been the VICE PRESIDENT of Washington DC based 'Feminist for Life'. Here is there website:

http://www.feministsforlife.org/

And, she also was a board member for the Susan B Anthony's list - a fringe right wing anti-choice group:

Snip (from womens e news)

he political action committee--which aims to increase the percentage of anti-choice women in Congress but also to defeat pro-choice female candidates by backing their anti-choice male opponents--is named after Anthony because officials there say she was "an outspoken critic of abortion."

In naming their group after Anthony, anti-choice activists hope to tell women the "untold" story "that she was strongly pro-life."

These efforts have pro-choice activists outraged over what they say is an unproven claim and concerned that their heroine is being appropriated by a community led by the very people Anthony battled during her lifetime: social conservatives.

Nora Bredes, director of the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Leadership at the University of Rochester in New York, has been having weekly conversations with colleagues about strategies to reclaim Anthony's legacy.

http://www.womensenews.org/story/abortion/061006/susan-b-anthonys-abortion-position-spurs-scuffle

They also just recently went after Obama for appointing Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State stating that she will 'promote abortion around the world'.

The "Susan B. Anthony List" claims Clinton, as Obama's Secretary of State, will "promote abortion" around the world. According to their November 30 press release, "Clinton will join Obama in promoting taxpayer funding of international abortions through a revocation of the Mexico City Policy and restoring funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UNFPA has been implicated in supporting China's coercive one-child family planning policy that involves forced abortions and sterilizations."

Defamation is a tool of the anti-choice establishment. Its campaign against UNFPA was one of its most sinister. It was, in effect, a campaign against the most desperate women, babies and families of the world. Anti-contraception groups, like the "Susan B. Anthony List," with the help of the all-too-willing President Bush managed to freeze $161 million of U.S. funds to UNFPA. This "pro-life" victory resulted in millions of infant deaths, over a hundred thousand mothers dying during childbirth, as well as millions more unintended pregnancies and abortions worldwide. With an Obama presidency, sadly for "pro-life" groups, this trend will end. But the pro-lie movement against UNFPA will continue.

In addition, this group was co-opted by Betsey Markety, a defeated Republican Colorado Congresswoman to make a campaign to target 12 democratic law makers

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/09/17/antichoice-group-reveals-electoral-hit-list-targeting-democratic-lawmakers

In sum, the anti-abortion movement is setting up headquarters in the most liberal county in Massachusetts. The pro-choice movement has a job on its hand. While we have been sitting on our hands, the anti-choice movemnt has been successfully eroding the right of a woman to have a legal, safe, and accessible abortion. This silence must end and we must fight back with the same fervor that these groups use to suppress women's rights.

My questions to you:

Can I work to get their funding revoked if they are utilizing state and government money for their museum and utilizing the institution for their narrow minded anti choice political agenda?

My first job is to expose their cover. I just called a local reporter about this story, and I am also going to contact the Rachel Maddow show as she lives just a stone's throw over in Conway and she may be interested to know that such a right wing fringe group is setting up shop 25 miles away.

Any suggestions, comments, and direction would be appreciated.

Also, if anyone lives near or in Western MA and they would like to be part of the protest and organization against these wingnuts, please PM me.

Thanks everyone!

[debbierlus]

1. Please keep K & R - the strategies of the anti-choice movement should not fall off the board

[Luminous Animal]

2. For some reality

that this group has taken Anthony out of context or attributed words to her that were written by someone else...

http://www.womensenews.org/story/abortion/061006/susan-b-anthonys-abortion-position-spurs-scuffle

[intheflow]

12. Great link! Of course they're taking quotes out of context

and don't understand that newspaper editors print views they don't agree with. They're anti-abortion religious zealots, and probably freepers to boot! Don't confuse them with facts--which they won't bother to read and just refute mindlessly--they are on a mission from God. In their own minds. Sadly, this does not make them less dangerous.

[debbierlus]

18. They have no documented or factual basis to make these claims

[Luminous Animal]

27. Yep. Similarly the right tries to turn MLK into a Republican and Hitler into a socialist.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. She described ILLEGAL abortion as unjust

I've had this debate repeatedly with anti-choicers online. Susan B Anthony was a proponent of birth control and LEGAL abortion.

[StarfarerBill]

3. K&R. The anti-abortionists must never again have the power they had before Roe v. Wade.

[amborin]

4. K&R

[Eyerish]

5. K&R

As a descendant of the Anthony family I find it reprehensible that they would twist her words to defend their horrible beliefs.

[debbierlus]

9. Are you a descendent - I need descendents to speak out! Please P.M. me - thank you!

[LiberalFighter]

40. Yes, you or someone from your family needs to write a letter for newspapers.

[Nikki Stone1]

6. K & R: The ultimate in co-opting

.

[Echo In Light]

7. The K and the R

[RC]

8. Sounds like a good argument for expanded abortion rights.

[clear eye]

10. Important. Suggest you repost on Mass. state forum so it will stay visible. n/t

[debbierlus]

20. Thanks, I will be posting much more on this subject in the weeks to come

With action alerts and information...

I wanted to use a general post to sound a warning.

I am behind on this issue. I let them go unchallenged until now, not realizing the full extent of their zealotry (and I admit, a bit of reluctance on my own part as I am already working on my own political projects).

This and the damn mega-Wall Mart that they are trying to put up four miles from here!

I could scream!

[tonysam]

11. That article from Women's News was from 2006

I wonder why this wasn't been more publicized.

These wackos shouldn't have been allowed to purchase the Anthony house.

[tonysam]

13. Best book ever on the subject of abortion and policy

is James Mohr's "Abortion in America:The Origins and Evolution of National Policy" (1979). It is still available.

[debbierlus]

26. I will see if I can pick it up - the problem with our side is that we are live and let live

We get complacent while these freaks erode our rights.

At the very least, they will be exposed for the fraudulent front group that they are!

[tonysam]

28. Mohr took an impartial approach to his work,

but it is sure good. It gives a complete history of abortion policy in the United States (up to 1979).

[tonysam]

14. kick for visibility

[The Straight Story]

15. I HATE anti-choice people - your body, your choice. Period. (nt)

[madamesilverspurs]

16. My erstwhile congresswoman, Marilyn Musgrave,

is now with this group (http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/31410578.html). Her 'donation' to the group that now employs her raised both eyebrows and questions, especially since there were still unpaid campaign expenses. Musgrave gained national notoriety with her anti-gay agenda, drawing ridicule even from members of her own party for stating that gay marriage was the greatest threat to America. Needless to say, we were ecstatic when she was defeated last November. She was profiled by Rachel Maddow for her stunningly bad behavior (she's never formally conceded the election); her campaign workers were never thanked, and there are outstanding bills related to her campaign activities. Unsurprisingly, she cast herself as "Colorado's Sarah Palin". She has participated in public events for SBA List with Palin and Virginia Foxx, and also lent her toxic 'help' in the Scozafava (sp?) mess in upstate New York.

With the likes of Musgrave, Palin and Foxx being proudly courted by SBA we can rightly assume that the woman whose named they have purloined would gladly pound them into oblivion for shaming womanhood by their despicable example.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

17. Yes, this issue is getting very serious and this effects BOTH genders...

Because if they get victories in this area, they will end all forms of birth control and then you have a society of extreme chaos. So, whether male or female it's time to defend this issue before the horse leaves the barn. The likes of Stupak need to be run right out of town and out of sight and sound. We tried the dark ages they didn't work we have to push forward as hard and as forcefully as possible to stop this BS now. Sure, the bill will pass but if we manage to gain more progressives in Congress we repeal Stupak if it makes the bill.

[debbierlus]

19. Worse yet, one of the museum's higher ups won 'Women of the Year'

One of the women's groups of Berkshire County. My friend who was to receive the award was displaced. She resigned from the group in protest, not for the loss of the award but because they nominated this anti-choice zealot as the winner. She found it sickening.

It is okay.

After the holidays, I am going to have a meeting with some of the local women I know and then I am going to start a Stop Susan's List group on Facebook.

Not in my town.

[Violet_Crumble]

21. Sorry I can't help you out with yr question...

But I just had to stop in and snicker at the woman-hating mental midgets from 'Feminists' For Life. I used to annoy them on their insipidly baby-blue discserver board years ago (Iverglas and I met there) and still laugh at the elderly woman named Pat Goltz who was with them and who thought telling pregnant women considering abortion that she had wonderful orgasms during childbirth would change their minds and make them rush to get the whole Childbirth Orgasm thing going...ewww

[tonysam]

22. Evidently Goltz helped start FFL

The organization has a definite Catholic slant. At the time when it was founded in 1972, just about the only organized opposition to legalized abortion was the Catholic Church. The evangelical "religious right" didn't get onboard with the anti-abortion movement until quite a few years later.

[debbierlus]

24. Omg. That is hilarious and grotesque all at the same time.

[placton]

23. how about the anti-choice folks in congress

called Democrats?

[debbierlus]

25. This group works to overthrow prochoice politicians

They have a State Senate anti-choice'Democrat' not from this district coming to speak at this event.

Wackjobs.

[Guilded Lilly]

29. Fantasyland

"In naming their group after Anthony, anti-choice activists hope to tell women the "untold" story "that she was strongly pro-life."

It's an untold story because it isn't proven.

That won't stop these denizens of fantasyland. Disingenuous punks.

[pleah]

30. K&R

[Tanuki]

31. You could organize to buy the house next door to it

and have your own truth-bout-Susan site!

[newtothegame]

32. So we hate Susan B. Anthony now? Geez, this list is getting long. n/t

[Guilded Lilly]

36. Susan B Anthony is not the target here

People who use her name incorrectly to project their anti-choice agenda are the one's who deserve pro-women's rights revulsion. TOTAL abuse of her name to spread propaganda. Ugly.

[Luminous Animal]

37. What do you mean, "we"? Do you hate Susan B. Anthony?

[katkat]

34. I got some recorded phone call from those wingnuts

about abortion and the healthcare bill. I was furious they were using her name. And now they have her house? Doubly lousy, due
to the historic importance of the house (and her reputation.)

At the least, the tax exemption for anything they're part of should be challenged.

[femrap]

35. Let's ALL contact Rachel. nt

[cornermouse]

38. At this point, you'd have a hard time convincing me

that the Susan B. Anthony List hasn't invaded DU with their anti-choice message.

[Colorado Liberal]

39. Small correction

In your post, you state:

"In addition, this group was co-opted by Betsey Markety, a defeated Republican Colorado Congresswoman to make a campaign to target 12 democratic law makers..."

I believe the link you cite indicates that the group has been co-opted by Marilyn Musgrave, who was the Republican Congresswoman in my district who Betsy Markey defeated in 2008. The link goes on to describe Musgrave (accurately, in my opinion) as:

"For the uninitiated, Musgrave, a three-term congresswoman from eastern Colorado, has been criticized for "childish, petulant and mean-spirited campaigning" and engaging in "a series of smear tactics and mud-slinging" by outraged members of her own party.

She's also been called the Sarah Palin of the Plains. And remains a close friend of her ideological twin in the House, Minn. Rep. Michele Bachmann."

I was happy as hell to see Musgrave get beaten, but am not at all surprised to see her surface with a group like this - adherence to facts was never Musgrave's long suit...

[KakistocracyHater]

41. don't forget Griswold V Conn. Roe is merely 1st step, they're against voting

rights for women as well. Talk2action has some good infohttp://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/ This site is a hub of 'how to live like it's 1 A.D'.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2009/12/12/1666/2372 "Beltway Insiders including the president had determined that the historic anti-abortion Hyde Amendment (which, renewed annually, proscribes the use of federal funds to pay for abortion, primarily via Medicaid) is the moderate, compromise, "abortion neutral" position when discussing health care reform. "How," I wondered, "did the most significant anti-abortion legislation in history become a moderate compromise?" I reported on this at the webzine Religion Dispatches this week (and diaried about it at Daily Kos).

One may agree or disagree with the president and other Washington insiders that this was the only way to get health care reform passed. But whatever the outcome of the health care debate, what has been sacrificed should not go unnoticed and unremarked upon. And indeed, leaders on both sides are recognizing the magnitude of what has occurred."

http://tinyurl.com/yfm6t98 Army of God & anti-birth control w-ism

Religious Right & Covert Funding fueling attacks on WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINICS
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/11/4/141112/544 Yes I shouted it because it IS a health clinic, they screen for breast cancer there, cervical cancer, pap smears, flu shots, etc. There has never been an "abortion only clinic", it sounds ugly & it feels it too. It's time to grab people by their emotions & make them feel the truth. A Quiverfull lifestyle is a horrendous strain & very few women seem to want 8 or more children.