Member Apologizes for Shouting Anti-Choice Slur
Texas Representative Randy Neugebarger admitted this afternoon to being the Member who screamed “Babykiller” at Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) during the Health Care reform debate last night.
This was not only an example of poor judgment by the Texas Representative for violating the decorum usually shown in Congress, but it also demonstrated the mislead notion anti-choicers have about healthcare reform and the debate on choice in general.
First, this bill is not a pro-choice bill. It allows government to decide on far too many of our medical choices- and women’s choices is one of them. Women’s access to legal abortion services have another barrier to overcome with this bill, and it failed, as the President promised himself, to maintain the status quo on abortion.
Second, to resort to slurs and using the term ‘baby-killer’ is abhorrent and sad. This debate is fraught emotion, but, in the end, reproductive choices are deeply personal decision that outsiders cannot ever fully understand. Women make differant decisions regarding an unintended based on their own family circumstance and to name call against those who may choose a safe and legal abortion is demeaning. This action only underscores how inconsiderate and intolerant some on the anti-choice side remain. Would Rep. Neugebarger say the same thing to a rape victim whose attack caused her pregnancy? What about a mother who’s cancer means it’s her or her pregnancy? What about the parents who planned this child, only to find it was a non-viable pregnancy? Would he call them babykillers?
In the end, we can all agree that the nasty tone on what is a personal medical decision has to end and those chosen to lead our country should put forth a better example than to resort to playgroud type name-calling. Respect seems to be a word more of our elected leaders should learn.
