Think Progress

House Conservatives Push Fringe Abortion Measure Instead Of Vital Budget Bills»

Next week, the 109th Congress returns for a final lame-duck session. “In a blend of pique and laziness,” conservatives are choosing to simply ignore their responsibility to complete nine overdue spending bills. Instead, they plan to pass an emergency stop-gap bill — called a “continuing resolution” — that will result in millions in funding cuts to vital programs. CongressDaily explains:

– The Social Security Administration has told congressional staff it might have to furlough every employee.
– HUD funding would not keep pace with demand for low-income housing vouchers, meaning “literally thousands of people would be out in the street,” one source said.
School breakfast and lunch programs would face a $1 billion shortfall, cutting off 1.2 million participants.
– The Veterans Health Administration would have to absorb the $3 billion increase to meet this year’s requirements.

But while spending bills aren’t on the agenda, a “fetal pain abortion bill” — which has no chance of passing becoming law (it will likely pass in the House) and is described as a “last bid for loyalty” from the “base of social conservatives” — will likely get a vote:

The bill, by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., defines a 20-week-old fetus as a “pain-capable unborn child” a highly controversial threshold among scientists. It also directs the Health and Human Service Department to develop a brochure stating “that there is substantial evidence that the process of being killed in an abortion will cause the unborn child pain.”

A report last year by the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed nearly 2,000 studies on fetal pain and concluded that “legislative proposals to allow fetal pain relief during abortion are not justified by scientific evidence.”

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112 Responses to “House Conservatives Push Fringe Abortion Measure Instead Of Vital Budget Bills”


  1. SpudgeBoy Says:

    Go team terror!

    Helping the poor isn’t what Jesus would want, just ask the Christian Coalition. Apparently he would only push hate.


  2. ForTruth Says:

    An act of desperation it is. A last ditch effort to push it on the people. Waste of time.

    The crazy Christians only care about children before they are born, after that, send them off to kill the brown people.


  3. Bluedog49 Says:

    Our repub congress: irrelevant and absurd to the end! And proud of it!


  4. ForTruth Says:

    I thought only homos wore fringe.


  5. WaltTheMan Says:

    The 109th - the do nothing else Congress.


  6. DRxJ Says:

    The Veterans Health Administration would have to absorb the $3 billion increase to meet this year’s requirements.
    SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! they continuously shout as they cut funding for our VETERANS!

    Let me propose one small idea: Bring out troops home NOW, and with the excess money we would save each day, could actually go to our brave men and women who have served or are currently serving


  7. Parrotlover77 Says:

    They are doing this so that people will be so pissed off at congress, they’ll stop caring… Not everybody knows you have to wait until next year to get the newly elected congress.

    That’s my conspiracy theory of the week.

    Stay tuned for next week when I discuss ancient structures found on Mars that resemble Cheney’s trademark grimace.


  8. osage Says:

    The depth of moral corruption in the Republican party is unfathomable!!!


  9. Parrotlover77 Says:

    Why are the majority of vegans and vegetarians pro-choice? Healthy eating? Kindness to animals?

    They don’t care about animal sperm, eggs, or zygotes either. No contradiction.


  10. The Trucker Pundit Says:

    Now how you gonna concentrate on the frivolous stuff like passin’ a budget and ensurin’ the continuing function of the gubbermint when the BABIES is at peril?

    First things first, people! We gotta FIGHT against them illegal STEM CELLS and save the BABIES!!!


  11. Rebel In CA Says:

    “…It also directs the Health and Human Service Department to develop a brochure stating “that there is substantial evidence that the process of being killed in an abortion will cause the unborn child pain.”

    How about the pain caused to children who are left parent-less because of this idiotic war? An those unborn children of these dead and wounded soldiers or civilians who will never know the true joy their parents could have given them

    Zooey you are right, these GOP morons don’t give a rat’s ass about them.


  12. oxillini Says:

    Jeez, hope none of the soon to be furloughed Social Security Administration employees have babies at home. Science says those babies will be feeling some pain when mom can’t afford to feed them.


  13. WaltTheMan Says:

    #15 - barfly,
    I believe it is left undone.


  14. BlueArkansas Says:

    Keep it up, morons. Discredit the Republican Party even further…

    Good riddance.


  15. Tuber Says:

    Hey #8, I would say its “Healthy eating = Clear mind”.

    Which probably explains why the fat and gin blossomed tend to preach sanctimoniously during the day and then at night either screw around on their spouse or beat them, fondle little boys, or suck the crack pipe while pleading with their “masseuse” to bring the hammer down.

    I could be wrong. But reality seems to support this theory.


  16. IraqVet Says:

    And what did you expect from this Congress? Work???

    Nah, let’s try and push some irrlevant bill through Congress to show America that we really care about values, but not lives!

    Let’s let children go hungry, Veterans suffer outrageous medical costs and/or restrictions in benefits, inadequate health care for our citizens, while we count the days until our vacation!

    Yep, THAT’S the REPIBLICAN WAY! And, of course, BLAME CLINTON for it all!!!


  17. House Conservatives are completely, totally irresponsible « Later On Says:

    […] They simply will not do the job for which they ran and for which they were elected: […]


  18. CouldBeeWorse Says:

    Not so fast on this. The JAMA article cited by Nico above turned into something of an embarassment for JAMA when the JAMA editor admitted that she had not known (and thus, did not disclose) that the lead author was a medical student previously employed as a lawyer by NARAL, and that one of the co-authors ran the biggest abortion clinic in San Francisco. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported: “JAMA editor-in-chief Catherine D. DeAngelis said she was unaware of this, and acknowledged it might create an appearance of bias that could hurt the journal’s credibility. ‘This is the first I’ve heard about it,’ she said. ‘We ask them to reveal any conflict of interest. I would have published’ the disclosure if it had been made.”

    More to the point, there is in fact a lot of evidence that by the beginning of the sixth month (if not earlier), the human fetus is sensitive to painful stimuli. This bill kicks in at 20 weeks fertilziation, which is the same as 22 weeks in the “last menstrual period” system used by ob/gyns, which is about the start of the sixth month.

    For example, a review of the available studies on the subject published in September 1999 in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology — which is the top ob-gyn journal in the United Kingdom — concluded: “Given the anatomical evidence, it is possible that the fetus can feel pain from 20 weeks and is caused distress by interventions from as early as 15 or 16 weeks.” (The bill in Congress kicks in at 22 weeks in this system of reckoning, which is the same as 20 weeks after fertilization.)

    Prof. Dr. Kanwaljeet S. Anand of the University of Arkansas, whose pain research years ago changed many practices involving newborns, said, “It is my opinion that the human fetus possesses the ability to experience pain from 20 weeks of gestation, if not earlier, and that pain perceived by a fetus is possibly more intense than that perceived by newborns or older children.”

    If one visits any neonatal unit one is likely to find premature newborns at 23 weeks, 24 weeks, 25 weeks, 26 weeks, 27 weeks, 28 weeks. It has been recognized by medical science for decades that these newborn premature infants feel pain, and steps are taken to minimize it to the extent possible. (As a neonatal nurse if you don’t believe me.) Why should we believe that the fetus in utero, at the very same stages, is insensible to stimuli (during an abortion) far more violent than anything the neonatal staff would inflict on the newborn?

    By the way, NARAL put out a statement that it “does not intend to oppose this legislation.”


  19. Gregor Samsa Says:

    conservatives are choosing to simply ignore their responsibility to complete nine overdue spending bills.

    Aren’t conservatives, as a rule, always skirting their responsibilities?

    9/11 is now Clinton’s fault. The deficit is the Democrats’ fault. The death toll in Iraq is the fault of “libruls” for not supporting the war effort.

    I can see it coming: The spending bills did not get voted on because of them darn “libruls”.

    legislative proposals to allow fetal pain relief during abortion are not justified by scientific evidence.

    Anti-science Republicans? Who would have guessed it? (un)Intelligent Design is not supported by scientific evidence, but that didn’t stop them either.

    These people need to be out of office. Now. The longer we can keep them there, the better.

    Otherwise, they will soon have doctors curing our illnesses with amulets, lucky charms, chants, and divine trances.


  20. Daryll Says:

    Why are the majority of vegans and vegetarians pro-choice? Healthy eating? Kindness to animals?

    They don’t care about animal sperm, eggs, or zygotes either. No contradiction.

    Comment by Parrotlover77 — December 1, 2006 @ 1:31 pm

    Animals were put on this earth for nurishment. I will be eating a nice steak before I fly out tonight.


  21. MrTimPA Says:

    #23 - CouldBeeWorse - if what you write is true - that a fetus can experience pain at 20 weeks, wouldn’t this suggest we should be preventing unwanted pregnancies with a robust program of education and easily available birth-control? Abstinence isn’t going to work as animals will be animals..:)

    While I am pro-choice, I also don’t like the idea of unwanted pregnancies, so promoting birth-control is the best solution.


  22. AbortAllChristianBabies Says:

    Daryll,

    Flying? I thought you always rode the short bus on trips.

    Stoopid F’ing Christian

    Ban God and 90% of the worlds problems are solved.

    He’s just like Santa, Easter bunny, tooth fairy, great pumpkin, made up stories to keep the idiots with no will, and self purpose in line.


  23. ScrewBush Says:

    Want to shut these ass-wipes up? How about the Responsible Birth Law? At the time of birth the father must be identified and confirmed via genetic testing. If not identified and confirmed, there’s a DNA bench warrent put out for daddy and the mother can be held in contempt — given our current justice system this feature will mostly affect minority mothers and fathers.

    Bottom line, genetic daddy is 50% financially responsible for the child until he/she turns 18, even if put up for adoption. Naturally we can figure out some dollar amount of minimal financial responsibility and offset it with inflation every year.

    Come on good Christian daddies! Support the Responsible Birth Law so that every child will at least have a financial daddy, every child will be financially protected, and we’re not talking about the governement acting as daddy. No sir, this is the actual sperm doner taking personal responsibility for where his stuff landed.

    Are you on board? Remember, it’s for the children, it’s all about the children. Can I count on you?


  24. RantingTommy Says:

    I guess these christian bigots don’t really believe so much, or else they would just pray for divine intervention to save these clumps of cells.

    Imagine a world in where there were more sane people than insanse ones! Imagine a world without religion.

    O hell, then we would have to find jobs for all those employed by the military industrial complex.


  25. enoon Says:

    Sounds like some Republicans could do with retroactive abortions.
    Idiots.


  26. Gregor Samsa Says:

    By the way, NARAL put out a statement that it “does not intend to oppose this legislation.”
    Comment by CouldBeeWorse — December 1, 2006 @ 2:07 pm

    After getting all that information together, and before posting it, you obviously didn’t stop for a second to figure out it has nothing to do with the fact that the “fetal pain abortion” bill legislation does not stand a chance to pass, that its vote is just for show, and that this Republican Congress is ignoring far more pressing issues in order to pander to its base.

    You worry about the possibility of “fetal pain” while ignoring the 1.2 million children who will be cut off from the school breakfast and lunch programs.

    You are yet another conservative who wrings his hands over the “rights of the unborn”, and then dutifully ignores them when they need help after being actually born.


  27. New Yorker Says:

    They are trying to pass a “fetal pain abortion bill” but they cannot pass (among others) a bill that insures the continuation of school breakfast and lunches for poor children?

    Would anyone kindly point out to these people that children actually need to be fed AFTER birth?


  28. The Other National Anthem Says:

    #34
    Hear, hear!


  29. New Yorker Says:

    “You are yet another conservative who wrings his hands over the “rights of the unborn”, and then dutifully ignores them when they need help after being actually born. “

    In the particular case, conservatives are not only just ignoring the existing children, they are actively working to hurt them by not authorizing the spending needed to maintain the school breakfast and lunch programs.

    These people are truly despicable.


  30. zoot Says:

    regressive’s prioties - great Americans, every one of them.
    .


  31. JosephW Says:

    I have to ask when Republican Smith is going to propose a bill to ban the process of circumcision on infant males. After all, if a 20-week old fetus is “capable of feeling pain”, then certainly there can be no doubt that a newly-born male will feel pain when a part of his anatomy is sliced off. There is, of course, dispute in the medical community over whether the infant actually feels pain or not–despite most of the infant’s screaming and wailing during the process. Of course, I suppose, the far right’s religious base would demand an exception be made for “religious circumcisions”.


  32. Grand Moff Texan Says:

    We’d explain myelination and fetal development to the conservatives, but they’d just pretend that “the jury was still out” in the scientific community.

    Drooling superstitious freaks shouldn’t do science. Or law. Or much of anything besides drool.
    .


  33. chimpeach Says:

    Beg, borrow, or steal a clue, Republicans. This is why you lost the election. You keep screwing around with junk like this and ignore real issues that affect real people.

    No. Better yet, keep screwing around. Keep pushing dumbass bills like this and you won’t even be the minority party anymore. You’ll be history. Idiots.


  34. CouldBeeWorse Says:

    By the way, NARAL put out a statement that it “does not intend to oppose this legislation.” Comment by CouldBeeWorse — December 1, 2006 @ 2:07 pm

    After getting all that information together, and before posting it, you obviously didn’t stop for a second to figure out it has nothing to do with the fact that the “fetal pain abortion” bill legislation does not stand a chance to pass, that its vote is just for show, and that this Republican Congress is ignoring far more pressing issues in order to pander to its base. –Gregor Samsa

    Well, Mr. Samsa, it appears that it is you who did not stop for a second to google and actually read the NARAL statement. I’ll save you the trouble — I pasted it in in below. The first thing you will notice is that it was sent out to the news media in January, 2005, at the very beginning of the current Congress, before anybody knew when the bill would come to vote or whether it would pass or not. The second thing you will notice is that NARAL explained why it “does not intend to oppose” the bill, and their reasoning (agree with it or not) has nothing to do with those which you assumed.

    The NARAL statement uses the original bill numbers. The bill that will come before the House next week is a somewhat stripped-down version.

    What follows is a direct electronic reproduction of a statement that was e-mailed by NARAL to inquiring journalists in January, 2005.

    STATEMENT ON S. 51/H.R. 356

    Nancy Keenan, President

    NARAL Pro-Choice America

    “Pro-choice Americans have always believed that women deserve access to all the information relevant to their reproductive health decisions. For some women, that includes information related to fetal anesthesia options. NARAL Pro-Choice America does not intend to oppose this legislation.

    Most importantly, I hope that over the next few years those of us who believe in a woman’s right to choose and those who oppose that freedom can find ways to work together to reduce unintended pregnancies and the number of abortions. Helping pass Senator Harry Reid’s Prevention First Act would certainly be a good start in that direction.”

    # # #

    NARAL Pro-Choice America
    1156 15th Street, NW Suite 700
    Washington, DC 20005
    (202) 973-3034


  35. Marie Says:

    While they are in their snit, people will suffer.
    This vengeful congress is the most revolting and worthless body I have ever seen — of course, it follows, with Bush being the worst president in history.


  36. ScrewBush Says:

    re: #38 by JosephW,

    This is a non-issue for them. You’re showing concern for a post-birth child, they don’t care about those. The beauty of being overly concerned with the fetus is that you can mess with the mother. If you would only listen to enough Christian TV you’d get with the program that women are meant to be subjugate, the man is supreme. Giving woman “choice” is pretty much an abomination. If the “child” was really of any concern you’d see at least some attention given to the post-birth existence of this child, but that’s not the story here. The child is pretty much just a tool for poking mommy good and hard.


  37. Karim Says:

    Ladies and gentlemen, the GOP is officially clueless. This is where there priorities lie. And Karl Rove wonders why so many Republi-cons lost this year.


  38. Parrotlover77 Says:

    Beg, borrow, or steal a clue, Republicans. This is why you lost the election.

    Whoa. It just dawned on me that this is the first time I’ve seen liberals use the “this is why you lost the election” stab for the first time in YEARS! Feels good to do it back to those clowns after years of them ruining the country and the planet…


  39. chimpeach Says:

    #45 Parrotlover77

    Whoa. It just dawned on me that this is the first time I’ve seen liberals use the “this is why you lost the election” stab for the first time in YEARS! Feels good to do it back to those clowns after years of them ruining the country and the planet…

    I suppose if we wanted to give them the full treatment, we could say “This is why you ALWAYS lose elections,” as they liked to put it.

    But, we’ll just leave the BSing to the righties.


  40. unbelievable Says:

    Why are the majority of vegans and vegetarians pro-choice? Healthy eating? Kindness to animals?
    Comment by mighty aphrodite — December 1, 2006 @ 1:28 pm

    You can ingest all the pig fetuses and cow sperm you want and I won’t say a word.

    Feel better?


  41. unbelievable Says:

    Otherwise, they will soon have doctors curing our illnesses with amulets, lucky charms, chants, and divine trances.
    Comment by Gregor Samsa — December 1, 2006 @ 2:13 pm

    LOL


  42. unbelievable Says:

    Animals were put on this earth for nurishment. I will be eating a nice steak before I fly out tonight.
    Comment by Daryll — December 1, 2006 @ 2:18 pm

    Reason number 15 for why I detest organized religion - holier-than-thou belief systems.

    Daryll… Put? LOL

    Animals, like humans, evolved from the same single celled organism, and are made from the same carbon (it’s why not only can you eat them, but they can eat you).


  43. RUCerious Says:

    Anybody besides me like to see our friend Daryll surrounded by, say, 12 hungry Komodo dragons?


  44. Zooey Says:

    You can ingest all the pig fetuses and cow sperm you want and I won’t say a word.
    Feel better?
    Comment by unbelievable

    May I say, my dear Salma — SNAP!!!


  45. unbelievable Says:

    Anybody besides me like to see our friend Daryll surrounded by, say, 12 hungry Komodo dragons?
    Comment by RUCerious — December 1, 2006 @ 5:13 pm

    More than you know :)


  46. Zooey Says:

    Anybody besides me like to see our friend Daryll surrounded by, say, 12 hungry Komodo dragons?
    Comment by RUCerious

    Personally, I’d throw Flaco & Vinnie in that circle before Daryll.


  47. unbelievable Says:

    May I say, my dear Salma — SNAP!!!
    Comment by Zooey — December 1, 2006 @ 5:14 pm

    He was asking for it… :D


  48. unbelievable Says:

    Personally, I’d throw Flaco & Vinnie in that circle before Daryll.
    Comment by Zooey — December 1, 2006 @ 5:18 pm

    I’m sure we could round up more than just 12 hungry komodos…


  49. RUCerious Says:

    I wonder if any of the three would cause Komodo indigestion?


  50. unbelievable Says:

    I wonder if any of the three would cause Komodo indigestion?
    Comment by RUCerious — December 1, 2006 @ 5:22 pm

    My mother’s dog eats his own vomit and seems to do fine…


  51. Gregor Samsa Says:

    I’m sure we could round up more than just 12 hungry komodos…
    Comment by unbelievable — December 1, 2006 @ 5:21 pm

    Feed Daryll, Vinnie, and Flaco to 12 Komodo dragons?

    Wouldn’t that be animal cruelty? I am talking about the dragons, of course…

    I mean, I know those reptiles can eat rotten meat but, c’mon, that just might be too much.


  52. Flaco Says:

    #1
    But if that same child is born into a home where it is abused and neglected, and then beaten to death by the time it’s three years old, who f*cking gives a shit?

    Comment by Zooey

    Boy u live in a rough neighborhood.


  53. unbelievable Says:

    I mean, I know those reptiles can eat rotten meat but, c’mon, that just might be too much.
    Comment by Gregor Samsa — December 1, 2006 @ 5:27 pm

    I used to work with a guy who told me that the best way to get rid of a dead body was to throw it to pigs because they can eat anything. He really hated his boss (a woman we called ‘Broomhilda’ due to her physical attributes).


  54. unbelievable Says:

    Boy u live in a rough neighborhood.
    Comment by Flaco — December 1, 2006 @ 5:30 pm

    You can joke about it, but as a public school teacher, I can confirm that child abuse is far more common than you might think in your unreality little coocoon.

    Two of my students this year have admitted to me that they were abused children who no longer live with their birth parents.


  55. chimpeach Says:

    #51 RUCerious

    Anybody besides me like to see our friend Daryll surrounded by, say, 12 hungry Komodo dragons?

    Or perhaps even more exotic than that, Daryll could be consumed by flesh-eating bacteria. I wonder what their Bible says about the purpose that humans serve.


  56. Flaco Says:

    Two of my students this year have admitted to me that they were abused children who no longer live with their birth parents.

    Comment by unbelievable

    Abort them next time. Easy solution.
    They are just a clump of cells right?


  57. Flaco Says:

    Sharpen your daggers and knives and kill the innocent
    or keep ur legs close ladies. U do have a choice.


  58. unbelievable Says:

    Abort them next time. Easy solution.
    They are just a clump of cells right?
    Comment by Flaco — December 1, 2006 @ 5:41 pm

    Right.


  59. unbelievable Says:

    Sharpen your daggers and knives and kill the innocent
    or keep ur legs close ladies. U do have a choice.
    Comment by Flaco — December 1, 2006 @ 5:45 pm

    So do you. It’s not just one partner’s ultimate responsibility.

    Besides, you’ll not stop people from having sex. It’s as innate as eating, urinating and sleeping.


  60. unbelievable Says:

    50% women have HAD 2 abortion PROCEDURES
    Comment by Flaco — December 1, 2006 @ 6:32 pm

    Prove it.

    I have had zero. Though, if he were a real girl, I bet MA would have made up for my deficit with 4 or 5 of his own…


  61. Flaco Says:

    So do you. It’s not just one partner’s ultimate responsibility.
    Ultimately it is the bitch who is responsible
    Besides, you’ll not stop people from having sex. It’s as innate as eating, urinating and sleeping. Duh

    Comment by unbelievable


  62. mighty aphrodite Says:

    “The unborn are not sentient.” Comment by -*-*-*-*-*

    ********And you know this, because…? Wow!! Next you’ll be telling us you were a double-major, Architecture AND Molecular Biology…..


  63. DemandTruth Says:

    Jeez, hope none of the soon to be furloughed Social Security Administration employees have babies at home. Science says those babies will be feeling some pain when mom can’t afford to feed them.

    Comment by oxillini — December 1, 2006 @ 1:39 pm

    NO!

    No pain.

    Only low food security-consequences.

    And maybe some physical tolerance threshold exceedence,
    or over-flow-ance
    in the tummyologic regional areas
    probably resulting from low food security
    or even possibly an all out food security seige!

    But no pain.


  64. CouldBeeWorse Says:

    The unborn are not sentient. It’s the glaringly obvious point that you keep missing.– unbelievable

    From the London Telegraph:
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/ main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F03%2F10%2Fnfoet10.xml

    Foetuses ‘may be conscious long before abortion limit’
    By David Derbyshire, Science Correspondent
    Last Updated: 11:49pm GMT 09/03/2003

    Foetuses may develop consciousness long before the legal age limit for abortions, one of Britain’s leading brain scientists has said.

    Baroness Greenfield, a professor of neurology at Oxford University and the director of the Royal Institution, said there was evidence to suggest the conscious mind could develop before 24 weeks, the upper age where terminations are permitted.

    Although she fell short of calling for changes in the abortion laws, she urged doctors and society to be cautious when assuming unborn babies lacked consciousness. “Is the foetus conscious? The answer is yes, but up to a point,” she said.

    “Given that we can’t prove consciousness or not, we should be very cautious about being too gung ho and assuming something is not conscious. We should err on the side of caution.”

    Last year, a Daily Telegraph straw poll found many neurologists were concerned that foetuses could feel pain in the womb before 24 weeks after conception.

    Many believed foetuses should be given anaesthetics during a late abortion, after 20 weeks. Some also believe pain relief should be given for keyhole surgery in the womb.

    Abortions are allowed up to 24 weeks in Britain, but are rarely given so late. Around 90 per cent of the 175,000 planned terminations that take place each year in England and Wales are in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Around 1.5 per cent - or 2,600 - take place after the 20th week.

    Terminations after 24 weeks are only allowed in exceptional circumstances if, for instance, the mother’s life is threatened.

    Lady Greenfield is sceptical of philosophers and doctors who argue that consciousness is “switched on” at some point during the brain’s development.

    She believes instead that there is a sliding scale of consciousness and that it develops gradually as neurons, or brain cells, make more and more connections with each other.

    She told the British Fertility Society in London last week that she had serious concerns about foetal consciousness.

    “The Home Office has legislation that applies to a mammal and they have now extended it to the octopus, a mollusc, because it can learn,” she said. “If a mollusc can be attributed with being sentient, and now has Home Office protection, then my own view is that we should be very cautious after making assumptions.”

    In 2001 a Medical Research Council expert group said unborn babies might feel pain as early as 20 weeks and almost certainly by 24. They called for more sensitive treatment of very premature babies, who often had to undergo painful procedures like heel pricks and injections.

    – story ends –


  65. unbelievable Says:

    And you know this, because…?

    Science. Ever heard of it?

    Wow!! Next you’ll be telling us you were a double-major, Architecture AND Molecular Biology…..
    Comment by mighty aphrodite — December 1, 2006 @ 6:57 pm

    No. Architecture and Engineering. But I did take two Biology courses, one Chemistry and several Physics classes. No doubt that that’s more Science than you’ve ever been exposed to.

    At least I went to college and don’t have to lie about it.


  66. unbelievable Says:

    Comment by CouldBeeWorse — December 1, 2006 @ 7:19 pm

    Want proof? Okay… Tell us all about your time spent en utero. Don’t remember? Why do you think that is Einstein?


  67. Zooey Says:

    I don’t care if a fetus is talking on the phone and emailing it’s little fetus friends, if it’s in my body and I want it gone — it’s gone.


  68. unbelievable Says:

    If much depends as is allowed upon the early education of youth and the first principles which are instilled take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments of women.

    – Abigail Adams


  69. CouldBeeWorse Says:

    Okay… Tell us all about your time spent en utero. Don’t remember? Why do you think that is Einstein?
    Comment by unbelievable — December 1, 2006 @ 7:31 pm

    Actually, I don’t remember anything from my first year or two after birth, either. So by your logic, since I don’t consciously remember that period now, that means that if somebody had ripped my arm off during that same period, it would not have hurt, right?

    Also, it is common knowledge that even many adults often report that they can’t really remember the sensation of a past experience of intense pain — for example, the pain of childbirth. That doesn’t mean it didn’t really hurt while they were actually experiencing it.


  70. mighty aphrodite Says:

    “And you know this, because…? ‘Science. Ever heard of it?”"
    Comment by -*-*-*-*-*-*-

    *******Your citation on sentience is a tad weak….to say the least. Which scientific texts or articles are you referring???


  71. mighty aphrodite Says:

    “….if it’s in my body and I want it gone — it’s gone.” Comment by Zooey

    ********Dear Zooette - “I want…” Hmmm…I guess that really is the definition of “it’s ALL about MEEEEEEE.”


  72. Zooey Says:

    ********Dear Zooette - “I want…” Hmmm…I guess that really is the definition of “it’s ALL about MEEEEEEE.”
    Comment by mighty aphrodite

    You got that right, Hagette.


  73. katy Says:

    ok… out front - i’m pro choice, 1st trimester, after that, many variables determine what MY feelings are about the abortion issue…

    that said, quite simply, i KNOW that both babies that i carried could feel and sense and react to many different outside and internal occurances…
    i will concede that i was aware of this only well into the pregnancy, 6 months on… my daughter even rolled me over in bed once - i guess she wanted to change her position… hey, her comfort was mine…
    just sayin’…


  74. unbelievable Says:

    So by your logic, since I don’t consciously remember that period now, that means that if somebody had ripped my arm off during that same period, it would not have hurt, right?

    No, that ISN’T my logic. I wasn’t talking about pain. I was talking about consciousness.

    Also, it is common knowledge that even many adults often report that they can’t really remember the sensation of a past experience of intense pain — for example, the pain of childbirth. That doesn’t mean it didn’t really hurt while they were actually experiencing it.
    Comment by CouldBeeWorse — December 1, 2006 @ 7:53 pm

    I’ve not said anything about pain. I’ve said conscious.

    You either have a bad memory or are just bad at logical discourse.

    Pain is a part of life from the beginning to the end. It hurts to die as well. Go dwell on that for a while and then get back to me about what pain has to do with consciousness.


  75. unbelievable Says:

    Your citation on sentience is a tad weak….to say the least. Which scientific texts or articles are you referring???
    Comment by mighty aphrodite — December 1, 2006 @ 7:54 pm

    All of them. Get busy reading. It’ll take you atleast 15 years to catch up with all I’ve covered to come to this point.


  76. WaltTheMan Says:

    Numerous posts,
    I’m curious - how much sperm can you get from a cow?


  77. CouldBeeWorse Says:

    I’m afraid that unbelievable’s idea of “logical discourse” seems to me mere ground-shifting and incoherence, cloaked in bluster. Anyone who really thinks that the key issue is “consciousness” should reflect on the comments by Barnoness Greenfield, an eminent authority on the neurology of consciousness, which I quoted above.


  78. Flaco Says:

    I don’t care if a fetus is talking on the phone and emailing it’s little fetus friends, if it’s in my body and I want it gone — it’s gone.

    Comment by Zooey

    Zooey is god she determines life and death.
    Self righteous lover of self
    Mother/predator can murder its own.
    Sweet talkin’ and a Natural Born Killer
    Heh


  79. Flaco Says:

    No. Architecture and Engineering. But I did take two Biology courses, one Chemistry and several Physics classes. No doubt that that’s more Science than you’ve ever been exposed to.

    At least I went to college and don’t have to lie about it.

    Comment by unbelievable

    Typical atheist fundy self righteousness full of themselves/shit
    puffed up book knowledge so what - Very little wisdom
    BIG difference


  80. mighty aphrodite Says:

    **-**–**—**- You’ve covered nothing and proven less. Your lack of ONE citation would be pathetic if it weren’t so sad. As you’re so well read in scientific absolutes and theory, I might imagine you are familiar with “Professor” Peter Singers’ treatise, “Animal Liberation”, in which he makes the case of the immorality of killing vermin as they “are sentient beings”. Again, I wonder how many PETA members support NARAL…..Ahhhh…the moral inconsistencies of some Leftists…..

    Good night……


  81. Flaco Says:

    I’m afraid that unbelievable’s idea of “logical discourse” seems to me mere ground-shifting and incoherence, cloaked in bluster.

    Comment by CouldBeeWorse

    Dude welcome to the world of libtardian thought.
    It is a parallel universe here
    They all do it. Most of it is made up, but that is what u get when u make yourself god.
    They are very creative at name calling. I think is a speciality.
    unbelievable has an very appropriate name.
    Not real bright typical liberal college education not worth much.


  82. Flaco Says:

    em>who f*cking gives a shit?

    Comment by Zooey

    This pretty much describes this female libtard.
    Swears like a sailor.


  83. mighty aphrodite Says:

    As I oppose the death penalty, you are left with a one-legged stool - not much for you to stand on. As for the poor children of the West Bank, Golda Meir said it far better than I,
    “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

    Unfortunately for your mother, you are pitiful and pathetic……


  84. Flaco Says:

    DROPPING BOMBS ON CHILDREN in the WEST BANK?
    Yes the suicide Palestinians who strap bombs to their kids.
    Palenstine is a nice place to raise kids.
    BAHHAHAHAHHAA!


  85. barfly Says:

    Coward.

    Meet me.


  86. DRxJ Says:

    well, at least Flaco has decreased the postings about his favorite subject, a certain appendege of the male anatamoy.


  87. Think Progress » ThinkFast: December 2, 2006 Says:

    […] In an attempt to “get a few things done on the way out the door and show people that…we really can govern,” the lame-duck House next week will vote on a bill to open up the Gulf Coast to offshore drilling. […]


  88. Shut Up Says:

    Flaco = I-RIGHT-I

    who else says ‘leftard’ and ‘fundy atheist’ and ‘female leftard’ within the same thread? and speaks with the same arrogant patronization?

    I-RIGHT-I is even more obnoxious than I remembered.


  89. Robin Grant Says:

    Babies feel no pain at all, say the pro-circumcision doctors that cut off foreskins with NO anasthetic!


  90. Robin Grant Says:

    So-called ‘christians’ say:

    “We must save the pre-born!”

    And at the same time their actions show that they despise the post-born. The so-called ‘christians’ actively persue anything that will make the post-born’s live as miserable as possible (which is 100% opposite of what the red letters say in their ‘bible’). Once born the best ‘christians’ want for you is to be a bullet catcher for the slave masters.

    I am NOT a ‘christian’ specifically because of the insitutionalized hypocrisy of every sect out there. The only followers of the teachings of Chirst I have ANY respect for are the Quakers.

    To publicly call ones’ self an evangelical christian is to announce to the world that they are the world’s biggest anti-Christians. Just look at what the ‘Christian Coalition’ did last week: publicly declare that the mission of the ‘Christian Coalition’ is to ruthlessly fight against everyting Jesus stands for.


  91. mighty aphrodite Says:

    “We must save the pre-born!” And at the same time their actions show that they despise the post-born.” Comment by Robin Grant

    ********Dear Mr./Ms. Grant - - Ahhhhh, another “pro-abortion” advocate who is VERY good at sweeping generalizations.

    You must have missed the newsflash detailing the level of American charitable generosity. Apparently, you also missed the good works by Americas churches and synagogues, too. (Euro’s not to be labelled chintzy, noted that through their punitive tax rates, they furnish the safety hammock for their poor.)

    Pro-aborts are not any more, or less, concerned with helping the disadvantaged - for the vast majority it is about autonomy and control - “and what is, or isn’t, convenient for MEEEEEeeeee.”

    So dear pro-”choice” Progs: Please continue to fight for the lives of condemned murderers (I am anti-death penalty), fight “evil” corporations, save ANWR, eat vegetarian, spoil your “companion animals”, fight school vouchers to save the noble NEA, righteously condemn any religion in public while santimoniously upholding the Constitutional right of rap “artists” and gangsta’s to be vulgar. Don’t forget to be offended when Iman’s get hauled off a plane - of course never acknowledging one of the groups ties to an Islamic “charity” which was suspected of funneling $$$ to Al Queda.

    There are more “issues” for Progs to get riled up about - as well you should! That said, please allow me to wish you and yours a
    STUNNING SOLSTICE TO ALL - AND TO ALL A LONG NIGHT.


  92. Wally Wonders Why - My Conservative Christian Republican view from Whatcom County » Does a pre-birth baby feel pain? Should you care? Says:

    […] From our progressive friends at Think Progress we have House Conservatives Push Fringe Abortion Measure Instead Of Vital Budget Bills […]


  93. unbelievable Says:

    Typical atheist fundy self righteousness full of themselves/shit puffed up book knowledge so what - Very little wisdom BIG difference
    Comment by Flaco — December 2, 2006 @ 12:28 am

    Most of my wisdom comes from experience. Proves how little you know.

    But, as a hint, when you pitch an angry fit over people smarter than you, it proves that you are lacking in that capacity (which was already obvious anyway).


  94. unbelievable Says:

    I’m afraid that unbelievable’s idea of “logical discourse” seems to me mere ground-shifting and incoherence, cloaked in bluster.

    You’re afraid of that? Well, let me assure you that this is not the case. I never lost a debate in high school or college because I don’t argue anything in which I don’t understand both sides.

    Anyone who really thinks that the key issue is “consciousness” should reflect on the comments by Barnoness Greenfield, an eminent authority on the neurology of consciousness, which I quoted above.
    Comment by CouldBeeWorse — December 1, 2006 @ 11:12 pm

    Interesting how you offerend nothing in the way of facts to support your assertion.

    And how you missed the reality that pain is a result of being conscious. However, consciousness covers many more areas than just pain.


  95. unbelievable Says:

    unbelievable has an very appropriate name.
    Not real bright typical liberal college education not worth much.
    Comment by Flaco — December 2, 2006 @ 2:23 am

    Yes, it’s in reference to your ignorance. Definitely more appropriate in this thread than in some others.

    “Not real bright”… Ha ha ha ha… It’s “not really bright”. And it sounds like you’re projecting again… And jealous.


  96. unbelievable Says:

    Flaco = I-RIGHT-I
    Comment by Shut Up — December 2, 2006 @ 10:15 am

    IRI is too arrogant to use another name. Flaco is most likely a manifestation of MA.


  97. criticalthinker Says:

    Re#117 unbelievable

    I know this is off topic, but I believe that all debates in their current format are useless because the participants do not have to argue both sides.

    If you have to argue for something the first half and against that same something during the second half, you could not get away with the HYPOCRASY that makes the current debate format useless.

    What do you think?


  98. JPark Says:

    #70 Flaco, please cite your source, and it had not be connected with any murdering “Army of God” group.


  99. mighty aphrodite Says:

    “I never lost a debate in high school or college because I don’t argue anything in which I don’t understand both sides.”
    Comment by *-*-*-*-*-

    ********Really??? You argue with people all the time that which you know nothing about. (Hint: your sweeping “pronouncements” comparing God to Santa Claus indicates no understanding of people’s faith.) BTW, if YOU won each debate I would suspect the opponents to be deaf-mutes….because you are often refutable….


  100. JPark Says:

    #93 Of course logical discourse is beyond you. You didn’t need to inform us, it was quite clear.


  101. JPark Says:

    #98 That is “book larnin”. Please don’t speak above it, it might not understand.


  102. JPark Says:

    #100 You are a virgin, aren’t you, Flaco?


  103. JPark Says:

    #123 Wow, Mr. South African Aphro, watch the projection, you know nothing about everything and insist that everybody knows it. Thanks.


  104. mighty aphrodite Says:

    #123 “Wow, Mr. South African Aphro, ” Comment by JPark

    *****Dear JPark - on your return to North Korea please be advised that BBQ dog is no longer offered of the menus - there are none left to be had in that starving dictatorship….


  105. JPark Says:

    Funny, MA, it is hilarious when you denigrate hungry people…not surprising though. I bet you had a hundred of them in the 80’s for the Ethiopians…and dammit, they are just as funny now.


  106. JPark Says:

    I own you MA. Give it up.


  107. Mary Says:

    Reading through the comments I find that the point of debate has been missed by almost all.The issue is anesthetic for the baby about to be killed by having its body severed. If a woman wishes an abortion she should be willing to have the procedure prior to quickening, the period of gestation where the movement of the fetus becomes noticeable, as that point is when the brain is actually functioning enutero and the humane thing to do would be to anesthesize the living being that is forcibly removed from their enviroment. I am all for birth control options but abortion is not one of them. It seems that many who use that method are those who are more selfish than those with less sustenance or ability to raise a child. Give the “clump of tissue” pain relief. As for the 109th, they have made such a mess and intend to leave it for the Dems, that will play for their side when election time rolls around again and the bloated dollar continues to sink, whose fault will it be?


  108. unbelievable Says:

    If you have to argue for something the first half and against that same something during the second half, you could not get away with the HYPOCRASY that makes the current debate format useless.
    What do you think?
    Comment by criticalthinker — December 2, 2006 @ 5:38 pm

    It’s a technique used by debate teams to strengthen their own position or be able to argue anything.

    Peronally, I have a hard time giving the other side ammunition :) but by understanding their perspective, it is easier to take apart their arguments - as demostrated in this thread with MA’s silly comments…

    Could you argue both sides equally effectively?


  109. unbelievable Says:

    Really??? You argue with people all the time that which you know nothing about.

    Never. Your inability to be specif validates that.

    (Hint: your sweeping “pronouncements” comparing God to Santa Claus indicates no understanding of people’s faith.)

    I understand people’s faith. I grew up Christian myself, so I have lived it. It’s because it upsets you so much that my Santa to god comparision is very effective - and true.

    BTW, if YOU won each debate I would suspect the opponents to be deaf-mutes….because you are often refutable….
    Comment by mighty aphrodite — December 2, 2006 @ 7:31 pm

    You haven’t been able to refute me yet.

    And as usual, fallacious logic from you to assume that you are an authority over something you do not understand (argument)… it’s how we know that you are not a lawyer. You can’t make one.


  110. Bruce Gorton Says:

    JPark

    As a South Africa, I take offence and, what the hell are you talking about? I haven’t posted on this thread.


  111. Flaco Says:

    #130
    I understand people’s faith. I grew up Christian myself, so I have lived it.

    Typical bullshit from a arrogant libtard. Clueless best descibes this highly educated moron.



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