Michael Screnock - Supreme Thug

By Jeff Simpson 

While there is a Progressive candidate running for Supreme Court of Wisconsin in April(Tim Burns), there is also one not so progressive.    That is not enough for the Bradley Foundation and Club For Growth because they do not want anyone on the Supreme Court who might grow a conscious and actually follow the rule of law. 

The best way to make sure your extremist agenda does not get derailed, beyond partisan, unethical, gerrymandering, is to make sure that the Supreme Court will always do your bidding, no matter what. 

No Surprises. 

That is what they have now, and there is no amount of money that they can spare to make sure that keeps up.  One of the biggest tools, and least intelligent,  in the Court System in the US, is Mike Gableman.   With Gablemans imminent retirement, they could not take the chance that Rebecca Dallett is not right wing enough, or Heaven Forbid, a progressive gets on the court and makes waves.   
So they had to do what they have been very good at - find a stooge. 

Welcome Michael Screnock. 

Screnock has a history with Michael, Best and Friedrich,  the law firm that has pulled in millions of tax dollars defending the roughshod running over the law of our state to pass an agenda. 

Screnock has another history.  One of getting arrested blocking women from trying to enter an abortion clinic. 

In April 1989, Screnock and dozens of other protesters calling themselves “rescue workers” blocked access to the Bread and Roses Women’s Medical Center in Madison, which has since closed. Like many of the others, Screnock at first refused to give his name and had to be booked as John Doe until he identified himself.
In June 1989, Screnock and dozens of others again prevented people from getting into the abortion clinic. He was one of 42 people who was arrested that day.
Screnock was a University of Wisconsin-Madison student at the time. He was 19 when he was arrested the first time and 20 when he was arrested the second time.
The officer who arrested Screnock and two others in June wrote in a report that the three would not go with police once told they were being arrested.
“It was necessary for us to physically pick each of them up off the ground and place them in the portable chair provided by the Fire Department,” the officer wrote, referring to a wheelchair that police used to ferry protesters to police vehicles.
Screnock did not initially identify himself and like most of the other protesters did not have identification with him. At the police station, he told officers who he was and they were able to confirm his identity with the photo from his previous arrest, records show.
In both cases, Screnock was ticketed for trespassing and obstructing officers. Court records showing how the cases were resolved no longer exist, but Screnock said the obstructing citations were dismissed and he performed community service for the trespassing citations under a plea agreement.
Screnock said he understood at the time that he would likely have to pay a price for participating in the protests.
“You had a group of people who were seeking to exercise their First Amendment rights and when confronted with a violation of the law — in this case an ordinance violation — were willing to take the consequences,” he said. “And I think that’s true of all individuals who seek to engage in any manner of civil disobedience.”

Not only did Mr. Screnock decide that He would personally stop women from entering a clinic in a desperate time of their lives. but he also refused to cooperate with the police, lied to the police, he completely misunderstands what the first amendment says if he thinks it allows him the right to stop a fellow human being from seeking medical attention. 

Who knew that the big money special interests on the far right could find a candidate for the highest court in Wisconsin worse than Mike Gableman but they did. 

Ron Johnson Needs To Denounce Racist PAC Ad

The gentle reader already knows that ads run by PACs are sleazy. The gentle reader also knows that ads run by conservative PACs are even sleazier. And when it's an ad from a conservative PAC that is already hitting the panic button in trying to save Ron Johnson's flailing and failing campaign, well, the sleaze is beyond imagination.

From Jessie Opoien of the Cap Times:

A Spanish-language radio ad from a controversial political group accuses Russ Feingold of not wanting Hispanic babies to be born, in an effort to persuade Latino voters to support Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in November.

"I have a question for Feingold. Why should you have my vote if you don’t want our babies?" a woman asks in an ad airing on Spanish-language and gospel radio stations in the Milwaukee and Racine markets.

The ad opens with a man asking whether it matters to Feingold that "Hispanic babies are twice as likely to be aborted as white babies."

The man later says the message he hears from the Democratic former senator is, "To improve our lives, abort our future."

"We don’t need to kill our future, we need to have hope for our future and know that opportunities will triumph and grow," the man says. "Ron Johnson constructed business and created more than 100 jobs. We need jobs, not abortions."

In short, they are accusing Feingold of wanting to commit genocide against Latinos. It might be the wet dream of these race-baiters, but in no way has Feingold come even close to saying anything like that.

The ad is from America's PAC and they have dropped $66,000 to flood the Milwaukee area airwaves with this smut. And it's not the first time they ran something like this. They ran a similar ad in 2014 to support Scott Walker in his reelection campaign, targeting Latinos and African Americans.

To add to RoJo's shame, when the Feingold campaign called for RoJo to disavow the ad, RoJo skirted the ad and mewled about the ads being run by conservation groups, veterans groups and others. Apparently, RoJo is in full acceptance and agreement with that message.

It's crap like this why RoJo has been consistently in double digits behind Feingold in the polls. Sending RoJo back to his father-in-law's company cannot happen soon enough.

Kremer Renews War On Women

Wisconsin State Representative Jesse Kremer (R-Underneath a rock) wants everyone to know that he is not prejudiced or a bigot - he hates everyone equally.

Last year, Kremer surfaced when he came up with the utterly insane and inane idea of shaming the poor by requiring them to use a photo ID when they bought anything with an EBT card.

This year, Kremer crawled out from from under his rock to wage war on transgender kids. He followed this up by doing some whitesplaining to a African American colleague.

Now, this time Kremer has slithered out and decided to do something about those uppity women and all their rights.

Kremer is proposing a law that would require doctors to tell women who want the abortion pill about an injection that could reverse the abortion, even though there's no proof and it could actually harm the woman:

Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, said this week he plans to introduce a bill next legislative session that will require doctors to tell patients who request an abortion pill that getting injections of progesterone could reverse the effects of the pill and direct them to websites such as abortionpillreversal.com, which is owned by a San Diego-based anti-abortion rights doctor George Delgado.

But the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has warned no scientific evidence exists to support such a process and it could be dangerous to women who seek the injections.

"This approach is not recommended in ACOG’s clinical guidance on medication abortion," said guidelines the group released to its members in 2015 in response to similar legislation in Arizona. The group also noted that while progesterone is generally well-tolerated, it could cause "significant cardiovascular, nervous system and endocrine adverse reactions as well as other side effects."

Let me repeat this - Kremer wants women to be told about an anti-abortion website and an injection that could do serious harm to them. For what purpose? I dunno.

Republicans might consider Kremer to be a rising star but they need to remember that what goes up always comes down. And with dolts like Kremer, it's usually hard and on their face.

The Rebecca Bradley Non-Partisan Ruse

By Jeff Simpson

Supreme Court appointee, and Scott Walker Shrill, Rebecca Bradley is having a rough year.    Ms. Bradley was recently appointed to her third Judge position in three years by Scott Walker. 

Shortly after she was appointed, we found out that she had bought the website "justicerebeccabradley.com", confirming what everyone in WI knew.  The fix was in.

Then in her first official duties as a newly appointed Justice, she sent out a fundraising letter from a prominent member of the community.   Sheriff David Clarke, fresh off of calling "blacks, lazy, uneducated and morally bankrupt", was the one chosen to send the letter.   I guess that kind of talk was exactly what she needed to appeal to her base.

Now, thanks to some research by One Wisconsin now,  we find out what appealed to Scott Walker most about Ms. Bradley that made him start wanting to appoint her to any job he could.    She wrote a column a few years ago, equating birth control with murder and wanting to excuse pharmacists from performing their duties.   

The so called "conscious clause" which allows Pharmacist to morally judge you to see if you are worthy of the prescriptions that  the doctor has written out for the patient.   Ms. Bradley feels that there is no need for a woman to go to a pharmacy to get her prescribed and medically necessary form of birth control, when she has so many other options.

We entrust women ­ even minors ­ with the decisions to conceive, take contraceptives and abort their unborn children. It is certainly reasonable to expect women to plan for obtaining contraceptives from

another pharmacy, the nearest Planned Parenthood or an emergency room.

Yes those are Republican Supreme Court Justice Appointee Rebecca Bradley's own words(not Donald Trumps).  Forgetting the irony that she is touting Planned Parenthood's benefits while her bosses are defunding them as quick as possible, Ms. Bradley seems to think that emergency rooms are a good place for teens to go to get access to contraception. 

If you think that is silly she will be making a headlining appearance on December 6th at the Right Wing Extremist Holiday Party 

Featured Speaker: Justice Rebecca Bradley
Justice Bradley, recently appointed by Governor Walker, will be an incredible addition to the court. We need tough people in these spots cause all hell breaks loose, in Mad City regularly. Rebecca can do the job.

Please RSVP here or directly to
Wisconsin Conservative Digest
11324 W. Potter Rd.
Wauwatosa, WI 53226-3407
414-258-1719
Rdohnal@earthlink.net

That way the GOP can help Ms. Bradley get her nomination papers signed.   

 

   Do we really want to stack the court with bitter right wing partisans who have no time for science, the law or facts and only time to rubber stamp what the Assembly and Governor tells them to?

Let us vote in a real judge this time, one who respects the law as is and is not beholden to anyone.

JoAnne Kloppenburg for Justice! 

GOP Brings HIV To IN, WI Next!

By Jeff Simpson 

Republican test kitchen, Indiana has already been working to defund Planned Parenthood.   They passed a law that defunded Planned Parenthood, because some of them offered abortion services.

Luckily for some women in Indiana, a judge blocked this law from taking effect,  However, the Republicans in Indiana were able to slash funding, which with rising health care costs, has caused a few rural Planned Parenthood offices to close.

In 2005, Planned Parenthood of Indiana received a total of $3.3 million in funding from government contracts and grants. By 2014, that funding had dropped to $1.9 million. Five of Planned Parenthood’s smaller clinics in the state -- the health centers in Scottsburg, Madison, Richmond, Bedford and Warsaw -- were unable to keep up with the growing technology costs that were necessary to remain competitive as a medical provider. All five clinics that were forced to close had offered HIV testing. None had offered abortions.

What happens when we mix Hard Right Republican policies with the real world?   It usually turns into trouble for the people of America:

 Scott County, Indiana, the center of an exploding HIV outbreak, has been without an HIV testing center since early 2013, when the sole provider -- a Planned Parenthood clinic -- was forced to close its doors. The clinic did not offer abortion services.The Scott County clinic and four other Planned Parenthood facilities in the state, all of which provided HIV testing and information, have shuttered since 2011, in large part due to funding cuts to the state's public health infrastructure. Those cuts came amid a national and local political campaign to demonize the health care provider. Now, the state is scrambling to erect pop-up clinics to combat an unprecedented HIV epidemic caused by intravenous drug use.
The fact that Scott County was "without a testing facility until a few weeks ago is a glaring example of the kind of public health crisis that results when prevention and testing are left unfunded," said Patti Stauffer, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky's vice president for public policy

But wait there is more:

In 2011, Planned Parenthood ran five rural clinics in Indiana. They tested for HIV and offered prevention, intervention and counseling for better health. The one in Scott County performed no abortions.
Mothers-to-be in Scott County must drive 50 miles to visit a gynecologist or an obstetrician. That's not an isolated insight. Of Indiana's 92 counties, Scott County has ranked 92nd in unhealthiness for five straight years.
Fewer high school kids there go to college than anywhere else in the state. There is one mental health provider for every 3,500 residents.
There is one physician in town. He saw the HIV outbreak coming and begged the state for help. None came.

How exactly is it "pro-life" to make a pregnant woman living in poverty drive over 50 miles to see a gynecologist?  

While the Republicans, due to long debunked videos,  are fighting each other to decide who can punish Planned Parenthood the most,   What better way to play to their hardcore pseudo Christian base?

While they do that, women are suffering and dying.



Are you ready for this story to come to Wisconsin? Where will it hit first?  Rusk County?  Monroe County?  Sawyer County?  or maybe Washington County!

How long do we have?

The Legislature was too preoccupied before 2013 trying to defund Planned Parenthood and finally succeeded despite court objections.
Scott County has been without an HIV testing center for two years. That's how long it took the epidemic to flourish.

Instead of naming the outbreak(when it gets here) the WI HIV outbreak of 2017, maybe we can name it the "Common Sense Pro-Life Conservative Values" outbreak,  

Sorry Wisconsin women, you get sick, or pregnant you are on your own!

Mike Huckabee and the Downfall of America

By Jeff Simpson

I hesitated to even bring up Mike Huckabee because he is really just an extra in the Republican Primary circus, who has no chance to become our next President(no matter how many times he runs).
However this was to egregious to ignore.   In order to gain traction in the Republican Primary, you have to say that you believe things that are so far to the extreme that most people can not even comprehend but unfortunately in today's version of right wing politics, extremism is the number one job qualification.

Here Mr. Huckabee explains why it is important for an 11 year old rape victim(by her stepfather) to carry a baby to term.

He agreed that it wouldn’t be “easy” to force a 10-year-old girl to carry her rapist’s baby, “but let’s not compound the tragedy by taking yet another life.”
“When an abortion happens, there are two victims,” he insisted. “One is the child, the other is that birth mother, who often will go through extraordinary guilt years later when she begins to think through what happened, with the baby, with her.”

Want to know something even scarier?

 Scott Walker is to the right of Huckabee on abortion.   

I need a shower.  

Scott Walker on Abortion

H/T Jud @UppityWI

It is so typical of the person we know Scott Walker to be. He can't even come out and say YES, he shakes his head to give himself deniability later.  Thank Goodness this reporter pushed him on the answer.  




To be perfectly clear, small government hero Scott Walker opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest!  No exceptions.  

Science on the Down Low

By Jeff Simpson

In what should NOT be a story:

On Wednesday Rep. Jeffrey Mursau, R-Crivitz, the chair of the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry, will co-host a forum with the panel's ranking Democrat, Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, on the effects of climate change in Wisconsin.

When Rep. Mursau and Rep. Fred Clark decided to get together and have a discussion on the effects of climate change, it seemed innocent enough.

The forum will include testimony from a number of experts, including two UW-Madison climate scientists — Dan Vimont and Galen McKinley — and other environmental experts, such as Michelle Miller, associate director of the UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, and David Liebel, a UW engineering professor who specializes in storm water systems.
"Our goal on this thing is to open the conversation with our colleagues about climate change," says Clark.

 In Fitzwalkerstan though, common sense and logic are so 2009.   It seems that having a discussion about climate change and including actual scientists and experts in the discussion is something that is inexcusable.

The right wing noise machine went ballistic, from the racist Brian Sikma to the  racist, sexist, boring Jerry Bader to the shrill, hateful Vicki Mckenna.  All are having a three year old temper tantrum thinking that people might actually learn something during a bipartisan gathering.  

In today;s republican party, open minds, compromise and bipartisanship are unwelcome and will be punished!     As prominent as the hate and ignorance is amongst the base and the right wing echo chamber on the right, a lack of backbone is just as prominent in the elected official class. 

It is this type of controversy that Clark said he is trying to avoid by keeping the forum, which is not an official committee hearing, off-limits to media and the public.
"Unfortunately some of these extreme tea party groups are really threatening a lot of legislators who might even have an interest in coming to learn about this issue," he said. "This is a briefing for legislators. We want to dial down the expectations or the grandstanding as much as possible."

 How sad that when our Legislature is finally discussing one of the most important topics facing mankind, they are forced to do it behind closed doors in private. When people in Wisconsin have an actual opportunity to learn something important and our legislature has a chance to show real leadership, they have to do it on the downlow! 

I guess we are relegated to pushing women around and cronies cashing out with taxpayer money as long as Scott Walker and the republicans are in charge of WI! 

 

Erpenbach/Maddow

By Jeff Simpson

From 11/11/13 - H/T Democurmudgeon

A couple observations. 

*  I did not know that Scott Walker started his career as a carpetbagger. 

* Educated professional people have been calling him a "kook" his whole career. 

*  Scott Walker has always favored BIG government and always will. 

*   We should be wary of anyone who has this much blind ambition. 

* Isn't it ironic that the standard bearer the last three years for "tea party" politicians is "jam through legislation with no public hearing".

Another Abortion Showdown

Ever heard of the blogger Blonde Sagacity? Neither had I until yesterday, when a friend of mine shared her blog with me. I wasn't expecting much from the person who claims to be the "conservative liberals love to hate" (bad news honey, you're far from being the conservative we "love" to hate.) I scrolled through the useless gutter trash of vile and lie filled posts about the Affordable Care Act and President Obama, noticing the usual drivel. Conservative blogs are such a hoot. I think a drooling baby could write better, but that's just my opinion. However, the fun started I got to a post she has up about AB 154, complete with a photo of an aborted fetus. I'm fairly certain the anti-choice movement sits and stares at pictures of aborted babies all day, everyday. It's sort of their passion when you think about it.

AB 154 is a bill recently passed in California expanding abortion care in the state. One of the greatest things about this bill is that it gives a wider rage of healthcare practitioners who can provide abortion care in the first trimester of a pregnancy in the state of California. I noticed that she either didn't want to, or couldn't formulate an opinion on the bill, as she did no actual blogging about it. Instead our dear blogger then links to this, a site so full of right-wing misinformation that is almost laughable, only it's not because people actually believe it. I don't even know where to begin picking it apart. Whether it's the paragraph trying to scare readers into believing this bill simply allows any Planned Parenthood employee to provide abortion care:

"The bill permits licensed non-physicians to perform two kinds of abortion in the first trimester–by medication, and by aspiration, which requires the insertion of medical instruments into the uterus. Though many doctors agree that non-physicians could provide medications with few risks, the idea that a non-physician would perform an invasive procedure such as aspiration strikes many as rife with risks."

The bill allows nurse practitioners, certified nursing midwife's and physician's assistants to be trained to provide abortion services. Know what a nurse practitioner is? One step below being a doctor. That was how it was described to me by my dad's own nurse practitioner, who was working with his brain to figure out the best way to help treat his neurological disability. Hmm....I think I'd trust that person to know what's going on with one's body over a right-wing ideologue, wouldn't you? Someone who has had extensive schooling and work in this subject, who knows what they're doing? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't let someone like Miss Sagacity, or worse, someone like Boehner or Cruz make healthcare decisions for me.

Or this doozy about "back-street" abortions:

"One doctor–who identified himself as pro-choice–told Breitbart News that “the bill is a disaster since it sends us back 100 years to the problems of the complications from back-steet abortions.” The bill’s critics warn that the training provided to non-physician staff is weak, that supervision by physicians in clinics will be minimal, and that there is real risk of injury or death to women who will be treated in such conditions."

First of all, that's back alley, not 'back street' abortion. Sigh. Breitbart 'News' should know that if they're going to make up quotes from obviously fake people, they should at least make it sound legit by using the correct terminology. Secondly, it's this kind of attitude that takes women back to times where they were found dead in alleys, having bled out from their vaginas because the powers at be kept them that way.  When will America wake up and realize that the biggest threat to our healthcare is not Obamacare, or abortion or Planned Parenthood, but these right-wing wackos who have NO knowledge of healthcare period? Sure, let's not make abortions as safe and widely available as possible. Sure Doctor Anonymous, that sounds like it wouldn't have ANY horrific consequences on women at all. That's like suggesting a lock on a gun makes the gun less safe. It's as ridiculous as the morons who believe it.


You might be asking why I'm hounding on this specific blogger and it's because of her willingness to spread horrible misinformation about women's healthcare. I expect that sort of misogynist, backwards crap from conservative men, but women should know better. Frankly, she ought to be ashamed of herself. The biological warfare the GOP is waging against women knows no political bounds. Inside, women are all the same, and attempts and laws limiting our ability to make our decisions affects each and every one of us, not just those of us who are pro-choice. I refuse to believe no conservative or religious woman has never had an abortion or ever took advantage of the great range of services Planned Parenthood provides. Women, it's time to wake up and realize that this fight, the fight to tell us what we can and cannot do with our own vaginas, is every woman's fight. If we don't stand up now and stop these attacks on us, who will? No one can fight for our bodies better than we can.

I want to thank the great state of California for this legislation, which has tons of wonderful support from great groups. My wish is that more states follow this lead and expand in making abortion coverage easy for everyone who needs and wants it. It's my goal to one day see this state legislation, become a federal law.

Sarah Slamen Slams!

By Jeff Simpson

 As we have seen in Wisconsin, the republicans want to hear from you, as long as you tell them what they want to hear. The same crazy tricks the republicans are playing in Wisconsin, they are playing elsewhere also! Here is a perfect example when one of their constituents was sick of their "War on Women" and wanted to let them know how she felt

. These publicly elected officials, were not too interested in what their public had to say!  Nothing like arresting someone for talking.   Luckily, Laurence O'Donnell let her finish!  

Enough with the Republicans are for the Constitution crap.  How about trying to Govern where you do not upset the people so badly? 

PS:  Congratulate Sarah here @Victorianprude. 

Sarah Silverman Wants To Help!

By Jeff Simpson

Comedian Sarah Silverman recently "tweeted" an offer of help to our very own Governor Walker.  

I'd very much like to anally probe @govwalker each time he needs to make an "informed decision" http://t.co/oAcUsGd3eb

— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) July 5, 2013

This of course drove the far right comic website "Newsbusters" insane!  Apparently its ok to legislate forcing women to stick things in their body but NOT ok for a female to joke about doing the exact same thing to a man!  

Especially our forever intimidated Governor Walker!  

THIS is What Democracy Looks Like!

 

By Jeff Simpson

There have been a bunch of neanderthal anti women bills rushed through the Texas Legislature recently that would make Andre Jacque proud.  

Texas Democratic Senator Wendy Davis has had enough and is filibustering this ridiculous extremist Anti- abortion bill. 

Watch it here live! 

Call this amazing woman and voice your support - (512) 463-0110 

Tell Ms. Davis your story here! 

Tweet her your support #standwithwendy @wendydavistexas

And call your local rep and tell them that THIS is what a true representative looks like and that you would support this kind of courage coming from OUR own legislature!  

*this is the line to get into the Senate Gallery....winds around four floors.  Wendy Davis is NOT alone.  Its time to change our politicians all over the country!  

Abortion: My Story

While the actions of Mike Ellis and Mary Lazich, in ramming the forced ultrasound bill through the state Senate, were disgusting, the true effect of this horrendous bill is even worse.   This will greatly affect women who have to come face to face with this choice and the roadblocks that the uneducated big Government republicans have put into place are helping no one.  

To bring us a woman's perspective, Heather Rayne has graciously chosen to share her deeply personal story with all of us. 

While this is Heather's personal story, this could be anyone's.  It could your friend, co-workers, sisters, cousins story also.  Let's keep that in mind before we judge those who have had to face this decision!  

Here are Heather's words, unedited:

I have been writing for many years now. And I have never been one to really hold back. I have written about anxiety, depression, legal issues, drug use - plenty of personal matters most would hide away and not speak about publicly. Those who read my stuff probably think they know pretty much everything about me. And while they know a lot - there are certain things I have left reticent. With much fear and hesitation, I am about to disclose one of them.

This week, our state lawmakers are furthering their draconian agenda by taking on the issue of abortion while voting on budget items. How whether or not a woman decides to proceed with a pregnancy is budget related is beyond me. And I just wish they would come out and say it: "Hey! The "people" who donate to our campaigns, help keep us elected and may be our future employers do not approve of abortion. So, we are going to dismantle these rights one quiet, sneaky step at a time so the general public doesn't even notice." These actions by our legislators have prompted me to speak out. SOMEone needs to be honest here.

I wasn't raped nor was I a victim of incest. My life was not in danger, not any more than the average woman anyway. And I was not merely a child. But I did have an abortion. 

I knew I was pregnant right away. I had the same sick feeling and constant vomiting that I had with each new birth control pill I had tried. Pack after pack - literally right down the toilet. I was petrified and uninsured. I went to Planned Parenthood for a pregnancy test. A fear I never before experienced suddenly became a reality. The test was positive.  I walked home in the dead heat of summer, throwing up on the way, in a complete haze. 

I was in a very unhealthy place. No money, a dysfunctional relationship and a number of bad habits all helped make up the pile of shit I called life. Even though I attempted to imagine adding a child to my world and as much as I had delusions that a baby could fix everything - I was ultimately smart enough to know better.

My boyfriend didn't seem to have much difficulty coming to his conclusion. "We can NOT have a baby right now," were the exact words. Even though I knew he was right, it was still a jagged knife cloaked in rejection and horror. He hated me, I just knew it. And he was afraid. I had the power to ruin the carefree life he so enjoyed. But believe me, it was not a power I would wish on anyone. 

I found out that I was only 4 weeks along and had to wait another week before scheduling the procedure. It may as well have been an eternity.  I was disgusted with myself. I was a smart, young woman and my irresponsibility was embarrassing. I was careless, period. It was my body and I could lay the blame on nobody else. The week was filled with sickness, shame and fear.

Typically, when a woman considers the option of abortion, she does not do so with a grain of salt. Even when there is complete certainty, what-ifs and doubts can weave in like a cancer. This is not a choice made lightly. And it is not a life moment simply forgotten. 

Senator Mary Lazich stated that in the 60’s, having an abortion was thee thing to do; that you almost HAD to have one to be a woman. Not only is this insulting but it is a flat out fairy tale. She couldn’t appear more disconnected if she tried.

I had been warned about protesters but never expected the mob that was there to greet me. Brochures, banners and signs with pictures of fetuses lined the sidewalk. Men, women and children were shouting and dramatically “praying”.

“Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!”  Was screamed into my face over and over until the clinic staff was able to safely help me inside. 

Once I had been extensively counseled and had everything explained to me, I went back to the waiting room for what seemed like an additional week. I couldn't believe it was happening. I couldn't believe I was there. Me. The last person I knew to even have sex. I waited until I was almost 19. I was by no means a "slut".  And I was with that boyfriend for 3 years. A couple of years later and there I was - a loser, a whore, a murderer.

My legs were in the stirrups and I was offered headphones to wear so that I didn't have to hear what was happening - as if that would be enough to throw me into denial. A nurse stood behind me and held my hand while I went through an intensely uncomfortable and heartbreaking procedure. 

On the drive home I felt as though I had just had a lobotomy. I stared out of the window and did not speak. I hated him for letting me go through with it. I hated myself for even being in that position. But that hate faded the more I realized that I had made the best decision possible at the time. You see, a person can have feelings of regret with even the best of decisions.

I had always been pro-choice. I wasn't raised religiously so I didn't have that brand of stigma. But I thought I was better than that. I was smarter. I wasn't like those other chics. Except…I was. 

I have read that about 40% of women have an abortion at some point in their lives. Even if it is only half of that - that is still a shit load of people who are told to hate themselves.

It is certainly not something of which to be proud. It is not a topic for the dinner table or drinks with friends. It is a personal, sensitive issue. But it does exist. It is indeed prevalent. And I do not want to perpetuate this punishment of shame by keeping silent and pretending it only happens to other women. 

Those who devote their lives to condemning people like me feel the need to punish and demean. And this new legislation mandating ultrasounds for abortion patients is yet one more lash on the back of the already wounded. And what is worse, it is being done under the pathetic guise of patient interest.

You see, you cannot punish a woman for this decision. If a woman cares enough to feel guilt, she already does. If punishment would mean anything, you can bet she is already punishing herself. And if she is one of those women to whom it really doesn't bother all that much - signs, blow-horns and ultrasounds will certainly not make an changing impression.

These anti-choice legislators want women in this position to see the fetus before going through with a termination. They want the technician to describe what is on the screen. They want to make sure that she will be disciplined with mental images for the rest of her life. At best, this is mean-spirited. At worst, this is evil. 

Senator Lazich says that women do not fully understand what they are doing without an ultrasound and full description of the “baby” in her womb. Boy she sure thinks we are idiots, doesn’t she? While this choice may come with subsequent guilt and sadness – I can assure you it does not come with confusion. Any woman going in for that procedure knows EXACTLY what the outcome will be.

The clinic did perform an ultrasound on me. However, the screen was turned away and not a word was spoken. I assume that was out of compassion and respect. I did not have to see any images. Yet, all of these years later, I still have moments of guilt and fear and shame. Had I seen the image, I cannot be sure it wouldn't have sent me into a complete downward spiral. Either way, the decision would have remained the same and I am absolutely positive it was the right thing to do, for me.

I am now a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, an aunt, a volunteer, an animal lover, a writer. I help whenever I can help. I love with all of my heart. Hell, I don't even kill spiders. I am just like your neighbor, your friend, your sister, your mother. Abortion is not reserved for the invisible or the criminal or the oddities of society. When you call a woman a murderer for having made this decision, you are likely also referring to someone you care about. 

Abortions are not to be celebrated. No one is PRO abortion. No woman wants to have one and no woman treats it like a trip to the mall. It is one of the most difficult decisions a person can make; a decision that should have NOTHING to do with government, policy or legality. It is one made with tears, difficulty and dare I say, bravery.

I had an abortion and I am no monster. And regardless of my choices in life, no one - NO ONE - has the right or reason to make any sort of mandate on my body.

There are many arguments as to why these anti-abortion bills are perverse. And there are plenty of smart people publishing stories, articles and blogs outlining those arguments. I am simply telling my story so that others know they do not deserve to be shamed for a choice they have made and that they have a voice just as loud as any other.

Having an abortion didn't take away our dignity or our humanity. And I will be damned if I will sit by quietly while the government tries to do just that.