Clintons opposition to the ban on partial birth abortion?

Question

During his term President Clinton oppossed a bill banning partial birth abortion. I know that a lot of people think of the President as a wonderful leader and call President Bush a Terrorist and a baby killer. Now what do you say?

Dear Topcat-
President Clinton didn't propose this bill, he oppossed the ban on partial birth abortion. Do you know what that is?

oh sorry Topekat....not topkat. PS I will provide a link detailing the procedure if you would like.

Dear Answerman- You make some valid points, however like most liberal rantings you are misinformed.
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031105-1.html - 43k

The bill banning partial birth abortion was signed by President Bush in 2003. Thanks for your input.

Dear Boston-

Evidently you know more than Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.

But in reality, as former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and other eminent medical authorities told Congress: "Partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary to protect the mother's health or her future fertility. On the contrary, this procedure can pose a significant threat to both." Also, Jay Sekulow of the Center for Law and Justice said the "so-called health exception" is a false argument aimed at undermining a "law designed to end (a) horrific procedure."

A partial-birth abortion is performed in the second or third trimester and entails inducing a breech delivery with forceps, delivering the legs, arms, and torso only, puncturing the back of the skull with a scissors or trochar, inserting a suction catheter into the skull, sucking out the contents of the skull so as to collapse it and completing the delivery by removing the collapsed skull.

I had no idea I was in such company.

Answer 1

I say you are sadly mis-informed!

Clinton was opposed to the ban on partial-birth abortions since it did not include an exception for the mother's health.

This political hot potato is more of a tempest in a teacup. The so-called partial-birth abortion is an EXTREMELY rare procedure and is NEVER used for theraputic abortions!

No woman has EVER walked in to an abortion clinic and requested this type of abortion. Fact is, it can't be performed in a clinic setting; it's an emergency surgical procedure -- a last resort to save the mother's life when everything else has gone terribly wrong -- that is performed in a hospital setting, i.e. the delivery room or a surgical suite.

Get educated about the facts before you start throwing political mud around, OK?

Even though I consider myself a liberal, I was deeply opposed to this procudure based on the sensationalsim in the media and from the political right-wing. When Mr. Clinton came out opposed to the ban, I decided to do some independant research into the issue. That's when I learned that this is an extremely rare emergency procedure that is ONLY resorted to in a last-ditch effort to save the woman's life. When a birth has proceeded to the point where the attending physician is considering this option, he or she has two choices: Allow both to die, or try to save one. This is a gut-wrenching decision to have to make but we must defer to the knowledge of the attending physician at the moment and allow him or her to do their job. The state has no right inserting itself in such a situation before the fact.

Answer 2

All I have to say is Bush has killed many innocent children in Iraq and Afghanistan. Clinton opposed this bill because it was to inclusive. He banned all partial birth abortions. If the bill would have made the simple statement including an exclusion for the health of the mother I don't think he would have opposed it. But the rupuglicans wouldn't not compromise even that. If you are so sure that Clinton is such a bad man look at it this way, you have a majority in congress and a repuglican president and if they were that serious about passing a bill against partial birth they had every opportunity in the last 6 years with nothing or nobody to oppose them. Why hasn't it been done?

Answer 3

the partial birth abortion ban was opposed by clinton and later struck down by the supreme court because it did not contain an exception to preserve the health or life of the mother. i think they saw a dichotomy between not performing an abortion while killing or permanently injuring the mother and possibly the child as well. bush evidently did not see this as a problem.

Answer 4

Clinton used to be against abortion and when he realized that it would be politically advantageous to be for it he changed his mind. I understand that partial birth abortion is a horrific procedure and it should really be outlawed but the pro abortionists feel that that would start them down the slippery slope of outlawing abortion all together. I'm sure everybody reading this is glad they got the chance to be born.

Answer 5

i think that partial birth abortions are the most brutal form of killing...why not just wait until the whole baby is out then slit its throat like a cow? its already breathing, heart beat strong...why waste your time and ruin your figure by carrying to full term? just have it then throw it in the dumpster. so you can rot in jail with everyone else.

Answer 6

both clintons would vote on any bill that dangers human life, much like this recent one, the 'morning after pill'

Answer 7

I agree with clintons pba propossed bill. And I voted for Clinton. Who cares about his sex life.

Answer 8

Clinton was a war-mongering butcher.