Folks, you've probably seen this on the current front page diary. Just when you thought the Republicans couldn't get anymore insane on the abortion front... along comes Joe Pitts!
Well, over at Left Action, we've got a petition going on this, and... for every signature we get, we're going to send one "nut" to Joe Pitts to show just how "nuts" we think this is.
We hit 1,000 sigs in the first hour, and... it's still going and growing like crazy. Full details below the fold, but... if you like it, check it out, spread the word, and fight back against this insanity.
(Cross posted from Left Action)
(This is NUTS. And we'll deliver one nut to Rep. Pitts for each signature to make that point)
Okay, so just when you thought Republicans couldn't get more insane on the abortion front... here comes a new bill (HR 358). One that would allow hospitals to refuse emergency abortions -- even if it means DEATH for the woman.
The controversy over "forcible rape" may be over, but now there's a new Republican-sponsored abortion bill in the House that pro-choice folks say may be worse: this time around, the new language would allow hospitals to let a pregnant woman die rather than perform the abortion that would save her life... critics say a new language inserted into the bill just this week would go far beyond Stupak, allowing hospitals that receive federal funds but are opposed to abortions to turn away women in need of emergency pregnancy termination to save their lives. The sponsor of H.R. 358, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) is a vocal member of the House's anti-abortion wing. (source)
Representative Pitts: ARE YOU INSANE?
This is nuts. And for each signature on this petition, we will deliver one actual "nut" to Representative Pitts to show just how nuts we think it is.*
Pitts' new bill would free hospitals from any abortion requirement under EMTALA, meaning that medical providers who aren't willing to terminate pregnancies wouldn't have to -- nor would they have to facilitate a transfer. The hospital could literally do nothing at all, pro-choice critics of Pitts' bill say. "This is really out there," Donna Crane, policy director at NARAL Pro-Choice America told TPM. "I haven't seen this before." (source)
Look, abortion is a tough issue, and people have strong feelings on it, and principled differences. We get that.
But anyone who would go so far as to let a woman die rather than treat her -- that person has ceded any claim whatsoever to be "pro life."
We need to oppose this, and we need to oppose this strongly. We pushed back on their horrific attempt to redefine "forcible rape", and we won. We need to push back once again and we need to push back hard.
Sign the petition, pledge your support, and leave a message for Joe Pitts and Congress to let them know how you feel.