Asking Questions

I know I promised to stay out of the abortion fight, but I came across this post over on Kevin Drum's site, Political Animal, and I have to share it. It was posted by a woman who goes simply by Diane, and it is the most practical, common-sense statements on the issue I have seen yet. I share her post here, where she directs her questions directly to Senator Rick Santorum, for you to judge independently: (Rick tries to equate slavery with abortion in his new book.)

"No, Rick, slavery is defined as exhausting labor, drudgery, enslavement, bondage, subjugation. Isn't compulsory motherhood more akin to slavery than abortion? Isn't forcing rape victims to give birth against their will slavery?

And Rick, since abortion is usually the result of unintended pregnancy, what legislation have you proposed to decrease unintended pregnancies? Do you support comprehensive sex education for teens so that those who are sexually active can protect themselves from needing abortion services? Do you support free and widely available contraceptives for all sexually active girls and women/men and boys?

Surely Rick, you must be aware that making abortion illegal doesn't stop women from having them. I'm sure you've seen the abortion statistics for Latin and South America and Africa. What would you say to the husbands, children and families of the women who have died from illegal abortion?"

I join Diane, and many others in a chorus of rising voices as the following gauntlet is thrown down:

All Americans should hear Rick's answers to the questions....someone needs to ask them.

Consider them asked.