On January 13, the four “leading” candidates for Congress in CD-48 held a debate in Huntington Beach (I’m unclear on the criteria for determining the four but it likely has to do with early entries into the race, fundraising or ability to self-fund). Please click the link to watch the entire debate.
On stage for the event: Dr. Hans Kierstead, Harley Rouda, Laura Oatman and Omar Siddiqui (and we’re still trying to fgure out why Siddiqui is running in this district instead of CD-39 where he lives and if anyone under the age of 40 remembers what the phrase “Reagan Democrat” means).
When asked to raise a hand for yes or leave it down for no, the candidates were given the question: “Do you believe in any restrictions to a woman’s right to access an abortion?”
Rouda’s hand went up.
Which caused eyebrows to go up.
Rouda certainly was questioned about this action because he took to Facebook the next day to clarify what he meant:
Donald Trump and Dana Rohrabacher continue to take us backwards on women’s rights.
I am proudly 100% pro-choice. Period.
In Congress, I’ll never vote to tell a woman what to do with her body. That’s between her and her doctor, not members of Congress.
…
I’ll vote to repeal the Hyde amendment, because everyone deserves access to medical care.
I’ll work to protect and expand access to women’s health, reproductive rights and preventative care, and increase funding of Planned Parenthood, because the care they give is essential to the well-being of millions of women and families.
This is a settled debate, abortion should be safe, legal and accessible.
I reached out to Rouda for more clarity, because the Hyde Amendment means no federal funds for abortion but that wasn’t the question being asked. Rouda responded:
“Let me be absolutely clear; I am proudly 100% pro-choice period. My wife Kaira and I have donated thousands of dollars to Planned Parenthood over the years and I celebrate the fact that California has some of the strongest protections for women’s reproductive freedom in America. That’s what I would have said had I been given the chance to answer in full at Saturday’s debate.
I raised my hand because I stand with NARAL and Planned Parenthood. NARAL supports limits on abortions in the 3rd trimester when the fetus and mother are both healthy. Planned Parenthood supports bands and sex selection abortion. Most Californians support these obvious restrictions and I think my fellow Democratic candidates do too. It is a nuanced issue to say the least and I think the question should be asked of the other candidates: do they disagree with NARAL and Planned Parenthood?”
We shared Rouda’s note with Nicole Ramirez from Planned Parenthood. She responds:
“Abortion is a deeply personal decision and ultimately decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy, or raise a child must be left to the woman. Planned Parenthood provides women with all of her options and trusts her to make the best decision for her needs. We don’t support bans and we don’t support abortions for sex selection. We support a woman’s right to make her own decisions.”
With future debates scheduled, expect questions of all candidates on women’s choice to surface again.
Its nice to know that Rouda believes in unfettered Infanticide, which usually results from irresponsible behavior. Mother Theresa of Calcutta said it best…
“We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other?”
and..
“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”
But hey.. you are the asshole that has to live with the decision. People like Rouda who are proud of facilitating Infanticide, are not worthy to lead.
Semantics are just that… call it whatever you like if it makes you feel good. I will continue to call it what it is. Murder.