where it hurts

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Dec 12, 2006

The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act didn't make it last week. This from the New York Times's account:

On a 250-to-162 vote, backers of the measure fell short of the two-thirds majority necessary to pass the bill, which would require medical personnel to inform women that a fetus could experience pain and to offer anesthesia for the fetus. The supermajority vote was required under special rules used to consider the bill.

Democrats accused Republicans, who will no longer be in the majority next year, of trying to score political points. The measure had no chance of becoming law in the last few days of this session.

“We are wasting time today on a bill that is laden with rhetoric but very little science,” said Representative Lois Capps, Democrat of California.

But Republicans said the measure was intended to allow women to make informed choices when considering an abortion. They disputed scientific research suggesting that a fetus did not experience pain. “This legislation is very, very badly needed,” said Representative Phil Gingrey, Republican of Georgia, an obstetrician.

National Right to Life makes clear there were thirteen women sponsors of this bill. It's inconceivable that none of them spoke to the measure on the floor of the House, and that no men spoke against. So what do we get from the NYT? Cartoons, to illustrate the NARAL catechism: women support abortion, men oppose it.