Forty years ago today, the Supreme Court in a 7-2 decision, declared the right of women to an abortion, with three Richard Nixon appointments to the Court–author of the decision Harry Blackmun, and Chief Justice Warren Burger and Associate Justice Lewis Powell—joining two Eisenhower appointees—Potter Stewart and William Brennan—one Johnson appointee, Thurgood Marshall—and one Roosevelt appointee, William O. Douglas—in the majority.
Only Associate Justice Byron White, appointed by Kennedy; and William Rehnquist, appointed by Nixon, were in the minority.
Forty years later, the pro life and pro choice movements are still locked in constant combat, but with public opinion polls showing 54 percent want abortion rights retained all of the time or most of the time, with 44 percent against. And 70 percent in a poll do not want to see Roe V Wade overturned.
But meanwhile, Republican state legislatures in the past two years have passed a total of over 130 laws restricting the rights of abortion, and curbing the number of abortion providers.
Four states have made it almost impossible for women to obtain an abortion—Mississippi, Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
So the federal allowance for abortion may exist, but in the South and Great Plains areas of the nation, it is becoming nearly impossible for abortions to be obtained, no matter whether it is because of rape, incest, life of the mother, or just any other reason, whether seemingly justifiable or not.
Abortion is an emotional issue, and one that most people would say needs to remain legal and safe but also RARE, and should not be used as a method of birth control, or because of reckless personal behavior. It is not an issue that will disappear anytime soon, but for now, the odds of reversing Roe V. Wade on the national level are remote, as Barack Obama will not appoint a Supreme Court Justice who gives any hint of wishing to overturn what many call the most controversial decision of the latter half of the 20th century.
More than 40 millions assassinations have occurred thanks to Roe v Wade. I wonder when the White House and Democrats will use children to promote free choice.
Juan .,, Do you have a vagina? Do you have a uterus? Have you ever been raped? Have you ever been pregnant? Would you be outraged if the government told you could not make decisions about your own body?
If the answer is NO to any of these questions, then YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS WHAT SO EVER MOUTHING OFF ABOUT ROE vs WADE!
Get a grip. You’ve just eliminated the need for reasonable people to pay any attention to your comments .
Bravo Maggie!!!! Spoken like a true Eastern Shore Woman.. 🙂 I’m proud of you.
Hello Professor and Maggie,
Unlike some people’s thinking, an egg on a McMuffin is, in fact, not a “Chicken,†an Acorn is not an “Oak Treeâ€, and a silk worm’s cocoon is not a “Dressâ€â€¦..which is as extreme and silly as some people’s beliefs and thinking today.
I liken this accuracy to that of statements by Congressman Todd Akin, “Rape victims don’t get pregnant,†(by the way he lost his election because of his stupid and extreme statements) or Congressman Paul Ryan’s statement that, “Rape victims should give birth to their rapist’s child.†(This of course is just one factor example that blew any chance of a Republican Presidential election. A fact that I took great pleasure in. The Republican Party will have to expunge this radical aspect within the Party before any return to validity can be hoped for. I look forward to this day in great anticipation.)
Yes I am hoping for more stupid statements from this segment that has infected my Republican Party and the self inflicted purging of this scourge from my 150 year family legacy of belong to the Party.
May I suggest that Paul Ryan be gang ass raped to see if he still agrees with this statement? Baring some miracle, I am sure he wouldn’t get pregnant which then Todd Akin could point to as evidence of the accuracy of his statement.
There Problem Solved!!
Maggie: You seem a little upset and of course intolerant. I believe the “Professor” has written that abortion should not be used as birth control, and I agree. I also would not force a woman to give birth to a child product of rape, or if her life is in danger. Now, that said, even in those cases it is still murder, but unfortunately humans and the world is not perfect, we do what we can. Also comparing an unborn child to a body part is really displaying your ignorance. Finally, women can do what they want with their vaginas, as well as men can do what they want with their penis, nevertheless that does not mean they can be irresponsible and as a consequence of their irresponsibility murder should be allowed nor should the rest of society pay for it.
Way to go Maggie! 🙂