Representative Speier’s “procedure”
Last night during House floor debate on the amendment to defund Planned Parenthood, pro-abort CA Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier apparently became so incensed by pro-life Rep. Chris Smith’s speech preceding hers, she decided to reveal her own “procedure” in order to shame him…
Speier said:
I planned to speak about something else. But the gentleman from New Jersey just put my stomach in knots. I’m one of those women he spoke about just now. I had a procedure at 17 weeks pregnant with a child who moved from the vagina into the cervix. The procedure you just described is the procedure I endured. I lost the baby. And for you to stand on this floor and suggest that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought, is preposterous.
“A child who moved from the vagina into the cervix”? I appreciated that this was clearly a sensitive issue for Speier, but I had to tweet at the time that her comment made no sense, biologically speaking.
Perhaps Speier misspoke, being unprepared and emotional. But since she brought it up as a defense of abortion and continuing to fund Planned Parenthood, I think she needs to clarify.
Perhaps Speier meant to say her baby moved from the cervix to the vagina, as in an incompetent cervix or premature delivery.
Then Speier said, “I lost the baby.” That phrase doesn’t mix with abortion. Did her baby die before being removed? If so, Speier did not have an abortion, as the word is commonly understood.
Finally, not being able to say the word, “abortion,” if that’s what she had, and also indicating it was something she “endured,” does not bode well for promoting it.
So, for a few reasons I’m not clear Speier actually had an abortion.
Abortion proponents like EMILY’s List are calling Speier’s speech an “act of sheer bravery” as “one of the women that Republicans callously speak of in abstraction.”
So I think Speier needs to clarify what exactly happened if she is going to allow her peeps to make her a poster child for abortion.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Yeah, I’m not really sure what she was saying. Women who have abortions don’t “lose babies”, they intentionally get rid of babies. If she’s saying she had a miscarriage and the baby’s body had to be surgically removed, that’s not the same thing as an abortion at all.
My question exactly. This is the worst kind of pro-abortion propaganda – equating what probably was a D&C after spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) with D&C for elective abortion. They are masterful at it, aren’t they? I hope you get to the bottom of this.
Right. There is a world of difference of removing a baby that has died of natural causes and one that is killed by the act of removing in piece by piece. Or did she have an abortion because there was a diagnosis of some kind and she decided to abort. Anyway, the point was to detract from the subject being discussed. Kind of like the mayo sandwich routine.
Her response doesn’t make any sense for several reasons. Besides the ones that Jill brought up, she says that defunding PP has “nothing” to do with reducing the deficit. Ummm, wouldn’t it save us millions of dollars?
Also she says that PP has a right to provide family planning services and abortions. The proposed amendment does not attempt to take that “right” away as she implies. It merely says that the taxpayers should not have to participate in PP exercising that “right.”
Finally, she implies that because she herself took this “procedure” seriously, then EVERY person who “endures” this “procedure” must take it seriously. The fact that she conflates her own experience with every single other woman’s experience stating that NO other woman takes this “procedure” cavalierly just because she herself didn’t is…well…preposterous.
I understand she was emotional, but she just didn’t make any sense.
Women can make sense even when they’re emotional. Emotions had nothing to do with it. It was either ignorance or propaganda.
she must mean traveled from the uterus to the vaginal area or cervix. the way she said it meant that the baby moved up from the vaginal area to cervix. I don’t believe her that she did not plan to say this. I think it was clearly planned.
Perhaps she’s confusing (either by accident or design) the technical definition of abortion with the colloquial one, as Michele suggested. But since it’s obvious that abortion, in common parlance and with regards to this debate specifically, is used to refer only to elective abortion, then…IDK. This just doesn’t make sense, in general or as a defense of abortion funding specifically.
This isn’t the first time I’ve heared of an abortion advocate describing a miscarriage and somehow trying to say that an aboriton ban would ban treatment for a miscarriage. I can never figure out if they’re ignorant or deliberately misleading people.
When people tell us “if you don’t like abortion don’t have one” why don’t they listen to us when we say, “We don’t like abortion and we’re not paying for yours”
And pro-abortion advocates always think their emotional pleas are so important, why don’t they listen to Gianna Jesson. She deserves every minute of her natural life span. Everyone deserves every minute of their life span.
I sincerely hope she is not as ignorant of anatomy as her remarks suggest. I know an OB/GYN whose post-abortive patients will use terminology like, “The doctor had to take the baby” to describe the abortions they chose for convenience reasons. If it was a miscarriage (“I lost a child”), it was about as relevant to the discussion as her Halliburton reference. BTW, I think I’ve found Robert Berger’s soulmate in Gwen Moore with her Ramen statements.
You’ve all touched on the point I wanted to make. This is a perfect example of how important it is for us to get the language right when talking about abortion. Spontaneous abortion (which is more commonly known as miscarriage) is NOT the same as elective abortion (or abortion). A 2003 story at articles.sf.gate.com about Speier states that she gave birth to a son, had a miscarriage, then a second miscarriage, in her second trimester. Her “procedure” at seventeen weeks would appear to correspond to the 2nd trimester miscarriage, but we can’t know for sure at this point.
It is really pathetic that these things have to be discussed on the floor of the House of Representatives at all, but given that abortion is legal, it’s necessary. She is correct about one thing, we’d all rather be discussing the economy.
Lord, have mercy on us all.
This so-called feminist pulled another dirty trick on her male counterparts, and that is the use of an emotional “argument.” She knew they’d be at a loss as to how to answer. Who could say anything unless they’d had a such an experience themselves, whatever it was? As a woman, I say this is despicable. Instead of persuading, she attempted to shame. Shame on her.
Spontaneous abortion is to forced abortion what death by lightening strike is to death by electric chair.
Women in the House can and should speak emotionally about their miscarriage experience as beyond their control. Abortion is a choice, and miscarriage is not. I’ve lost two children through miscarriage, and conflating the two makes me really angry. It’s dishonest and cruel to women who’ve suffered miscarriage. We need to do a louder job of callling proaborts out on this.
“So I think Speier needs to clarify what exactly happened if she is going to allow her peeps to make her a poster child for abortion.”
Exactly, Jill. Already the MSM is using the word abortion.
~ ~ ~
You’ve all touched on the point I wanted to make. This is a perfect example of how important it is for us to get the language right when talking about abortion. Spontaneous abortion (which is more commonly known as miscarriage) is NOT the same as elective abortion (or abortion). A 2003 story at articles.sf.gate.com about Speier states that she gave birth to a son, had a miscarriage, then a second miscarriage, in her second trimester. Her “procedure” at seventeen weeks would correspond to the 2nd trimester miscarriage.
It is really pathetic that these things have to be discussed on the floor of the House of Representatives at all, but given that abortion is legal, it’s necessary. She is correct about one thing, we should be/would rather be discussing the economy.
Lord, have mercy on us all.
If opponents of unborn human rights would just see the light, PLEASE, and vote to end the violence against our children once and for all, then, yes, we would all be more than happy to move on and deal with our economic problems, a great many of which were caused by the very same politicians, abortionist Democrats, who are also anti-free market (and therefore economically ignorant) Democrats.
Spontaneous abortion is to forced abortion what death by lightening strike is to death by electric chair.
Mary Ann,
I had to think about that for a second. Very good analogy!
Mods,
Sorry for the duplicate posts! Can you please delete the first one at 1:31?
Janet – can you pls provide a link to that story you referenced?
Just got a call & found the verification: Pence amendment passes!
More in depth.
Abortion proponents like EMILY’s List are calling Speier’s speech an “act of sheer bravery”
Just like Silent No More right?
http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/
” The procedure you just described is the procedure I endured. I lost the baby”
Whoa there! 17 weeks is a fetus! PP and NARAL need to give her a call. She is misleading vulnerable women!
Inaccurate medical information!!!!!!
Jill,
Here’s the link:
http://articles.sfgate.com/2003-11-16/opinion/17516965_1_open-fire-guyana-airstrip
Michelle 1:35, you’re exactly right.
I don’t understand what this woman was saying….most babies grow in the uterus, anyone who’s taken human biology knows that.
And her “procedure” doesn’t have ANYTHING to do with Planned Parenthood’s 365 Million tax payer money. She probably had it done at a hospital.
Dear Jill,the Article on The Woman who Survived The “Abortive Attempt” on her life in Jonestown is very telling,,,,,,,{residents of Jonestown either Drank the cyanide laced kool-aid or were injected with it,,,,}. it’s just like the being hit by lightning / being electrocuted analogy,,,,,,just saying!
Blogged on this early in the morning, and commented on Speier’s inability to describe the procedure which she had endured, which certainly did not occur at a planned parenthood clinic. It might be prudent for this representative to recuse herself from certain decisions due to the damaging effects of the personal trauma, and its effect oh her judgment and understanding.
Thanks to Janet for the Link which will be appended.
I just called Jackie’s DC office 202-225-3531 to have her define her “procedure”. Let’s see if she will call me back. I am not her constituent. She makes no sense on any level. Also, she also lost me when she stated it be irresponsible to defund a company if it were proven they were guitly of bribes extortion etc….. Yikes. Why would you EVER say this out loud to the American people.
Whoa – I just read about Jackie Speier’s life at that link Janet shared. I think she is mad at God because of all the evil that has befallen her. We really need to pray for her – what a tragedy! Her heart has been broken and the enemy has tried to destroy her many times. She needs to feel, know and understand the true love of God to receive her healing. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance, after all. I hope she experiences the Loving Kindness of the King soon.
We need to be very gentle when discussing this. Something like, “When we read/heard her statements, we were curious and investigated. It turned out that she had a miscarriage, and evidently needed a procedure to help her body to finish delivering her baby. While this is very sad, we’re also sad that she was misled by the abortion lobby into believing that such a procedure is an abortion. We fear that her statements might lead women in circumstances like hers to go to an abortion facility, where they might receive substandard care, rather than to a properly equipped facility.”
If she has such a problem with Haliburton, she can feel free to address that problem when it’s appropriate. However, Rep. Speier made no sense, presented a horribly weak argument, and assumed that a few emotional moments would carry her through. Any debate team should be able to blow past that pretty quickly.
Furthermore, if that’s the understanding that groups like Planned Parenthood provided her for the reason she ‘endured’ that procedure, I wouldn’t call it a good reason to continue to fund PP.
I agree – and it’s understandable that this woman, with so much tragedy, would get things mixed up – especially when speaking in the moment.
It is regrettable that she would mix up a D & C after miscarriage and abortion. The abortion procedure may indeed look the same – but the baby is alive when it is performed. In a miscarriage, the baby is already dead. The removal of the dead baby’s body is secondary in time to its death.
Anything that purposely causes the death of the baby (performed in a medical setting or started on purpose) is an abortion – if it’s done by surgery or medicine, by forceps, suction, stopping of the heart, pre-term birth or any such thing. If it’s purpose – to cause the end of the pregnancy and bring about the end of the life of the baby – then it’s an abortion.
How much tragedy can one woman go through? And I feel for her if she thinks that abortion is just AOK. After all the death and destruction she has seen, one would think that she would value life, every single second. Praying for a gentler next part of life for her…
Klynn73, OMG!!! 240 to 185!!!!! I’m having a big heaping bowl of ramen noodles to celebrate!!!!
ninek, I hate to burst your bubble, but Obama is going to veto it, and 240 to 185 is not a two thirds majority. And don’t even get me started about what’s going to happen to this bill when it reaches the Senate.
Mmmm, my noodles taste so good right now!!
Don’t worry Austin, we’ve only just begun!!
But PP will be getting the message that they can no longer just abuse women and young girls and expect to get away with it. Their Obamessiah won’t always be there to veto for them.
:) Ninek, that was a laugh and a half! Enjoy your Ramen! Good, and good for you, and a great way to celebrate sanity! (And cheap!)
I’m sorry, but I just DON’T buy her “emotional” plea. She knows full well what the difference between a miscarriage and an abortion is. She ‘s doing nothing more than trying to make it look like every woman who has such a “procedure” at PP is doing so because the baby died naturally…and we all know this is just baloney. How stupid does she think we are ? She’s a lousy actress as far as I’m concerned.
Not that it’s anyone’s bidniz, but when I went to PP after the miscarriage I suffered at home, they not only sent me away, they were rude to me. I ended up going from the frying pan into the fire after that because the ob/gyn I paid out of pocket to see was no star either. You know what they call a medical student who finishes last in her class? Doctor.
Anywhoo, I’m off to make me a mayonaise sammich, with black pepper like Dad used to make!
ninek LOL, yes…and my children love Ramen. Paladin, don’t know if you followed the link on my comment @1:18, but Rep (D-WI, bleak week for my neighbors to the East) Gwen Moore’s contribution to the Pence amendment discussion was that children are better off dead by abortion than to grow up poor, forced to eat Ramen. Yes, she really did.
My posts at 1:31 pm and 1:40 were close duplicates but not identical so I’m happy to see they are both still up. Somehow I posted the first without realizing it.
I made edits and the following important qualification I made (found in my first version) was mistakenly excluded from my second veresion, so I’d just like to stress this point I made in my 1:40:pm comment.
Her “procedure” at seventeen weeks would appear to correspond to the 2nd trimester miscarriage, but we can’t know for sure at this point.
I also wish to extend my condolences to Ms. Speier. [That part of my comment was edited out unintentionally (by my own mixed-up editing).]
Sorry for any confusion.
@Mike, me too. I’m going to have to agree w/Michele’s 1:35p.m. comment & add that I think that part of her remarks is the equivalent of the tired “you men can have no voice in what’s only a WOMEN’S issue!”
Joy, I took away the same impression from reading about her experiences, particularly the mention of Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. I wish people would recognize two very fundamental truths: 1)God is good & 2) We’ve got an enemy, folks. Jesus was very clear when He said He is come that we might have life and life abundantly. The enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy. So, if there is anything in your life that resembles stealing, killing or destroying, God is not the author of it. He’ll certainly come right alongside to comfort and care for the afflicted, but blaming Him for tragedy is like saying policemen cause car accidents, because I see them at the site of nearly every one I drive by!
My prayer for Rep Speier is that she would know the God who hasn’t left her side during so much turmoil in her life. And that she would apply her mantra “Don’t just survive, survive and thrive” to protecting unborn children’s right to continue doing just that, without fear of suction or curette.
Someone at Wikipedia has already updated Speier’s bio stating…”In a speech on the House floor on February 17, 2011, Speier said that she herself had undergone an emergency abortion when complications developed in a wanted pregnancy.”
As others have stated, she never used the word abortion…only the word procedure. She definitely needs to clarify herself.
Hi Jill,
I questioned that anatomical description as well. It sounds like she may have had an incompetent cervix. Or perhaps a miscarriage.
Perhaps Ms.Speier doesn’t want to be specific. If the baby died naturally, while tragic, is not comparable to aborting. She can say she had a “procedure” which she likely did, it was traumatic and devastating… absolutely…, sooo, she can relate to women having abortions…. well sort of.
If PP wants and can obtain private funding, like any number of charities that function very well and efficiently, then it has a right to do so as Speier says. Stopping taxpayer funding does not mean PP has to shut down. Certainly any number of wealthy liberals and celebrities will be happy to put their money where their mouths are and help PP stay open.
Hi Lori,
I just saw your post. If Wikipedia is accurate, then this is hardly comparable to a woman having an abortion.
Mary
Of course she doesn’t want to be specific she wants to make him feel intellectually challenged and like he’s the perpetrator of violence so the killing of babies can continue unchallenged. That of course will be the tactic because it has worked so well for so long. And because we are Americans women thankfully have a real voice here and people listen, my prayer is that our political leaders will have the ability to discern what is true mercy and what is just organized rhetoric.
The Congresswoman is confusing “right” with “license”. Planned Parenthood has no right to taxpayer funding of their signature product, which is the killing of children, the shattering of mothers and the destruction of fatherhood.
Every family does have the right, however, to love and to be loved, to life-affirming health care, to support in times of crisis, and the encouragement of better days ahead.
Follow the money to find the mission.
Hi myrtle,
I suspect the Congresswoman had an obstetrical emergency, resulting in a “procedure” and she is being vague so as to claim she “understands” the woman having an abortion. See, I can relate to you ladies, it “happened” to me. I can speak on your behalf since I “know” your pain.
Kind of like that slovenly filmmaker, and I use the term loosely, Michael Moore claiming he is just a working class guy from Flint,MI when in fact he had a privileged upbringing in a suburb of Flint.
Privileged upbringing?
Not dirt poor, but working class I’d say:
Moore was born in Flint, Michigan[1] and raised in Davison, a suburb of Flint, by parents Veronica (née Wall), a secretary, and Frank Moore, an automotive assembly-line worker.[5][6][7] At that time, the city of Flint was home to many General Motors factories, where his parents and grandfather worked. His uncle LaVerne was one of the founders of the United Automobile Workers labor union and participated in the Flint Sit-Down Strike.[8] Moore has described his parents as “Irish Catholic Democrats, basic liberal good people.”[9]
Moore was brought up Roman Catholic,[10] attended parochial St. John’s Elementary School for primary school and originally intended to join the seminary.[5][11][12][13] He then attended Davison High School, where he was active in both drama and debate,[14] graduating in 1972. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.[15] At the age of 18, he was elected to the Davison school board
Hi Hal,
He and his three siblings attended parochial school, not cheap.
He definitely had no working class upbringing in Flint,MI, or anywhere else, as he likes the world to believe. I know Flint,MI. I had relatives there, theirs a far cry from an upbringing in Davison,MI. Davison median income was one and half times that of Flint. This suburb was largely inhabited by management, not labor. It also had a non-existent black population.
Also Hal, do you think Moore could dispense with his patronizing and elitist ”working man” personna?
Moore, being a multimillionaire in spite of his supposed loathing of capitalism, may be oblivious to the fact that working people are not slovenly but rather shave, visit a barber, buy decent clothes, and maintain a healthy weight.
He and his three siblings attended parochial school, not cheap.
Mary,
My siblings and I almost all attended parochial school. We were very solidly in the “working class” sect. In fact, I used to go into my parochial school at nights with my Dad and help him clean the classrooms because it was so tiring for a man who also worked for a truck plant (no, not management). Thanks to the aid of the school, great church programs, and an incredibly devoted set of parents, I and my siblings received excellent education.
I am NOT defending Moore’s arguments. I don’t know the details of his childhood, honestly. In my experience, many… far more than half… of the students at parochial schools come from the upper-middle class at least. However, I just want to point out that the costs of your education does not automatically designate your social status.
Hi Mary Rose,
Good point.
Working class people in my neighborhood also sent several children to parochial schools. I certainly came from a working class background as well.
I was trying to point out that Moore’s childhood was not the hardscrabble working class life he has tried to portray it as. Attending parochial school was not cheap, and that was the point I was making. There were chilcren who didn’t go to parochial because their parents could not afford it. In addition to living in an expensive suburb, the Moores could also sent 4 children to parochial school. Obviously, they were not some hardscrabble working people living in Flint.
As I pointed out to Hal, I equally resent and find very laughable Moore’s “working man” persona.
Good grief man, get a shave, visit a barber, eat and exercise properly and check out K-Mart. They’ve got some great clothes.