Sen. Joan Bray angers male senators with comments on abortion bill
Bray
JEFFERSON CITY — The fallout from the Senate compromise on the abortion bill grew exponentially this morning.
Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, chastised Sen. Joan Bray, D-University City, on the floor of the Senate this morning for her comments last night criticizing the “men” who control the abortion debate for disrespecting women. (More on that in a bit).
And the compromise that senators worked so hard at might have gone up in smoke. Anti-abortion lobbyists told key House members this morning that they oppose the compromise because they believe it undoes hard-fought for regulations in the informed consent law passed in 2003.
According to anti-abortion activist Sam Lee, the bill that came out of the Senate opens up the possibility that the existing informed consent laws would be put on hold during a possible legal challenge of the new law. That’s because of a provision that gives the Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic a 3-year pass on following the new law. Theoretically, Lee says, Planned Parenthood could sue over most of the law, but not that section. During the several years a court case might take, the 2003 provisions might not be enforceable, he said.
Lee sent a letter to House speaker pro tem Bryan Pratt this morning urging him to oppose the new abortion bill. The House could send it’s older version to the Senate, or it could seek a conference where compromise could be reached.
As for Goodman and Bray, their testy exchange this morning led Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler to walk out at one point.
Last night, Bray gave an impassioned speech decrying what she called the sexism behind abortion bills year after year. Her strongest line implied that lawmakers were “pro-life” with their wives and “pro-choice” with their girlfriends. No senators responded to the line at the time.
But this morning Goodman called Bray’s remarks “highly offensive” and “slanderous.”
Goodman said Bray had insulted “decent, committed families” and Senate spouses who shoulder the job of being a single parent during the week when the Legislature is in session.
Bray responded that she was talking about the ethical culture of the Capitol.
“I did not say this chamber specifically. I said around here.”
Engler left the chamber during Bray’s remarks. When he returned he said he didn’t want to listen to that “crap.”
Below is the full speech Bray gave last night. Thanks to Bob Watson for the transcript:
“After multiple years on this issue, I’m sick of it. I’m totally sick of it.
I’m sick of women being treated like they are so stupid that they can’t make their own decisions regarding their reproductive rights and their bodies.
I’m sick of women having no options, and being coerced to give birth.
I’m sick of a bunch of men around here, year after year after year, piling up restriction after restriction after restriction on women who found themselves in a very unhappy, unpleasant circumstance of an unwanted pregnancy.
Missouri has the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and, as a result, Missouri’s women are put in danger when they finally do ever get to have an abortion — they’re later and they’re tougher abortions to have because there are so many barriers to Missouri women getting to have a safe and legal abortion.
I am sick of the disrespect for women who come to the Capitol defending a woman’s legal right to choose an abortion.
I am sick that they’re being treated dismissively and rudely.
I’m sick of the ethic around here that men are pro-life for their wives and pro-choice for their girlfriends.
I’m sick of the failure to take steps that would, in fact, reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, through sex education, contraception, family planning and emergency contraception.
No man in this body will ever have an unwanted pregnancy.
But, mark my word, your daughters, your wives, your sisters, your granddaughters, your nieces will.
And your actions here tonight will disrespect and diminish them.”
Typical libtard narcissistic rants from a loony leftist Demoncrat: “it’s all about ME” “MY body, MY choice.” Yes, females get pregnant. Don’t like it, sue God. You can use whatever euphemisms you want Sen. Bray, but you’re still advocating the termination of another human being’s life. Plain and simple. Painting stripes on a horse does not make it a zebra. Abortion is a killing of an innocent life. Thankfully, Missouri has term limits so our legislature will not be polluted with Bray’s purulent presence indefinitely.
Women do have a choice. Don’t have unprotected sex. It seems very simple to me yet I believe most Democrats want to use abortion as some sort of birth control. In this day and age there is absolutely no reason (short of rape)for a woman to get pregnant if she doesn’t want to. It is irresponsible to believe otherwise.
Why is it that pro-choicers always say that the decision as the mother is being taken away. The mother prior to having sex has the choice to contreception or her partner’s use of the same. That is the choice. Not after a life is created. I’ll bet Ms. Bray has one set of standards for herself and one for her constituents. How ignorant of a statement.
“Why don’t we let the people with working female reproductive systems work on this one. . . ?” –bababooey
In that case, Joan Bray, 63, undoubtedly would be disqualified! Now you are restricting political and moral debate to fertile females???
Obviously, I am pro-choice. Its easy to be pro-life. It’s much harder to say, I disagree with what you choose, but it’s your body and your CHOICE. Kind-of takes all the control over that person away, no? Can’t force my personal, often religious-oriented, beliefs on them, bummer.
Interesting that Pfizer is willing to give away free Viagra to their customers, so they don’t switch to a generic form of Viagra during these “hard economic times” (msnbc.com). However, Pfizer’s not offering to give away free birth-control pills, which they also manufacture. So, it’s good to encourage men to have sex, just not to help women prevent unwanted pregnancies. Especially during these “hard economic times”.
Just read on CNN that 40% of all live births in the US are now out of wedlock. And yet, folks keep wanting to crack down on abortions. Is it better to have 40% unwed mothers with brats they cannot support than those women have uncoerced abortion options? Missouri has 2 abortion clinics. Whoo-hoo…what an overwhelming social problem.
Joan gave an excellent speech and spoke an inconvenient truth about men. (The one about wives and girlfriends). The men are jealous of the strident tone of the speech (which, if given by a man, would have said to be “Powerful” and praised) and embarrassed their not-secret is out.
There has never been an abortion without a man involved.
Sex is overrated, anyway. I think Lysistrata had the right idea.
Good for her. Truth always make the guilty squirm.
Senator Bray is on target. The guilty always squirm when they are faced with the truth. Oh Mr Henrickson I suppose if a woman is raped it’s her fault for not keeping her legs closed, huh? And as for state rights, why don’t you move to Texas? I hear they’ll be leaving the union before too long. I’m proud that Senator Bray is speaking out for those who have no voice or money or health insurance. Thanks MO Legislation for another NOTHING year of accomplishments.
If Frabax is against the termination of life then you are against the death penalty as well, right? Life is life so don’t tell me that one is greater or lesser than another. We’re all the same in Allah’s eyes.
As a male, Senator Bray is correct. Most men know someone who when their girlfriend got preganat and they didn’t want to get married or have the responsibility of a child out of wedlock, tried to pressure their girlfriend to have an abortion. This is especially true if the girlfriend is par of an illicit affair. The male mebers of the Senate may stand before the public in pompous indignation with what Senator Bray had to say, but when the harsh light of the media and the public wasn’t shinning on them, they had to admit, what they said was true. So would many of the men who respond to this article. Bravo and many props to Senator Bray for her comments.