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January 23, 2009 10:54 AM

Obama To End Ban On Abortion "Global Gag Rule"

Posted by Brian Montopoli
(AP)
President Obama plans to sign an executive order today reversing a Bush-era policy banning federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions, according to the Associated Press.

UPDATE, 4:40 pm: The president has signed the executive order.

"Women’s health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance," said Tod Preston of Population Action International. "President Obama’s actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning.”

The move comes just one day after thousands marched in an anti-abortion rights demonstration on the National Mall in Washington for the anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision. It will likely be met with anger by those marchers and their supporters, who differ with the president over abortion.

Yesterday, Mr. Obama put out a statement reaffirming his support for abortion rights. He also called for steps to be taken to reduce the number of abortions.

The policy that the president plans to end bans taxpayer money from going to international family planning groups. In addition to keeping money from groups that offer abortions or provide abortion counseling or referrals, the so-called "global gag rule" keeps money from going to groups that talk about abortion following unplanned pregnancies.

The policy has been implemented by Republican administrations and then ended by Democratic administrations since its establishment by Ronald Reagan in 1984.

In related news, an anti-abortion rights group has enlisted the new president in an ad advocating their position, despite the fact that Mr. Obama doesn't agree with it.

Watch:

Tags:
abortion ,
obama
Topics:
Domestic Issues
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Add a Comment See all 453 Comments
by Im_Christian-NOT_Crazy April 15, 2009 4:32 PM EDT
At what point in its growth cycle does a Human Fetus become a Human Being?

Posted by ToolMangler at 04:20 PM : Jan 25, 2009

At the point where it is no longer a part of a woman''s body, i.e., when it is capable of life on its own outside of the womb. Until that time (roughly the end of the 2nd trimester of gestation), it is totally dependent on the mother''s body. It is up to her to decide what to do with her body, without interference from or control by the Government.
Posted by libra217 at 11:36 PM : Jan 25, 2009

IF the woman did not believe that the mass of cells growing inside her body was not a fetus that will become a human being, then she would go to an ONCOLOGIST instead of an ABORTIONIST.
Reply to this comment
by dibs977 January 26, 2009 3:20 AM EST
That abortion is right or wrong--is not the question. I think it is wrong--but I do not want to cause those women who get an abortion to have to go to illegal abortion people who cause horrible deaths many times. I want to do all I can to decrease the number of women who will do this. The best we can do is fund all the family planning clinics we can--which is what Obama is doing. Jesus said the "judge not" and also "to not look at the speck in others eyes but the mote in your own."
Reply to this comment
by dibs977 January 26, 2009 3:15 AM EST
By providing money for family planning clinics, we actually decrease the number of abortions. This has been proven many times. Just because the clinics may refer some women to legal abortion services rather than have them face the horrific illegal abortions, then these clinics get closed down. To stop abortion, we have to be realistic. Some women will get an abortion no matter what, but by providing family counseling services, we can significantly decrease the numbers of abortion--by offering birth control. It seems that so many so-called "pro-lifers" are not really interested in solving the problems---and decreasing abortion--they just want to be right. Obama is helping us solve these problems and actually decreasing abortion by funding these clinics.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 26, 2009 2:36 AM EST
At what point in its growth cycle does a Human Fetus become a Human Being?

Posted by ToolMangler at 04:20 PM : Jan 25, 2009

At the point where it is no longer a part of a woman''s body, i.e., when it is capable of life on its own outside of the womb. Until that time (roughly the end of the 2nd trimester of gestation), it is totally dependent on the mother''s body. It is up to her to decide what to do with her body, without interference from or control by the Government.
Reply to this comment
by toolmangler-2009 January 25, 2009 7:20 PM EST
At what point in its growth cycle does a Human Fetus become a Human Being? Conception? 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimester? Birth? Voting age? How about if we wait until it graduates college and give it a life potential test, then all that pass with a 90 percentile mark will live and all others may be aborted. Hows that?
Reply to this comment
by toolmangler-2009 January 25, 2009 7:03 PM EST
Was abortion stopped by Reagan/bush? Or was help for women going through abortion stopped?
Reply to this comment
by msmabuse January 25, 2009 2:57 PM EST
These groups do a great deal more in support of women''''s health than perform or give information about abortions. Without this health care women die unnecessary deaths.

So as long as Manson did some good it affset the evil in his life and he should not have gone to jail, Right?
Reply to this comment
by drm101167 January 25, 2009 2:42 PM EST
abortion is a sin. Jesus dont like this killing the babys i think the mommy and the person that takes the babys life should go to jail. there is a lot of lost people out in this world that need jesus in there life. i dont know why the mothers cant let the babys live theres a lot of good people who would love to have a baby of there own.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 25, 2009 2:21 AM EST
On Friday, Mr Obama ended a ban on giving US federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about them.

Posted by Obamagasm at 10:33 PM : Jan 24, 2009

These groups do a great deal more in support of women''s health than perform or give information about abortions. Without this health care women die unnecessary deaths.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 25, 2009 2:18 AM EST
Suppose there was a white woman who had a half black fetus inside her and the black father left her with no support?

Posted by leeanna58 at 09:01 PM : Jan 24, 2009

You seem to think this description is applicable to President Obama''s life. It isn''t. His parents were married and his father did not leave until well after his birth. So I don''t know what your point is.
Reply to this comment
by leeanna58 January 25, 2009 12:01 AM EST
Suppose there was a white woman who had a half black fetus inside her and the black father left her with no support? Should that baby be aborted? Or should the baby be allowed to live and grow up to be President of he United Sates?
Reply to this comment
by leeanna58 January 24, 2009 11:59 PM EST
I''m happy for the Guantanamo Bay detainees; their safety, comfort, and security are now guaranteed. We can''t say the same thing for the innocent unborn. The left are crazy.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 24, 2009 11:12 PM EST
If you prefer, just disregard the terminology "potential human being". It is not essential to the argument.

What people disagree on is when human life begins. Some people believe it begins at conception. Some people believe it begins when the fetus is viable outside the mother''s body. Some people believe it begins at birth. Those different beliefs affect how people think about abortion at different times during a pregnancy. The truth is we simply don''t know yet. Maybe someday we will and everyone will agree.

Over and out.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 24, 2009 11:07 PM EST
I disagree that there is a thing known as a potential human being. I guess Darwin might have regarded the great apes or monkeys as potential human beings, but I don''t see a fetus in that light.

Posted by stlouisman3 at 08:02 PM : Jan 24, 2009

Geez, I''m still here. Just have to say no - no one claims that a monkey or an ape is a "potential human being".
Reply to this comment
by cheteunice January 24, 2009 11:02 PM EST
libra217, ''We just disagree on when the line is crossed and a potential human being becomes an actual human being.''

No you disagree on that.

I disagree that there is a thing known as a potential human being. I guess Darwin might have regarded the great apes or monkeys as potential human beings, but I don''t see a fetus in that light.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 24, 2009 10:59 PM EST
Sorry for multiple posts. The publish button was screwed up.

Gotta go to dinner. Nice talking to you, stlouisman.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 24, 2009 10:56 PM EST
Aborting/murdering you won''t be illegal after the Supreme Court ruling I am stating.

Posted by stlouisman3 at 07:48 PM : Jan 24, 2009

I suppose there could be a Supreme Court that reinstitutes slavery too. Maybe you will be a slave and I will be legally murdered. However, I don''t think these hypotheticals really illuminate the issues at hand. We just disagree on when the line is crossed and a potential human being becomes an actual human being. I admit that I do not know where that line should be. If forced to decide (because of an unwanted pregnancy), I cannot say for sure what I would decide. I would have to do a great deal of thinking about it.
Reply to this comment
by cheteunice January 24, 2009 10:55 PM EST
libra217, ''The word abortion applies only to a fetus in the womb.''

Check your dictionary--there are other definitions


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Posted by
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 24, 2009 10:55 PM EST
Aborting/murdering you won''t be illegal after the Supreme Court ruling I am stating.

Posted by stlouisman3 at 07:48 PM : Jan 24, 2009

I suppose there could be a Supreme Court that reinstitutes slavery too. Maybe you will be a slave and I will be legally murdered. However, I don''t think these hypotheticals really illuminate the issues at hand. We just disagree on when the line is crossed and a potential human being becomes an actual human being. I admit that I do not know where that line should be. If forced to decide (because of an unwanted pregnancy), I cannot say for sure what I would decide. I would have to do a great deal of thinking about it.
Reply to this comment
by libra217 January 24, 2009 10:54 PM EST
Aborting/murdering you won''t be illegal after the Supreme Court ruling I am stating.

Posted by stlouisman3 at 07:48 PM : Jan 24, 2009

I suppose there could be a Supreme Court that reinstitutes slavery too. Maybe you will be a slave and I will be legally murdered. However, I don''t think these hypotheticals really illuminate the issues at hand. We just disagree on when the line is crossed and a potential human being becomes an actual human being. I admit that I do not know where that line should be. If forced to decide (because of an unwanted pregnancy), I cannot say for sure what I would decide. I would have to do a great deal of thinking about it.
Reply to this comment
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