■ 15 February 2012 | 7:44 AM
Va. delegate regrets abortion 'convenience' remark
Republican Del. Todd Gilbert Tuesday evening sought to distance himself from his earlier comments that many abortions are "matters of lifestyle convenience."
The Shenandoah County Republican's initial remark came during debate in the House of Delegates over a bill to require that women have an ultrasound before terminating a pregnancy.
"In the vast majority of these cases these are matters of lifestyle convenience," he said of abortion in response to Democrats who argued the bill imposes an unnecessary medical mandate that invades the doctor-patient relationship.
Gilbert backpedaled Tuesday evening, saying he realizes few women undergo abortions lightly.
"It leaves scars, both mental and physical, that can last forever," he said in a written statement." I regret that my comments earlier today on the House floor were insensitive to that reality."
(Gilbert's full statement is published below.)
The ultrasound legislation easily cleared the 100-member House where Republicans have a two-thirds majority. A similar bill already passed the state Senate and Gov. Bob McDonnell has said he supports the concept.
Gilbert's full statement: "I am pro life. As a matter of conscience and faith, I believe in the sanctity of life and, as a legislator, I have voted accordingly to safeguard it wherever possible. Abortion is a sad and deeply serious occurrence. Individuals on both sides of this issue agree that it is tragic for all involved. I recognize that few women undergo the procedure lightly. It leaves scars, both mental and physical, that can last forever. I regret that my comments earlier today on the House floor were insensitive to that reality. As this important public policy debate continues, elected representatives of the people -- starting with myself -- should remember that we are discussing a procedure that is a matter of life and death, and that it is truly heartbreaking."
COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
The Anti-choice side of this
The Anti-choice side of this issue often make statements such as the Delegate's, "It leaves scars, both mental and physical, that can last forever."
Sure, some women could have problems after an abortion, but I also know that many simply are not troubled with a decision that allowed them to finish school; or, go on with the lives they planned; or, allowed them to start a family at a later time.
The Anti-choice side never mentions the woman caught in a menopausal pregnancy who decides on abortion because she's just too old to be a new mother. I doubt seriously that many intelligent women go crazy with guilt. Women I've known believe they made the right choice for THEMSELVES at the time.
Yeah, just keep on with your
Yeah, just keep on with your far right agenda, republican party. You keep trying to push these radical social agenda issues around here, and you will get wiped completely out in the next Va. election cycle.
Sad
It's sad that he cannot be honest without badgering.
... few women undergo abortions lightly
The truth is that many undergo them lightly, so lightly that they use abortion for gender selection, and birth control to kill living beings that are inconvenient. See Chelsea Handler's bio, or see the book Unnatural Selection http://tinyurl.com/6d3zb7f .
Why do many young women undergo multiple abortions at the encouragement of Planned Parenthood?
I wish Republicans wouldn't walk back their comments too, but I suspect for different reasons. When lawmakers actually speak what their constituents are thinking, I wish they would not allow themselves to be bullied by Planned Parenthood and liberal media into recanting.
Put down the Sci-fi book, and
Put down the Sci-fi book, and PLEASE turn off the Sci-fi channel. As real as some of those scenarios may seem to you, they're really only fiction and we're far from women making decisions in this state (or the country) to end a pregnancy so she can select the gender.
Planned Parenthood isn't the boogeyman, here. But, a state government suddenly mandating unnecessary medical procedures on every woman seeking an abortion is certainly starting to sound like a B-rated, Sci-fi movie to me.
What evidence do you have to support your statements?
What is the factual basis for your statements? Where and how did you get your information regarding how often a woman has an abortion and why she chose to have it? It is really easy to create a hypothetical situation and then use it to further an agenda. However easy, it is also dishonest and manipulative.
And, many of us would like
And, many of us would like the bullying, badgering and misinformation spread by antiabortionists to stop.
Men ruling on God/women issues
The ease with which these, mostly men, go about imposing their personal views involving family issues is amazing. Small govt is anything but invading a woman's body, literally. This appears more to be issues of control - overcompensating for some lack in their own lives, perhaps?
Nope,
don't believe he's the least bit sorry. I believe that he really believes his first statement. Back-pedalling won't save you at election time.
Why do so many republicans walk back comments
Why is it that many republicans walk back/clarify comments. Does that mean we now need to wait a few days before we can accept thir comments at face value, or is because they say what is on their mind then for political reasons, after a public out cry, decide the prudent choice is to change their comments.