DENNIS DURBAND

No, Sen. Allen; Informed Consent Not About Your Re-Election Chances

The third week of February, 2004 will go down as a great week of conservative victories in the Arizona legislature. Len Munsil, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, described the Senate's passage of Informed Consent legislation as miraculous.

The social agenda on the legislature's plate also gave the liberal Arizona Republic and liberal legislators the opportunity to expose the folly of liberal thinking, as well.

Following the Senate vote, the Republic's Chip Scutari wrote:

"The state Senate approved an informed consent bill, clearing a huge, eight-year hurdle for that legislation. It's likely that Gov. Janet Napolitano, who favors abortion rights, will have to veto the bill after it clears the Republican-led House of Representatives."

That's an amazing piece of journalism. One only has to read the words I've italicized for emphasis: "will have to veto the bill." Scutari could not have come across any more partisan if he had tried. But then, conservatives have learned long ago that objective journalism and The Arizona Republic are two vastly different animals.

Yes, it is very likely that liberal pro-abortion Gov. Napolitano, the poster girl of the Republic and the paid property of Planned Parenthood, is very likely to veto Informed Consent. However, Scutari failed in his attempt to position that story as objective journalism. Napolitano does not "have to" veto the bill, but it's obvious that Scutari is strongly suggesting she do just that.

Along with its journalistic shortcomings, the Scutari story provides conservative Republicans and District 8 voters with yet another opportunity to see through the self-centeredness of Sen. Carolyn Allen, who was quoted thusly by Scutari in the same story:

"There are many people who are trying to throw the moderates out of this Legislature," Allen said. "The end game here is the ballot box. This is something meant as intimidation. That should be between a woman's conscious, her family, her doctor and her god. I don't believe the government should be her judge."

Scutari identified Allen as a "moderate," prompting one to wonder just what one has to do to be labeled a "liberal" by the state's largest newspaper. Allen is one of the most pro-abortion legislators and one of the biggest spenders in the Senate. Her voting records prove it. They don't come any more liberal than that.

Despite Sen. Allen's offensive remarks, the Informed Consent legislation is not about Sen. Allen. Nor is it about Sen. Linda Binder, another Planned Parenthood Republican who opposes the bill. For their edification, Informed Consent is a pro-women's bill designed and written for the women of Arizona. History is replete with stories of women who were given little or no information about the risks of abortion, only to suffer from harmful physical and emotional consequences for the rest of their lives. Women who've gone to these clinics have told us in great detail how the abortionists underplay the risks involved, due to the profit motive.

No. Sen. Allen, this bill is not about you or any other abortion activists; the end game is not the ballot box. Informed Consent is a bill aimed at forcing abortion clinics to level with the women who, as a result of having abortions, contend with the increased likelihood of cervical cancer, breast cancer, uterus perforations, excessive bleeding, depression, sterility, post-abortal infections, the risk of death, or any of the many other potential problems associated with abortion -- possibly for the remainder of their lives. This is not about your re-election priorities and your personal agenda, Sen. Allen. However, you are right that many Republicans would like to see you voted out of office because you are a Democrat in Republican Clothing, you are an out and out liberal - not a moderate -- and your politics run directly counter to those of the Republican National Committee platform.

One more thing, Sen. Allen: you speak about "intimidation." What about the countless numbers of young women in this state who are intimidated and pressured by people in greater positions of power, strength and authority to get abortions? Many of these young ladies are intimidated to the point where they feel they have no alternative but to go through the agony of abortion. Why do you never speak of the women who have gone through abortions and who wish that someone had explained the risks to them? Do you believe that Planned Parenthood's bottom line is more important than women's health?

Thank goodness that Sen. Marilyn Jarrett and many conservative colleagues in the legislature have shown dogged determination year after year to get this pro-women's bill passed. When this bill becomes law -- and eventually it will -- many thousands of Arizona women are going to thank those who worked for the passage of Informed Consent legislation.

Fortunately, the voters in Allen's District 8 have a real Republican -- conservative Robert Ditchey -- as an alternative to the liberal politics of Allen in the primary this September. It is time for change in the Scottsdale district.

Dennis Durband is publisher and editor of The Arizona Conservative, and is also a freelance writer and webmaster. The longtime newspaper editor serves as media watchdog for The Arizona Conservative. He welcomes reader submissions about examples of liberal media bias among Arizona's media.

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