Skin In The Game
by digby
Those on the left side of the dial often find themselves on the defensive and believe they have to "move right" in order to win. The question becomes which issues will they choose to make their move with. Unfortunately, the easiest one seems to be to appease the conservative church and stick it to the women. Here's a good case in point, if a little extreme:
As Marxist rebels in the 1970s and as a revolutionary government in the 1980s, the Sandinistas championed women's rights – including limited abortion rights.
After losing power in 1990 their veteran leader, Daniel Ortega, embraced Catholicism. When making a comeback in a tight 2006 election he joined conservative foes in backing a church-led iniative for a total abortion ban. There are no exceptions for rape, incest or health risks to the mother. Even an anencephalic or ectopic pregnancy, which are incompatible with life, must be carried to term.
Women's rights are often deemed to be a necessary bargaining chip. You know, sometimes, you just have to be willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
Oh, by the way, here's the result of Ortega's political tack to the right:
Nicaraguan authorities have withheld life-saving treatment from a pregnant cancer patient because it could harm the foetus and violate a total ban on abortion.
A state-run hospital has monitored the cancer spreading in the body of the 27-year-old named only as Amalia since her admission on February 12 but has not offered chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a therapeutic abortion, citing the law.
The decision has ignited furious protests from relatives and campaigners who say the woman, who has a 10-year-old daughter and is 10 weeks pregnant, will die unless treated. The cancer is suspected to have spread to her brain, lungs and breasts. They have petitioned the courts, government and the pan-regional Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to intervene.
It's a shame she has to take one for the team, but at least this way they didn't have to sacrifice the really important items on Ortega's agenda.
Speaking of which, here's the latest from Amy Sullivan on Stupak and what it's going to take for us to get health care reform. It's funny, but I haven't heard anyone pounding Stupak for being selfish for putting his personal beliefs before the needs of all the millions who will benefit from HCR. How odd.
h/t to Americablog
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