Cecile Richards Responds to the Tebow Ad

[8cricketts]

@remshot1998 It is always the woman's choice because she is the one putting her life and health on the line. Pregnancy and childbirth isn't risk free. Women still die and suffer seroius health consequences from being pregnant. Plus, if the father does decide to walk away, the woman is stuck footing the medical bill. Men can have a say once they can carry the fetus and put themselves at risk.

[ashatbulaparanormal]

well said and so very true.

[lancelovesgolf101]

I think a lot of people are thrown off by the language used in discussions about abortions. Statements like "It's a woman's choice" and "only women should make the decision" often rub people the wrong way. Regardless of what you believe, I would recommend people to rephrase their statements to "a person's choice" or "a person's decision".

[jennniles]

@lancelovesgolf101 It’s not a person’s choice. It’s woman’s choice. If a man finds out his girlfriend is pregnant and is thrilled about becoming a father she can still abort his child against his wishes. If a man doesn’t want to become a father than his girlfriend can give birth and make him a father anyway. It is the WOMAN that has all of the say. So saying that it’s a woman’s choice is absolutely correct. If you want the right to abortion than you get the responsibility that comes with it.

[destinws2]

In addition to the "medical and world considerations" she also weighed considerations about what she thought about God.

[MsWilatowska]

@destinws2 She said "moral" and that is open to interpretation--it can be God, or it can be your own values.

[AtTheCornerCafe]

precisely!

[Lairdesangfroid]

how could this video POSSIBLY only have 3 stars?

[juliewashere88]

It's not a matter of authority, that's the point. Ms. Richards is merely explaining what it means to be pro-choice. It's not a position that favors any one choice over any other but merely the stance that choices should be available for each woman to make for herself.

[StoogeWatcher]

Pro-choice my you know what. Planned Parenthood doesn't respect Pamela Tebow's right to choose not to abort.

[bornstandin]

@StoogeWatcher What makes you say that?

[jab0805]

Very complex and complicated issue. It boils down to when does life begin. At conception? At birth? Whose life is more valuable? The mother? The unborn? These are deep and personal questions. Do I want to make these decisions for every woman? No, that's my personal response. I don't feel like I have that right.

[maddog2283]

its nice to see that some people on both sides can disagree in a more civilized mannner. If more people were like that, the world wouldnt be in such bad shape.

sometimes i just wonder why someone would resort to name calling and profanity when they should relize that doing so would disqualify them from being taken seriously.

[huskerwife]

I'm glad to see both sides stating their views in a positive respectful manner.

[huskerwife]

I applaud this message, along with the Tebow ad and Planned Parenthood's response ad.

It's time to act like adults and respectfully disagree on this, and many other subjects without resorting to name-calling and profanity. I wish more people on BOTH sides of this argument could respectfully disagree.

[loner1878]

@k8yscarlettohara

The I guess the government shouldn't pay for maternity care or the delivery room bill either if a women privately chooses to continue the pregnancy.

[Captain077]

The debate, for the most part, is as to when life begins. Most sane people would stand strongly against a mother having an abortion in her 9th month. There is a reason Obama wouldn't say when he thought life began, because at whatever point that is, that is where one would have to say abortion is immoral.

[blackhairedweasley]

That's the thing, though. It's not a baby yet. People treat abortions as if you're taking a crying, breathing baby and stabbing it in the head.

It may be unnatural and against the way of things, but so is chemotherapy or a colonoscopy or plastic surgery for a burn victim.

To be clear, I'm pro-choice in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. It's not an excuse to be irresponsible, so people should stop treating it solely as such.

[odessaz82000]

I am glad to hear Cecile Richards supports Mrs. Tebow and the advertisements perspective.

[papavalium]

@odessaz82000 Yeah me too, it brings more people into your side, and people will listen to someone that sounds reasonable and willing to actually DEBATE. Although I'm bigtime against abortion, this add didn't even do much. I was expecting more, and it was just hype by the anti abortion freaks.

[CaptainRandom]

I love how there are pro-life bumper stickers that say, "smile--your mom chose life!" I'm grateful that my mom chose life, but I'm even more grateful that she had the choice.

[Laxinlovin08]

so your happy there was an existing freedom to destroy you? seems like an awful option to even think much less consider.

[TXatheist]

I have not missed a superbowl game on tv in 15 years. i won't watch one second of this years.

[lisalisa49]

That's the best way to put it. I have much respect for you Ms. Richards. :-)

[moonrage73]

The early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stantion, Victoria Woodhull, Alice Paul and many others were unabashedly pro-life and draw parallels between the unborn and women (as socially and politically unborn men). pro-life is a legitimate choice. choice shouldn't end up in the same result all the time.

[huerfano21]

Sorry could you please explain the phrase "socially and politically unborn men." I find it rather odd that Stanton and Anthony would employ the term "men" in reference to a fetus. What works are you citing in your assertion?

[nsdtr01]

BRAVO

[Quollman]

Shouldn't we also trust gun owners to make their own important target shooting decisions?

The pro-choice emphasis on allowing people freedom to make their own healthcare decisions is a total smokescreen. Nobody disagrees with that. This very reasonable assertion is used to mask the tenuous assumption that an abortion affects nobody other than the mother.

[BiggDan100]

Let's see.

- His mother was a missionary working in the Philippines

- She home schooled him (I have two sisters who don't want their kids to learn about evolution, they home school)

Did her mission provide medical care? I suppose so; so they had doctors. Who was the evangelical missionary doctor who suggested abortion to "a missionary and evangelist?"

What is the chance this story is JUST A BIT exaggerated? Or in other words BS!!!

[jjmcoates]

8 abortion doctors have been killed since the passage of Roe vs Wade and there have been 51 million abortions including about 15 million legal abortions after 3 months gestation. Pro lifers have also been killed including a pro life protester gunned down in michigan this year while holding anti- abortion signs.

[TXatheist]

1 Michigan guy was killed, true. But just last year a place I normally counter protest the fundies there was a bomb discovered, in south Austin, Texas. Care to guess how many people die every day from malnutrition? 10 times as many as abortion.

[0bamaDrama]

The right to choose - Life. It's a refreshing message - that we seldom hear.

[Tonya88888]

If you want every woman to have a choice, WHY ARE YOU SO AGAINST this commercial that shows the choice a woman made?

[loner1878]

@Tonya88888

Because of the double standard CBS gave focus on the family. They rejected ads from PETA, MoveOn and the United Church of Christ on the grounds that they were "too political."

[papavalium]

@loner1878 Well I wouldn't really mix PETA and MOVEON, with United Church of Christ. Sry to say America is still a very religious country, and most people are Christians. Arabs/Russian/Chinese/Japanese­/ any country or area you can find, and Christians are flocking to America. My Egyptian Inspector had to flee Egypt cause Christians were being attacked..he said it was a no brainer to come to America. America, land of the free...:)

[zer0load]

From the comments it seems every woman should be able to make tough choices and PP gets to make a choice on censorship.

[itsaboutchoice1]

Respect the woman who got to make the 'choice' - condemn the sponsor of the ad that would take 'choice' away.

[itsaboutchoice1]

Classy response. I respect Ms. Tebow's "choice". I don't respect the sponsors of the ad who would legislate "choice" away from women.

[rcmonks]

If you did not oppose Pam Tebow's decision you would not be offering this response. You are on the losing side of the argument over choice. There may be a choice, but there is only correct choice. That's the point.

[Azlaier]

Whether abortion is the correct or incorrect choice is subjective to each person; it's an opinion. However, it's ALWAYS a woman's choice.

[Mr1954golfer]

Why does PP get to put a video on YouTube and then get to decided what comments get to be posted and which ones do not?

[OrionsChild]

Obviously your comment got through. What's your point?

[getoutamyface]

Because there's tons of jerks out there who just want to insult PP because they think it's so terrible. I don't want to watch this video just to scroll down and see a bunch of conservative wacko's saying terrible things about PP, and neither does PP or anyone else who support's the stance they take.

[migatronix]

Good question. I noticed that none of my comments are being posted. None of them are vulgar, they just go against what youtube believes in I guess. Love that censorship!

[ourroadtrip07]

Does planned parenthood support the choice by FOTF to put Pam Tebow's ad up?

[OrionsChild]

We support the choice Tebow's mother made (if you don't look at the facts that show she in fact DIDN'T have a choice in the matter-- abortion in the Philippines is strictly outlawed). We do not support the manipulation by a strongly anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-human rights group to get a coercive ad on TV during the most-watched football game in America.

[Azlaier]

I agree. Fortunately abortion is legal in all 50 states, so we have nothing to worry about. :) Let's just hope gay marriage is next! :)

Trust women.

[crystalcove2000]

@Azlaier

Yes - it is still legal but hardly available. Providers have been driven out of communities, murders and threatened. If you require government funding for your health care you do not have full choice of care.

Let's just leave it up to women and provide for their choices.

[itsaboutchoice1]

Kudos! It's all about 'choice' - and respecting women to be bright enough to make good 'choices' regarding themselves and their families.

[perl1011]

If the woman was living in the Phillipines, she didn't have a choice -- abortion is illegal there.

[lilaccrew2]

Then why are so many in your organization ranting and complaining about the ad?

[Lolamsins]

It's about forms of coercion and a selectively applied moral code that CBS used to air the message: if you go against the doctor's advice out of faith, and trust in God, you will have a darling, successful young man like Tebow.

Pam Tebow had the freedom of a privately respected choice, but she's using her son's status to influence women. If forced abortion were the issue, Pam Tebow would have had the prochoice team behind her fighting for her rights, too. Bodily rights shouldn't be debated.

[maowenma]

EXACTLY!!! Definitely the different between pro choice and anti choice...RESPECT for all choices, no matter what!!!

[janietoo]

Well said!

[atoomim]

Great response, Cecile!

[juliewashere88]

Yes! This is the difference between pro-choice and anti-choice.

[jimbo525SE]

Well if you want to phrase it that way. I'm wagering you don't like the pro-life anti-life way to go though. I'm also guessing you don't like pro-life vs pro-death.  So do you support the choice by FOTF to put Pam Tebow's ad up?