Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) on Abortion

During a U.S. House debate (seen on C-SPAN) on 2011 Federal Spending, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) comments on abortion, in response to comments made by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ). Included in her comments, "I had a procedure at 17 weeks pregnant with a child...that procedure is a procedure that I endured. I lost a baby. But for you to stand on this floor and to suggest, as you have, that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous."

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  News & Politics

[FangFiftyFive]

One of five CSPAN videos this year that will be watched by more than five people....

Definitely worth watching.

[daniellejb22]

Why are the top comments showing her in a negative light? She is standing up for something that she believes will help women's health. She had to go through a procedure, that if the baby had stayed in the vagina, she would have kept it. Jackie Speier shouldn't be condemned for her views, be applauded for sharing her story.

[frthought]

While this story may be tragic for her, I wonder if she "lost" her baby as a result of a choice or out of necessity for her own health. Search for 'Christopher Smith abortion' to see the speech to which she is responding.

Planned Parenthood is an abomination to our nation. This is not a religious argument, it is a humanity issue. Equating Halliburton to an argument about protecting the lives of children is preposterous and absurd. Murdering children as a form of birth control is INSANE!

[malcasablanca]

By that logic, anyone who's overweight or obese shouldn't be allowed to use a gym because they were the ones who binged on junk food.

[broEye1]

People, don't get me wrong about this. I'm not wanting women only responsible for pregnancy. Man or woman, if you choose to do something designed with the intent of conception, then you're responsible if it works. And frankly, any man who tries to run away after getting a girl pregnant should be required to leave the source of that pregnancy with her. Someone who runs without amazing reasons has no right to be called a man anyway..

[broEye1]

It's sad that the country's become so divided over this. I haven't heard of people raising issue when it's a medical emergency like this, but it's depressing to know how many bigoted fools in my party think a woman should be held responsible for crimes committed against her. I also find it depressing to think there are women out there so self-possessed they're brought to tears at the thought they might have to deal with the natural outcome of things they chose to do.

[The2005rwb]

Hehe, she said vagina. xD

[robthc23]

This poor woman also had too deal with a religious nut in Jim Jones,as she was also a Survivor of the Jonestown Massacre!

[MouthR0t]

Except women who are seeking an abortion obviously didn't WANT your seed in the first place. "Duh".

[CyndyIsMetal]

Yes, that's only what you get, a SAY. But you don't get to make a woman's choice. 

[amanzaline]

man, that'd be some fate, huh?

[meleagrisfelis]

I'd like to add drawing and quartering as well. This all is of course after the tarring and feathering. These idiots who worship the fetus so much that they can't even stop and think about what Rep. Speier was actually saying drive me batshit.