By Ross Balano, Midwest Voices Columnist 2008
Governor Sebelius does support legal abortion. What bothers me is that she might be supporting, or at least turning a blind eye toward illegal abortion.
She had a party at the governor’s mansion on April 9, 2007 for abortionist Doctor George Tiller.
Tiller won the bash at the mansion by being high bidder at an auction. The auction was for the benefit of abortion supporters so Sebelius had to have known that Tiller and his big abortion cronies would be high bidders given his generous record of support for the cause.
It would require some stretch of the imagination to think that the governor didn’t know then that Tiller was under investigation by the attorney general’s office. After all, the AG was handpicked by her to run against Phill Kline and financed by big abortion in the form of Dr. Tiller’s PAC, ProKanDo. Sebelius, AG Morrison and other Sebelius appointees had done everything possible to stymie Kline’s investigation into Tiller and Planned Parenthood. It would be nearly impossible for Sebelius not to have known Tiller was under investigation.
Just to refresh the memory, Tiller was under investigation for suspected failure to report abuse or rape of young women under 16 years of age. That is the law in Kansas. It says according to the AG web site synopsis:
“A child under the age of 16 who is seeking an abortion is a child who has had sexual relations (leaving aside the remote possibility of artificial insemination). Under Kansas law, such relations are unlawful and constitute either rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child or unlawful voluntary sexual relations. Kansas law clearly provides that those who fall under the scope of the reporting requirement must report any reasonable suspicion that a child has been injured as a result of sexual abuse, which would be any time a child under the age of 16 has become pregnant. As a matter of law such child has been the victim of rape or one of the other sexual abuse crimes and such crimes are inherently injurious.”
“Accordingly, K.S.A. 38-1522 requires that abortion providers have a mandatory duty to report to appropriate authorities as evidence of sexual abuse circumstances of a minor child under the age of 16 seeking abortion services to terminate a pregnancy. Cited herein: K.S.A. 21-3502; 21-3520; 21-3522; 21-3603; 38-1501; K.S.A. 2002 Supp. 38-1502; K.S.A. 38-1522.”
Furthermore, Dr. Tiller is suspected of providing illegal late term abortions. Such abortions are illegal in Kansas if the baby is to the point of viability outside the womb.
Dr. Tiller’s own web site would lead one to believe that he regards viability as a grey area. It says, “At Women's Health Care Services, we specialize in ‘late’ abortion care. We are able to perform elective abortions to the time in the pregnancy when the fetus is viable. Viability is not a set point in time. Viability is determined by the attending physician and is based on sonogram results, physical examination and last menstrual period date (if known). Our telephone counselors will ask you a number of medical questions to determine if you are eligible for an elective abortion. If you have visited another clinic or physician, we will ask for the results from a recent ultrasound.”
“Kansas law allows for post-viability abortion procedures when continuing the pregnancy is detrimental to the pregnant woman's health. Each person's circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please call so that we can discuss admission criteria with you.”
Sebelius obviously has no problem socializing with the worst that big abortion has to offer.
Kansas deserves a governor who won’t auction off the governor’s mansion to people like Tiller.
In 2006 Sebelius said, "My Catholic faith teaches me that life is sacred. Personally, I believe abortion is wrong." She obviously doesn’t believe that anymore. The large amounts of money that keep flowing from big abortion have forced Sebelius to now worship at the altar of abortion in order to advance her career.
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Abortion lovers...
I'll never understand why abortion supporters always say they want abortion to be safe, legal and rare. It's already legal, so you're a 1/3 of the way there. Safe...well...maybe if the clinics were inspected by the state and regulated in some way...I mean, they are performing a very invasive surgery, but for some reason they don't have to abide by health codes. So, by safe I'm guessing you mean something else because based on the deaths of women at Tiller's clinic in Wichita it's pretty clear abortion advocates don't care about the safety of the women.
The rare part I really don't understand...if you're not killing a child, as I would guess many of you would say otherwise abortion is nothing more than murder, then why should it be rare? If you're not killing a child and only having an outpatient operation done, why do you care how many are done? Do you care how many colonoscopies are done?
By saying abortions should only be done in rare circumstances, you imply there's something bad about having the procedure done, but if it's safe and legal, why does it need to be done only rarely??? If there's nothing wrong with it, why shouldn't it be just another form of birth control? Why are you trying to make medical decisions for patients wanting an abortion?
Also, it's just so classy how abortion supporters go after the guy writing the column by identifying where he might live and what he might do using a user name rather than their real name. Is that how you guys operate...when you can't put together a real argument you go after the writer on a personal level?
So much for tolerance.
Ross
Whats the deal Ross why won't you answer my questions? Where do you live? KS or MO?
Ross you still have yet to
Ross you still have yet to answer my qustion. Where is the proof to even warrant the investigation, or are you and Kline just hoping to find something after you tear someone's life up, and disregard the right to privacy of the patients? Secondly on what day did God come down and let either you or Kline or any of your side, have the power to tell others how to live their life? Maybe I was sick that day when the announcement came down. But I would just like to know this answer, Why do you feel it neccessary to push your ideals on others, especailly when what they do or believe in has nothing to do with you or anyone related to you, and is not affecting you in anyway?
Just to end any thoughts that may be running through anyone head. NO I AM NOT A LIBERAL LEFTIST, I am a conservative that just happens to believe in letting people live their lives without being invaded by anyone else's opinions.
Faithless
Faithless, since you were so civil I will jump in one more time to answer your questions.
I wouldn’t call what I feel as outrage but I would like the truth about the relationship between Sebelius and Tiller to be reported.
Did you know that the Associated Press is trying to get copies of emails between Sebelius and Tiller and have been stonewalled? (See the AP web site for details) Not a mention of this in The Star. Contrast that with the furor over Governor Blunt’s emails.
The AP is also having trouble getting a copy of Sebelius’ calendar.
I wouldn’t call the beneficiary of the auction a charity. Charity being defined as an organization who gives money, services or goods to persons in need. This organization exists solely for the purpose of helping women who are in favor of abortion get elected to public office. I just don’t see how that qualifies as a charity.
Tiller is under investigation for misdemeanors now that is true but only because AG Paul Morrison would not consider felony investigation. The only reason he even did misdemeanors was to quiet the public and quell the growing perception that Tiller was getting help from the top. If you remember correctly, Morrison did nothing for months after taking office.
If, and notice I do say IF, Tiller has refused to report instances of girls under 16 coming in for abortions or he has performed illegal late term abortions, those could result in felony charges. We’ll never know if he did or didn’t as long as the Governor and AG refuse a legitimate investigation.
Furthermore, I just don’t believe that the governor’s mansion, it’s staff and utilities paid for by the taxpayers, should be used as a political fundraising prize.
Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008
Trying to understand the outrage
Ross, I posted this under your initial post and I'm still trying to understand your outrage. I'll also try to keep this above name-calling.
Dr. Tiller is a business owner (whether you like his business or not is not in question) who is exercising his rights to support charities who agree with his business practices.
Dr. Tiller is under investigation for misdemeanor violations of Kansas law.
The Governor of Kansas also finds common ground with the same charities and donates a dinner at her residence for auction.
Dr. Tiller wins the auction and gets to dine with the governor.
If you set aside what Dr. Tiller does for a living, I doubt that you would have any problem with this sort of behavior. In fact this happens at every Governor's mansion in the country.
So, is it simply the fact that you don't agree with abortion that is causing the outrage? Or, are you finding fault with the process that a business owner is using his resources to support legal entities that he shares similar beliefs with?
I am not religious, so any
I am not religious, so any objection I have to abortion is based on ethical and moral grounds, not religious ones. As far as whether one considers an unborn fetus to be a 'baby', that's a matter of semantics. However, it is unquestionably human, whether sentient at that stage or not, because as far as I know that's how human life comes into existence, the unterminated fetus coming out into this world as a 'baby'.
There are certain conditions I view abortion as being medically necessary for, but the way the Left has used it leaves little doubt it's simply a lifestyle choice, to allow women the option to be dumb as men can be and have unprotected sex in an age of HIV, rampant herpes and hepatitis strains, and not consider the ethical implications of what they're actually doing. In so doing, the Left has essentially considered fetuses to be disposable, non-human life forms, which is quite puzzling to me, considering how adamantly the Left is opposed to the death penalty for even the most heinous of crimes.
So, basically, we're told it's perfectly fine to kill the innocent so that the mother can enjoy unprotected sex without consequence, but it's a horrible crime when a murderous thug might receive the same treatment.
Yeah, right - boy, are those liberals concerned for humanity!
Had to jump back in on this one.
One of these days, Interface, you might actually read a post before launching one of your diatribes.
Nowhere in my post did I mention Planned Parenthood. The post was about George Tiller. Google him and you will find that he is indeed “pro abortion.” The guy makes his living doing as many as he can, and he makes a darn good living judging by the fact that he gave $120,000.00 to Sebelius when she was only insurance commissioner for campaign donation. So much for the “rare” part since it’s not actually rare at all for him.
I question in my post the “legal” part as well. He is being investigated for not reporting girls 16 and under as per Kansas law requirements and for violations of Kansas late term abortion laws.
So you can hide behind your little pen name and call me whatever you want but the fact is; Tiller does promote abortion.
How do you expect to reach for common ground on this topic? You either believe abortion is killing babies or you don’t. If you believe that abortion is the killing of babies as I do, I cannot say that it’s okay to kill 1000 but not 2000. And speaking of common ground; when is the last time your side tried to reach common ground on this. Maybe when pushing for a veto on laws outlawing partial birth abortions? If the left won’t even concede that this procedure is barbaric then what is there to compromise on.
And as to the spreading hatred part; it seems most of that comes from you and those like you who claim to be the ones who promote peace and love and diversity. Oh yes diversity unless I happen to disagree with you and then diversity goes out the window in favor of name calling and insults. This blog would be much better served if people refuted statements in a civil way and left out the name calling and personal attacks.
Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008
do "right-to-lifers" really care about reducing abortions?
"The auction was for the benefit of abortion supporters"
only a fervent "right-to-lifer" would characterize pro-choice folks' position as "abortion supporters."
Thing is, there isn't a group that's "pro-abortion." Even those who are pro-choice want to see this be safe, legal, and above all, rare. That's why much of what Planned Parenthood does is aimed at reducing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies (and hence, abortions) through education and promotion of responsible sex using contraception.
Characterizing folks like those as "abortion supporters" angers me, because rather than reach for common ground -- and working together to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies that lead to folks choosing to have an abortion -- those of Balano's ilk choose instead to perpetuate the status quo by dishonestly mischaracterizing pro-choice advocates as "promoting" abortion.
It's dishonesty. A lie. So, yeah, I'm calling Ross Balano a liar.
It irks me further to see these folks lying in the name of their so-called Christianity, when there's nothing Christian at all in their words and deeds.
Jesus probably wouldn't approve of abortion, but he certainly wouldn't lie about the pro-choice group. He would work with them and bring people together to change the status quo, rather than simply perpetuating it by spreading hatred.
Hey Ross
Ross,
I see you are a life long resident of Kansas City, and Founder of the Northland Vikings. I hope you live in KCK, otherwise your opinions about the Governor of a state you can't vote in hold no water. Stay in MO and stop forcing your crap on the people of Kansas.
I am sorry but where EXACTLY
I am sorry but where EXACTLY is the proof you and your witch hunt followers errrrr anit-abortionist buddies claim to have that there were late term abortions being performed. Look I am against abortion, but I also am pretty sure that we still live in America where you are innocent until proven guilty, but according to Kline and the star(and their 'journalists and columnists) Tiller is already guilty. Here is an idea, why doesn't the star report the facts and leave their opinions out of it. Secondly, here is a piece of advice for the whole country, MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUISNESS. If people would spend more time worring about what they are doing and thier families and less time worrying about what other people are doing, people in this country would get along so much better. I understand that you oppose abortion, i do as well, however, it is not my place nor yours, nor anyone else's to tell another human being what to do to THEIR bodies. If it is not hurting you then what the hell do you care for? If it isn't hurting your family or loved ones, what the hell do you care for? I wish someone would explain to me why so many people in this country feel the need to impose THEIR beleives on others that didn't ask for it? Why can't people in this country just shut their pie holes and mind their own damn buisness. The only time people should be worried about what others are doing or not doing is when it DIRECTLY affects them or their loved ones.