McDonnell: 'No Woman In Virginia Will Have To Undergo A Transvaginal Ultrasound Involuntarily'

[RandySF]

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) issued this press release on Wednesday, calling for amendments that would soften a controversial state bill to require any woman seeking an abortion to first get an ultrasound, with McDonnell backing away from the potential requirement in many cases for an invasive transvaginal ultrasound:

Thus, having looked at the current proposal, I believe there is no need to direct by statute that further invasive ultrasound procedures be done. Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state. No person should be directed to undergo an invasive procedure by the state, without their consent, as a precondition to another medical procedure.

For this reason, I have recommended to the General Assembly a series of amendments to this bill. I am requesting that the General Assembly amend this bill to explicitly state that no woman in Virginia will have to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound involuntarily. I am asking the General Assembly to state in this legislation that only a transabdominal, or external, ultrasound will be required to satisfy the requirements to determine gestational age. Should a doctor determine that another form of ultrasound may be necessary to provide the necessary images and information that will be an issue for the doctor and the patient. The government will have no role in that medical decision.

I have requested other amendments that help clarify the purposes of the bill and reflect a better understanding of prevailing medical practices. It is my hope that the members of the General Assembly will act favorably upon these recommendations from our office. We will await their action prior to making any further comments on this matter.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/mcdonnell-no-woman-in-virginia-will-have-to

[VWolf]

1. Well it's a step in the right direction

Still not too crazy about the external ultrasound. What's the point?

[peace frog]

2. So, it's good cop/bad cop with McDonnell as the savior

Pardon me as I quietly throw up a little in my mouth.

[shraby]

3. He sure wants that v.p. slot to do an about face that quick.

[Fuzz]

12. Winning post right there.

[TrogL]

4. Blink

[southernyankeebelle]

10. and wink. I wouldn't trust this man at any rate.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Step away from the third rail, sparky... nt

[ohheckyeah]

6. Pandering piece of shit....

why circumvent Roe v. Wade with the law to begin with by having all kinds of restrictions on abortion?

I'm so sick of the right wing nuts in Virginia. I wrote an insulting, scathing letter to the woman who introduced this stupid transvaginal ultrasound bill. I hope her office is stupid enough to call me.

[catbyte]

8. Can you post it here? I'd love to read it! :)

[ohheckyeah]

14. Sure -

it was deliberately insulting - the author of the bill was kathy byron from Lynchburg, VA (enough said?)



After hearing your argument against the HPV vaccine concerning government's intrusion into health care and "substitution for our judgment", I can only conclude that your introduction of a bill mandating a woman seeking an abortion having to submit to a transvaginal ultrasound is either an act of hypocrisy or insanity.

It's quite obvious to most women that this law is a punitive law and nothing more. Given a woman doesn't actually have to look at the ultrasound there is no other conclusion that one can draw given it is not a medically necessary action, and offers no real information greater than what a woman can be told or read.

To say that I, along with many other women, am outraged is an understatement. For this law to have been introduced by a woman makes it even more heinous. Maybe you are one of the willfully ignorant rightwingers who believe that somehow the state of Virginia and the country has become a theocracy. If such is the case, I would like to disabuse you from that idea. Abortion is a constitutional right and freedom from the intrusion of YOUR religious beliefs is also a constitutional right. You are free to believe what you will but nowhere does the constitution (or the Bible) give you the right to force your belief system on anyone. To say that a mandate for a HPV vaccine is government intrusion into health care and then turn around and introduce a bill requiring a physically intrusive act on a woman with a large phallic shaped item is not only hypocritical it is obscene.

The state of Virginia, much like the rest of the country, has real problems that the legislature should be addressing - things like jobs and failing infrastructure. The constant crotch sniffing engaged in by the right wing conservatives of Virginia and the country has gone beyond all reason. If you don't approve of abortion, don't have one. If you don't approve of gay marriage don't engage in one. If you don't approve of birth control don't use it. But for all that is holy, get out of our bedrooms and our uteruses.

I would like to introduce a bill that would require Virginia representatives to have a psychological evaluation because the majority of you are bordering (at best) insane.

I anxiously await the next election so I can spend my time and money supporting your opponent even if I cannot vote in your district.

[frogmarch]

16. +1000

'Tis a thing of beauty. Well done!

[ohheckyeah]

17. Thank you.

I wrote another scathing email to my two representatives but I don't know if I saved it or not.

Assholes - they are seriously pissing off a LOT of women in Virginia. It's emotionally tiring being surrounded by these right wing control freaks.

The down side is I am almost (okay probably as) insulting in person when they spout this kind of crap and one day will probably come home with a black eye....but, it would be worth it.

[frogmarch]

21. They're

pissing off a lot of women, and men too, everywhere, but it must be really awful to be surrounded by them. I'd be in their faces too if I were in your shoes.

I hope you don't get any black eyes. Keep up the good work, but be careful! They're all crazy, you know!

[ohheckyeah]

25. I can only bite my tongue so long

and so much. You're right - a lot of them are crazy.

[marybourg]

18. Absolutely excellent!

[ohheckyeah]

23. Thank you! n/t

[KT2000]

27. Love this!

Well done!
and even though I do not live in Virginia - thank you!

[ohheckyeah]

29. You're welcome.

I seldom completely lose my cool but this whole thing in Virginia is starting to wear on my last nerve. Between this, the personhood bill and all of the other right wing crap they come up with it makes a person want to scream.

[catbyte]

7. The jackass saw his national ambitions swirling down the crapper

so now the bastard's punting. Note to McDonnell: we women aren't stupid, Governor. You were fully prepared to sign this rape bill into law but were only stopped when polling numbers traveled south. We're on to you, dirtbag.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[ohheckyeah]

15. Just like they canceled

the vote on the bill because of the silent protest. Cowards.

[Dawson Leery]

9. Ayatollah McDonnell scared his national ambitions are being thrown away?

Sounds like it.

[LeftinOH]

11. He's just tinkering with it the bill, so it's still a massive FAIL.

The mere fact that such a bill exists is revolting enough; "easing up" on some of the details does not make him a any more moderate.

[rustydog]

13. Typical Fundamentalist Republican Christian Conservative response.

They would shackle women, bring back publlic hangings, send children back into the coal mines to die for corporate profits.

These insane zealots believe they have God behind them and unlimited corporate power. The one thing they ALL lack is a decent set of balls.
Just like the schoolyard bully, you back them in the corner, stare them unflinchingly in the eye and they beginto doube themselves. You punch the coward square in the nose and he will back down.

This mysoginist, supposed jesus-lovin' corporate whore just got stared right in the face and he is backing off, a bit. He still needs the metaphorical punch in the face to make him cower like the coward he truly is.

[aquart]

19. What utter bloody nerve that scumsucker has.

"Prevailing medical practices"?

I hope his dick falls off in his hand.

[hootinholler]

20. So, can we assume that Mrs McDonnell whacked him upside the head with a clue stick?

Personally I don't think it has anything to do with a VP position, he might actually be smart enough to distance himself from the current crop of R candidates. I think it has more to do with 2016 ambitions.

[Vinca]

22. Government sanctioned rape is never a good thing.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. funny how, despite all the noise about the US being more anti-choice,

despite 10 years of being told that the "values voter" is all powerful, etc.

When these people start hearing from the PRO CHOICE MAJORITY, they back right the fuck down.

Know why? Because there are MORE OF US.

LOTS MORE.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. Will republicans recover from this?

[ohheckyeah]

31. Sure they will...

this will disappear down the memory hole.

[onenote]

28. It will be interesting to see how this plays out politically

Undoubtedly, it makes McDonnell appear more "moderate" relative to the crazies. From that standpoint, one might argue that he's made himself a more appealing choice for the national ticket than would have been the case had he allowed himself to be saddled with this abomination of a bill. However, as already appears to be the case, the crazies don't go easily into the night. Apparently there are reports that the bill's sponsor would rather have the bill die than have it be enacted in what the crazies consider a "watered down" version. That could mean that if Romney gets the nomination, picking McDonnell as his running mate will further fuel the "enthusiasm gap" among those that think Romney is not conservative enough.

Hmmmm...

[B Calm]

30. McDonnell need an anal probe rammed up his ass!

[Rex]

32. Well isn't he now the Decider.

Up until what point WILL he make it voluntary? All he has to do is get the law passed then force women to be humiliated while he can keep this in court. Or keep this in Congress...who is going to testify? Women? HA. All I saw was 5 men.