COVID-19 & Healthcare

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Earlier this year our Tea-Publican legislature pased the most restrictive abortion law in the nation. It bans abortions after 20 weeks, but has a unique provision for calculating the start of the 20 weeks from the date of the woman's last menstrual period. As critics pointed out at the time, this means that a woman could be deemed pregnant two weeks before having had sexual intercourse — talk about your miraculous conception!

On Thursday, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the ACLU sued on behalf of three doctors to halt the new law from going int effect in August. Lawsuit challenges Arizona abortion restrictions:

Three Arizona abortion providers went to federal court Thursday to try to block an Arizona law that bans most abortions beginning at 20 weeks.

They are seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the law before it takes effect Aug.2.

The suit alleges the legislation violates the protections outlined in the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision, which permits abortions before a fetus is viable. Medical experts and abortion clinics typically consider a fetus viable at 22 to 24 weeks. The suit states that the only exception to the new 20-week ban in the Arizona law is so narrow it "places significant burdens on the health of some women seeking abortion care."

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

What a difference a day makes. A day after Willard "Mittens" Romney insulted the NAACP Convention and used them as a photo-op stage prop to rally the "white, old, fat" people of FAUX Nation, Team Obama addressed the organization with respect and to raucus applause. Videos below the fold.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Daily Star today published a condensed version of this McCaltchy News report by Maeve Reston of the Los Angeles Times on Willard "Mittens " Romney's speech to the NAACP Convention on Wednesday. Romney's speech to NAACP draws boos from audience. I was struck by a key passage in Reston's reporting:

But murmurs of disagreement ran through crowd when he argued that his policies would help "families of any color more than the policies and leadership of President Obama." And he was met with loud boos when he said he would reduce spending in part by eliminating "expensive, nonessential programs" and repealing the health care law. For 15 seconds, Romney stood quietly, smiling at the audience as they voiced their disapproval.

Here is how another McClatchy News report by William Douglas and David Lightman of McClatchy News accurately reported this key moment in Romney's speech. As Romney courts NAACP, audience boos vow to repeal health law:

The overwhelmingly Democratic group roundly booed him, however, when he declared that he'd repeal the health care law.

"I'm going to eliminate every nonessential, expensive program I can find; that includes Obamacare," Romney said to a long chorus of jeers. A woman in the back of the hall shouted, "You mean Romneycare?"

The Arizona Republic published an AP report by Kasie Hunt that also accurately reported this key moment in Romney's speech. Romney makes NAACP economy pitch, is booed:

[Romney]was booed when he promised to get rid of the Obama administration's health care overhaul.

"I will kill every expensive and unnecessary program I can find, and that includes Obamacare," Romney said, then waited and smiled through the crowd's disapproval.

So it was Arizona Daily Star readers who were treated to the "softened" reporting by Maeve Reston of the Los Angeles Times. A reader who did not see this moment of the speech (video below the fold) would not understand why the NAACP was booing Romney.