Subj : Re: Finally
To   : Mike Powell
From : Ted T
Date : Mon Jul 29 2024 14:35:00

-=> Mike Powell wrote to TED T <=-

 MP> @TZ: fed4
 > Just want to toss out there, as bad as it was, I don't think that
legislation
 > actually passed.  It had really bad optics, including Kathy Tran trying to
 > answer for her bill, embarassingly, and Gov Ralph Northam's really bad radio
 > interview describing a post-birth arbortion, "the baby will be kept
 > comfortable" and "a discussion will ensue" regarding whether to kill it or
not


 MP> Tran did misanswer a question, before later realizing that her fellow
 MP> legislator was describing infanticide.  The Governor was describing
 MP> what happens in any case where a birth occurs and the infant is not
 MP> viable. They often require resuscitation (meaning they have already
 MP> died), and pallative care (keeping them comfortable) is standard
 MP> procedure until the parents and doctors discuss whether or not to let
 MP> nature take its course (continue pallative care until natural death) or
 MP> to make some sort of valliant effort to save the nonviable child, which
 MP> will usually only prolong matters until eventual death.

 MP> The bill in question was one which would have allowed late-term
 MP> abortions in cases of fetal nonviability or danger to the mother.
 MP> Despite Tran's statement to the contrary, it would not have allowed
 MP> killing the child once labor had started.  Tran later corrected herself
 MP> and properly pointed out that this would be infanticide and is illegal
 MP> in Virginia (and all other 49 states).

Thanks for clarifying that.  That's correct.  It was easily blown out of
proportion, as would be expected.  Both Tran and Northam sounded awful and
provided plenty of sound bytes because of this.  In my opinion, Northam did a
lot of damage trying to clarify.  What normally worked for him, his folksy,
country, happy charm just didn't sound right talking about this.  Second of
all, the way you explain it and the way he explains it...his way leaves a lot
more to the imagination and he should have known better and chosen words more
like yours.  I think he was trying to sound compassionate, but fumbled the
ball.  On top of it, he's a doctor; talking like a doctor in this case, instead
of trying to coddle the question would have provided little to pick at.


.... Direct from the Ministry of Silly Walks
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