Roundup: Wall Street Journal Assess Obama's Efforts to "Bridge the Divide" on Abortion

Roundup: Wall Street Journal Assess Obama’s Efforts to “Bridge the Divide” on Abortion

May 7, 2009, 10:39am

Wall Street Journal profiles Obama's attempts to "bridge the divide" on abortion; Texas sex ed bill dies in committee; Sen. Jeff Sessions could support pro-choice Supreme Court justice; stand up for Judy Blume!

Texas Sex Ed Bill Dies in Committee
A bill to require Texas sex ed curricula to include information about contraception is "all but dead," MySanAntonio.com
reports. “To be really honest, I miscalculated it,” said [State Rep.
Joaquin] Castro, whose bill was
the only sex education legislation to gain traction this session. “I
thought the Republican committee members would be able to get through
the politics and vote to get it out of committee.” MySanAntonio
reports:

Currently Texas schools are not prohibited from teaching about
contraceptives, but they must devote more time to abstinence from sex
than any other behavior. A committee compromise to Castro’s original
bill would have emphasized abstinence but also would make information
about contraceptives mandatory, though parents could choose to pull
their children from the lessons.

Wall Street Journal Profiles Obama’s Common Ground Efforts
The Wall Street Journal
profiles President Obama’s efforts to "bridge the divide" on abortion.
"President Barack Obama appears to be trying to make good on his pledge
to defuse tensions around polarizing issues," writes reporter Laura
Meckler. "Interviews with several participants suggest there is some
common
ground, but plenty of disagreements remain. It will be challenging for
the White House to settle on policies that reach across the spectrum.
Participants said that abortion opponents tended to focus on efforts to
help pregnant women keep their babies, while the abortion-rights camp
focused on preventing unwanted pregnancy."

[Melody] Barnes told participants that the White House is interested in
hearing ideas in several areas, among them: sex education; responsible
use of contraception; maternal and child health; pregnancy
discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere; and adoption.

Participants say that suggestions included: improving education
about use of contraception; better access to emergency contraception
(which can be used after sex); improving education about sex,
relationships and the "sacredness of sex"; stamping out employment
discrimination against pregnant women; improving family-leave policies;
and encouraging adoption.

The administration plans to release a proposal in late summer.

Sen. Jeff Sessions Could Support Pro-Choice, Gay Supreme Court Justice
The
new ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Jeff
Sessions, yesterday stated that he could support a pro-choice and/or a
gay Supreme Court nominee, the Huffington Post reports.

In an appearance on Fox News, the Alabama Republican said he did not
"believe in a litmus test," and was comfortable with a judge who had "a
different view on abortion than I have." Such a judge, he added, could
"still receive my vote."

Asked, specifically, if a pro-choice nominee would could potentially
get his backing once he or she was brought to the committee, Sessions
replied: "yes"…

Earlier in the day, Sessions said he was not
"inclined to think that" a nominee’s sexuality was "an automatic
disqualification." Several of Obama’s potential choices are openly gay."

Stand Up for Judy Blume!

Judy Blume penned a Mother’s Day appeal for Planned Parenthood, and LifeNews hasn’t let her forget it. Now Blume is being targeted by anti-choice activists with threats and hate mail. You can support Judy Blume here.

Other News to Note

May 6: CNS News: Abstinence Earns Praise at Teen Pregnancy Event Promoting ‘Comprehensive’ Sex Education

May 6: The Cathoholic: NIH Guidelines for Stem Cell Research

May 6: Tennessean: Couples save first kiss for wedding day

May 6: The Moderate Voice: Why Moderate Republicans Matter, Revisited

May 6: Fox News: Ten Years Later, Boy’s ‘Hand of Hope’ Continues to Spark Debate

May 6: 10 Zen Monkeys: Researcher Finds Bad Sex Information Online

May 7: World Pharma News: Bayer Schering Pharma is starting Phase III studies with an innovative low-dose contraceptive patch

May 6: Salt Lake Tribune: Low-cost contraceptive ‘clip’ wins business contest

May 6: Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Contraception is rational solution

May 6: The Australian: GPs oppose compulsory reporting of underage sex

May 6: Hays Pharma: Birth control pill ‘reduces bleeding’