Barbara Boxer: “Ellen Goodman writes: The Senate debate has not really been about banning an abortion method. It's been about permitting…”

“Ellen Goodman writes: The Senate debate has not really been about banning an abortion method. It's been about permitting exception to that ban. Senators led by Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum have refused to allow an exception even to protect the woman from serious harm to her health. Is it up to Congress to overrule the doctor? To overrule the 'selfish' woman defending her health? The bill is not really about banning a procedure. If dilation and extraction is the first method banned, without exception it won't be the last. The goals of abortion opponents are unequivocal. And, indeed, in, I thought, a good debate that the Senator from Pennsylvania and I had on Sunday, I think he was very straightforward about that. The Senators who have been speaking on the other side of the aisle on this subject all would tell you they are against all abortions from the first moment of a pregnancy. Ellen Goodman writes: We already have compromises. The Supreme Court decisions weigh the interests of the woman with those of the developing fetus. The law allows states to severely limit abortion after viability. But at no point does it give the government the right to seriously damage a woman's health to protect a fetus. This is at the primal heart of the matter. She concludes: No Congress can be allowed to legislate a new flock of sacrificial women. What does she mean, sacrificial women?…”