Hundreds of dogs got to go for a ride in the car on Tuesday afternoon. They (and their owners) gathered outside the Pennsylvania state Capitol in Harrisburg for a rally in support of House Bill 2525. The legislation, sponsored by Representative James Casorio (D-Decent Human Being), would bring tighter regulation and improved minimum conditions to commercial kennels in the Pennsylvania, and hopefully start reforming the state’s lousy record of monitoring the dog breeding industry.
Supporters of the bill include the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the U.S. and Annemarie Lucas of Animal Planet’s Animal Precinct. They’re trying to get some momentum behind the bill which, in true Pennsylvania legislative fashion, has been loaded down with more than a hundred amendments, promising hours of debate before a vote can even be contemplated.
Across the street from the demonstrators was a lone whackjob holding two large signs. He wasn’t a pro-breeding industry activist. He was an anti-choice crusader, waving large pictures of aborted fetuses and loudly bemoaning the fact that “all these people come out to support the puppies, but nobody will protect the unborn babies.”
He didn’t seem to care how incongruous he looked, or that nobody was paying him any attention, but he really didn’t like it when I laughed at his odd choice of venue. Unfortunately, I was walking at a fair pace through the crowd, and his response after “laughing man” was lost in the noise.
I’m sure the crazy, sign-wielding nutbag takes some consolation from the fact that he might not have to protest for much longer. If John McCain gets elected, he will end the federal right to safe, legal abortions. States like Pennsylvania, which has fought to the Supreme Court for the right to restrict abortion access, will have a field day banning the practice.
If you’re going to vote Republican this year, please be honest with yourself. There is no moderation on that ticket.
They will END the federal right of access to safe, legal abortion for EVERY woman.
There will be NO exceptions.
John McCain will NOT suddenly change his mind once he’s elected. Whatever slight rebellious streak McCain displayed in the past has been washed away by the cleansing fire of the Christian Right. McCain has gotten religion and social conservatism branded on his prostate in order to get elected, and he’s not going to ignore that plank of his party’s platform once he’s elected.
McCain’s Supreme Court will make Roe v. Wade disappear like so much inaugural ball champagne.
So if you think that victims of rape and incest, or women whose health will be permanently damaged by pregnancy, should be forced to have babies, go ahead and vote McCain-Palin. And pray to whatever god you believe in (because, let’s face it, you wouldn’t be voting for them if you didn’t have a deity whispering in your ear) that your wife, mother, niece, sister or girlfriend is never forced to have her rapist’s baby.
* I am the king of alliterative titles.