In Colorado, Voters Will Decide Whether Human Embryos Are People Under State's Constitution

Mandy, great article, may I offer a correction?

You are an excellent writer, as always. Please let me suggest that Governor Bill Ritter, Colorado, is pro-choice. It is former Governor BIll Owens who is "pro-life" and against abortion, etc.

I fervently hope Colorado voters reject this amendment. For those who are staunchly against any form of contraception and/or abortion, please include funding to support the unwanted child in education, housing and health. It one thing to demand all possible children be brought into the world, but the stance of such believers, frequently Republicans, is against any form of social services. The big picture of what a life is worth means little if that unwanted child cannot receive standard care and become a functioning member of society. On a more basic level, lack of on-going support is similar to not spaying a pet, but throwing the litter into the wild. Where is the common sense in that?

Why should Women and Breathing People have Rights?

No way should we allow a woman to do what she wants with her body. No way should anyone outside the womb have more say than something not yet born. But it's funny how the fetus will have more rights than the adult, but once it's born, the adult has the legal control over the child until they are 18. So it's cool that the future will be able to exercise their rights from the womb, but then lose those rights when they are born, and then get them back when they're 18. wtf? save the children, by giving up our rights?

Leanings

If the recent polls show that Colorado is going for liberals then you know for sure that embryos are just that - embryos not humans. Why vote?

Vote Obama and so goes embryos even being thought of as humans.

Personhood Amendment ballot measure too vague

Colorado's ballot measure is losing and losing big. The measure is so extreme there are anti-choice organizations including the Colorado's Roman Catholic bishops and the extremely anti-choice National Right to Life Committee have refused to endorse it. The measure may actually prevent couples who wish to get pregnant but cannot from using in vitro fertilization. This kind of an amendment to the Colorado constitution has diastrous consequences - but consequences that one can only guess at since the measure is written so vaguely and broadly that even voters will have little idea of its impact.

Thanks for writing about this and for including a quote from Cristina Page - Page is absolutely right. The anti-choice movement, as evidenced by these ballot measures and numerous other campaigns and actions, is not only against legal abortion but contraception as well.

For more on the top sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in the 2008 election, ballot initiatives and senate and house races, visit RH Reality Check! www.rhrealitycheck.org.

Amie Newman