Carolina Journal Exclusives

Rhetorical Bullets Fly As House Committee OKs Abortion Bill

Measure on fast track, now moves to House floor

By David N. Bass

May 12, 2011

RALEIGH — Is pregnancy punishment? Is the process of getting an abortion comparable to refinancing a mortgage? Do abortion providers disproportionately target African-American women? Those were some of the questions bandied about for two hours Wednesday morning before a House judiciary subcommittee gave its stamp of approval to a contentious informed-consent abortion bill.

The legislation — House Bill 854, Abortion-Woman’s Right to Know Act — passed by a party line 9-5 vote and now goes to the House floor. Republicans have enough support in both chambers to pass it, although a veto from Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue is likely.

Among other components, the proposed law would require a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, an ultrasound image of the unborn child, and notarized parental consent for a minor’s abortion. Pro-lifers say the bill would save thousands of unborn lives each year. (more…)

JOHN HOOD’S DAILY JOURNAL

By John Hood

March 30, 2011

RALEIGH – With all due respect to my right-leaning friends who are diehard NC State or UNC fans, they should not let their affection for their favorite sports mascots obscure a deeper truth about themselves: they have little in common with wolves or sheep.

Conservatives are cat people. They are picky. They are fastidious. And they are impossible to herd.

That’s not to say that conservatives can’t be dog lovers, as long as they don’t let their personal preferences in pets cloud their analogical judgment (this will make more sense if you read each link in order). But when it comes to political behavior, conservatives are more feline than they are canine, ovine, bovine, or equine. They don’t run in packs or amble in herds. (more…)