More on Reproductive Freedom…and Polling

abortion, current events, democracy, voting rights 4 Minutes

I’d like to pull together the messages from my two recent posts, “We Have to Be a Nation That Trusts Women” and “About Those Polls,” which are linked even more clearly since the Alabama special election.

I think it’s important to reiterate that although this will likely be a close election, it can and will be won if enough of us believe that’s the case and act accordingly.

ON REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

My husband and I felt a bit of pride that the postcards we wrote on behalf of Marilyn Lands may have contributed to her astonishing victory in Alabama’s District 10 state House election. Centering her campaign on reproductive rights, Lands defeated her Republican opponent 62% to 37%.

I heard her say in an interview that there is “no going back.” She believes her win will be a spark that begins a change in Alabama.

Law professor and former prosecutor Joyce Vance, an Alabama resident, had this to say in these excerpts from her Substack column.

“Lands won by arguing against a total abortion ban, supporting IVF, and making sure voters understood that birth control could be on the chopping block next if Alabama voters don’t put a stop to the madness.

“Alabama hasn’t had an overnight shift. The message is more subtle than that, but incredibly important. It’s that when Republicans go too far—and they have on this issue—Democrats can win, even in the most unlikely of places. Roe v. Wade was a compromise, one that gave both sides less than what they wanted but didn’t strip either side entirely of what it sought.

“Dobbs altered that balance and put the issue back on the table for women who had become complacent after fifty years of Roe. Last night proved that’s the case, even in Alabama. Democrats can run and win on the message that Republicans have gone too far.” (emphases mine)

Vance also wrote that:

“Marilyn Lands was a strong candidate with strong local backing. She lost in 2020 by about six points. Part of the message her victory in this election sends is that we have to stop thinking about just the next election; we have to stop viewing elections as one and done. They are, especially in red states, a process of building support for candidates and issues across as many elections as it takes. Lands could have given up. She didn’t, and she won.”

In addition,

“A win like this should give Democrats everywhere a shot in the arm. Democratic legislator Phillip Ensler, whose district is in Montgomery, Alabama, told me how Lands’ win was affecting other Democrats who are in and running for office: ‘Her victory and presence in our caucus gives many of us hope and a jolt of energy to keep fighting the good fight in our state.’ That’s an awfully big deal in a state that doesn’t have a single statewide elected Democrat in office. We have to be willing to build support across multiple elections.”

Vance points out that hard work lies ahead. Lands’ win in this special election will mean she’ll have to run again in 2026 in a regular election, when voters will have the option to click on the ballot for a straight Republican slate.

Vance concludes:

“The challenge will be for Lands and other Democrats to continue to connect with the message that voters should select their representatives carefully in light of concerns that, with a supermajority in Alabama, Republicans have gone too far. Nothing is certain in politics, but there is certainly reason for optimism.”

ON POLLING

A few examples among many that have been posted on Twitter by serious people who harbor serious questions about the value of the polling that’s been inundating us.

Larry Sabato is a respected political scientist and political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. He indulges in some snark in the tweet below.

Here’s a very serious article written by a young Harvard Crimson journalist that is gaining kudos. She questions why Harvard continues to lend its name to the now-discredited Harris poll. (James Fallows is a former national correspondent for The Atlantic.)

Moral: Don’t let the polls upset you. This election is clearly in the hands of us, the voters; if we are sufficiently determined to protect our nation from Trump and all those far-rightists who want a very different America, we can succeed.

Talk to your friends, neighbors, and family members, ensure they know what’s at stake. The recent Supreme Court hearings about mifepristone may have indicated that this case will not result in banning the drug, but the radical majority are not giving up their quest.

In addition, Justices Thomas and Alito asked repeatedly about the plaintiff lawyers’ invoking the Comstock Act of 1873, which banned the transport of birth control information and devices. Many court-watchers believe this injudicious pair intend to challenge the legitimacy of contraception before long.

Make certain you’re registered, and encourage anyone you know who isn’t registered to do so. Donate if you can–even small amounts help. And volunteers are needed from the Biden/Harris campaign to campaigns for candidates running in your states and communities.

Annie

Published by annieasksyou

I've been a nonfiction writer for many years, exploring diverse topics that pique my curiosity, as noted in my first blog posting (Greetings!). I'm seeking dialogue with others committed to joining me in this exploration, sharing my conviction that different views can be exchanged in a respectful, civil discourse where we can learn from one another and be agreeable, even when we disagree. These postings depend for their enrichment on your participation: your ideas, insights, knowledge, opinions, and personal stories.

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20 thoughts on “More on Reproductive Freedom…and Polling”

  2. I have been saying this for a long time:

    “There are more of us than there are of them, even if it doesn’t seem like it by what the ‘pundits’ and polls say.

    All we gotta do is vote like it .”

    This is how we won in 2020 and 2022. The degenerate gamblers of our vaunted political press need a horse race like a junkie needs their smack, and they’ll invent one if need be.

    This is why they’re perpetually surprised to find out that Dobbs is still a potent force, and every thing the GOP theocrats, and the SCROTUS witchfinders do in furtherance of stripping our rights from us only makes us more determined to beat them, and the political ‘knowers’ (invariably white men) just don’t understand.

    After all it’s not their rights being stripped away!

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    1. Right, brucedesertrat. I have been saying and writing exactly that for a long time too!! Glad to have your voice here.

      One caveat to those who think their rights wouldn’t eventually be threatened. You’re wrong!

      There are billionaires who condemned Trump but are now dining with him at Mar-a-Lago, demonstrating a failure of imagination re: what he would do to them and their businesses if he assumed the power he seeks…

      Which he won’t because we won’t let him!!

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  5. Pick a campaign or two, anywhere you please, then contact their HQ and offer to do the postcards. They’ll either set you up, or will give you the info to the organization doing that. I think you’ll enjoy it!

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      1. Well, and about 5 minutes after I got off your post, I got an email from VoteForward. They’re a great org for helping get connected with work we want to do for campaigns. I’m answering from the little bell, and I’m also certain if you didn’t mention them this time, you have mentioned them at least a few times before. And thank you! Oh, yeah-MomsRising is great for this, as well. Enjoy!

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  6. With regard to the lack of information you came across in your travels, Denise, Simon Rosenberg says that’s what campaigns are for. People are just starting to tune in. I’ve been very impressed with the Biden/Harris campaign’s quick and witty ads responding to events and Trump.

    This is the org we’ve been working with. A lot of their efforts go to making sure people are signed up to vote by mail. We purchase our cards and stamps—costs that mount up. They’ve been having some logistical problems that can be frustrating.

    https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/

    This group concentrates on swing state voters and provides volunteers with the cards, but not stamps, which volunteers buy.

    https://thirdact.org/act/write-postcards-to-voters-in-2024/

    This group works with another called Activate America. Volunteers supply their own cards and stamps.

    There are others that you can Google. I have no experience with any other than the first. Good luck!

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  8. It’s obvious that people who claim to be anti-abortion AND anti-birth-control are really anti-woman. Their aim is to keep woman out of the workforce and perpetually subservient to men. And, yes, they must be defeated.

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  9. Mrs DougD is a dual Canadian/American citizen although she’s never lived in the states. She recently learned that she can register to vote in Michigan if she knows the last address her mother lived at. So we’ve figured that out and hopefully she’ll be able to vote for Biden this year.

    Keep up the good work!

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  10. What I’ve always said and thought is that the operative word is, and should be , “choice”. If you’re totally against abortion, you shouldn’t have one (obviously applies only to women)–it’s never been compulsory. It you feel you need to have one and are agreeable, you should be able to have one. Men shouldn’t be the ones to choose either way. If the government has anything tom say on te matter, it should all be about the freedom to choose one’s healthcare decisions.

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    1. Sounds right to me, George. I do understand the opposition from people who view abortion as murder, but we have separation of church and state—at least we should. And though I think we should focus more on safe, inexpensive long-term contraception to reduce the need for abortions, the same forces are making it clear they oppose contraception too.

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