Dear John McCain:

I've thought long and hard about what to say to you after watching your discussion about abortion on last night's debate. I'll be honest; I have never considered voting for you. I am beyond a doubt a tax-and-spend and let-the-gays-get-married liberal. But you know what? I've always liked you. I've found your appearances on The Daily Show to be amusing, and even though we don't agree on much, I always thought of you as a smart, compassionate, and friendly person. I've managed through this election to even hold on to a shred of respect for you, even while I am personally inundated with negative ads from your campaign because I live in a swing state. This is partially because you are I were much more politically in line back when you ran for President in 2000, and throughout this campaign I've always imagined that in some way you were playing a role as a far right-wing conservative, and that in fact, you were personally much more moderate.

But when you discussed your feelings about partial birth abortion during the debate last night, your true opinions became clear to me. You really are a social conservative; it was in 2000 that you were playing a role. When you discussed partial birth abortion and used quotes around the "health" of a mother, claiming that the idea of preserving a woman's health has been "stretched" so that woman can just go ahead and abort babies willy-nilly whenever they want showed your true colors. You really ARE a small-minded anti-choice hater of women.

You've bought the propaganda. Even if I tell you that late term abortions make up only one fifth of 1% of ALL abortions that happen in this country, and that they are performed universally only in cases of extreme risk to the mother or lack of viability for the child, you won't believe me. In your mind, women like me are sluts that got what we deserve, and changed our minds at the last minute when the reality of a baby became clear. If I tell you that the day my doctor performed my life-saving medical termination of my pregnancy was the worst day of his professional career, in your mind he's a callous murderer willing to kill children.

Watching you speak last night felt like getting punched in the face. I've become used to the rare individual being so callous and ill-informed; but to think a man so close to becoming the leader of this nation thinks so little of women like me--was just...God.

Awful. Heartbreaking. Horrifying.

You clearly believe women like me--women who were horribly, horribly sick from their pregnancies but not yet dying--don't deserve the medical care we need to help us heal. You may think this issue is about saving the lives of babies, but it's not. It's about preventing women from receiving necessary medical care.

In my case, Senator, where would you have drawn the line? At what point were my doctors and I not stretching the definition of my "health"? When we terminated the pregnancy, or should we have waited until I was sicker? Say, when I lost my kidney function permanently? Or perhaps when I had a seizure so severe that it caused a stroke and brain damage? Or maybe when my heart was damaged by my out-of-control blood pressure?

By your standards, when could my doctors have intervened?

But most of all, Senator, you do not even care about how much I loved my sons, or that the day you chose to be so cruel to women like me was National Pregnancy And Infant Loss Awareness Day. That only an hour before you spoke I was writing, once again, about the loss of my sons and how much it has changed my life. Because I'm not important. I don't matter. And in your mind, I quite possibly don't even exist.

I'll have you know that I have worked very, very hard to not swear in this letter to you. Maybe if I leave out the nasty language, you'll actually be able to hear what I'm saying. But I doubt it. I don't matter to you. Women don't matter to you.

So you know what? Forget about not swearing. I'll end this with how I really feel.

Fuck you, Senator McCain. Fuck you.

Comments

[Cheryl]

1.

Right on, Cecily.

[bluepaintred]

2.

"So you know what? Forget about not swearing. I'll end this with how I really feel.

Fuck you, Senator McCain. Fuck you."

just keep your fingers toes and labia crossed that the rest of America - or at least the majority - think the same way

[Dawn]

3.

Well said.

[Val]

4.

I did not watch it because I wasn't paying attention to what day of the week the debate was held this week.

However, as soon as I heard what he said, I clicked right over to your page to see your response. You did not fail me. He's a stupid, fucking bastard. "Health" I'm sure your blood was boiling or you were shaking you head in his stupidity.

[Kim]

5.

I got goosebumps. This is incredibly well written. Well done!

[Sarah]

6.

I love you.

Very, very well said. I'm going to link to this all over the place now.

xoxo

[Denise]

7.

My words exactly as I posted them on my blog....fuck you McCain, fuck you.

[Sarah]

8.

I love you.

Very, very well said. I'm going to link to this all over the place now.

xoxo

[Elena]

9.

I listened to the entire debate last night and I have the transcript.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/debate-transcri.html

Mc Cain did not say anything remotely hateful, he didn't call any one a slut, he didn't call any physicians callous, he didn't use any ad hominem terms at all. His exact words on the topic were:

"Let me talk to you about an important aspect of this issue. We have to change the culture of America. Those of us who are proudly pro-life understand that. And it's got to be courage and compassion that we show to a young woman who's facing this terribly difficult decision."

"Then there was another bill before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the state of Illinois not that long ago, where he voted against a ban on partial-birth abortion, one of the late-term abortion, a really -- one of the bad procedures, a terrible. And then, on the floor of the Illinois State Senate, he voted present"

Here he criticized the procedure but again he didn't give any judgmental comments that I can see from the transcripts towards providers or from women.

"But that does not mean that we will cease to protect the rights of the unborn. Of course, we have to come together. Of course, we have to work together, and, of course, it's vital that we do so and help these young women who are facing such a difficult decision, with a compassion, that we'll help them with the adoptive services, with the courage to bring that child into this world and we'll help take care of it."

I don't see how there can ever be any common ground or coming together of these two factions when each side "thinks" they hear the other side say something else and starts reaming them for that, instead of what was ACTUALLY SAID.

[Florencia]

10.

Amen. A-fucking-men! And thank you, Cecily, for being a voice for all women who felt more than a little offended by his words. You are a rock star to me :)

Much love.

[Florencia]

11.

Amen. A-fucking-men! And thank you, Cecily, for being a voice for all women who felt more than a little offended by his words. You are a rock star to me :)

Much love.

[torrie]

12.

I wish I was as eloquent as you.

[birdie]

13.

The second that shit came out of his mouth last night, the "health" comment, I immediately thought of you, of you and Charlie and your boys and all you have been through.

And I was immediately ANGRY. Irate. Full Of Wrath. For you, and for every other woman out there who has or will go through a similar experience.

Thank you for sharing your story, for educating me and others even though that is not (nor should it be) your job.

You are so inspiring.

[The Aitch]

14.

What a great Letter. And well deserved. All I can say is, you ARE important. You DO matter. And in MY mind, that would ring true whether you were my friend OR not. Because you are a woman and your life IS valuable.

Love you!

[Lori]

15.

I read your post about Nicholas and Zachary with tears in my eyes. I really think Senator McCain *doesn't* get it. He wanted to make the economy personal by talking about Joe the Plumber, but then he talked about abortion as if only evil liberals, not real people, have them.

Abortion should never be considered lightly by anyone, but I can GUARANTEE you, Senator McCain, that the prospect of terminating a pregnancy is greeted with HORROR by women in their second or third trimester.

Senator McCain, take your wife's advice on this one and walk a mile in a woman like Cecily's shoes before you ever put air quotes around her again.

[alyssa]

16.

yo, anonymous above me.. how about you look at the video of him saying the word "health", in little finger quotes like a deranged pantomime, and then give your opinion, k?

cecily, rock you. and i really hope what i just did doesn't crash your server:
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/77koo/dear_john_mccain_you_really_are_a_smallminded/

[Kim]

17.

My thoughts went instantly to you when he said that. I'm sorry that you and every woman who has been in your situation has to deal with that attitude.

[Danielle]

18.

I thought of you as I gasped when he said that last night with his immature air quotes. Unbelievable. Now I hate him as much as I hate Bush which I didn't think was possible.

[Pamala]

19.

If nothing else it shows his complete lack of understanding of what he's talking about. How can anyone vote for someone who doesn't even educate himself?

[In Due Time]

20.

FUCK SENATOR MCCAIN!

I love you Cec! I've been thinking about you. Mucho hugs honey.

[john]

21.

@ anon - you conveniently left out the follow part of the transcript. the precise portion the above letter was referring to.

"Just again, the example of the eloquence of Senator Obama. He's health for the mother. You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything.

That's the extreme pro-abortion position, quote, "health.""

[Elizabeth]

22.

I couldn't watch it.
I had to walk away.
We either elect a president who wants to take MY RIGHTS away from me, for whatever reason, or we elect a president who doesn't. We either elect a president who always always always supports a woman's right to choose, or we don't. The rest of this, the debates over the validity of procedures or when life begins or who votes for what or who supports or adoption or whatever - it's offensive to me.
I can't imagine how horrible it would feel to be in your shoes - to have to prove to everyone all the time that your decision was a necessary one. In my world, you shouldn't ever have to prove that. In my world, even "sluts" who don't "need" abortions have a right to them, and the rest of this line drawing and removal of rights and having to prove ones worthiness is just an open invitation to misogyny and injustice. John McCain proved last night that as long as there is someone in charge deciding who deserves abortions and who doesn't, we never know where the line may be drawn.

[CTG]

23.

grr. That's all I have left to say. But you can bet I'm going to put links to this blog entry all over the place so as many people can benefit from your well written response as possible.

[Journeywoman]

24.

I thought of you instantly when he said that. I was so mad I nearly put my fist through a wall. Then I donated $100 to the Obama campaign.

I linked to you in my "seething" post for Thursday Thirteen. In addition I wrote 13 reasons that abortion needs to be kept as legal.

You keep remembering your sweet boys. We will be fighting alongside with you. You are not alone.

[Danielle]

25.

Oh, and I meant to add that I had preeclampsia as well and had to have a C-Section right away. Fortunately I was 36 weeks pregnant, but certainly my health (or "health")was at risk.

So, let me see if I can get this straight. These conservative-types would like there to be less government, but they want the government to tell women how to deal with a life-threatening medical situation regardless of how the doctors feel about it? And that's not big government?

[Julie]

26.

Well written my friend!

[KelliAmanda]

27.

Well, Anonymous clearly missed the part of the Cecily's letter that talked about the fact that giving birth to live babies while remaining alive herself was not an option and that her late-term abortion was not BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT THE BABIES. So McCain's anti-choice rhetoric about helping to take care of the babies and helping with adoptive services and so on and so forth STILL doesn't apply in this issue. And THAT is why he disrespected the women who face the horrible circumstances of having to terminate a pregnancy because of a health crisis or because of problems with the fetus.

While we're quoting the debate, let's also look at the particular part Cecily was referring to - McCain having a problem with late-term abortions being performed for the sake of the health of the mother. McCain said, "Just again, the example of the eloquence of Senator Obama. He's health for the mother. You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything.

That's the extreme pro-abortion position, quote, "health.""

McCain is right - Obama IS for the health of the mother. He also understands that the government has NO PLACE in that room with a woman or family and the woman's doctor. NO FUCKING PLACE. McCain is all for less government intervention - except when it comes to legislating morality, which he is more than happy to do.

Finally, Anonymous is absolutely correct when he/she says that it is unlikely there will ever be common ground between these factions, but it's not for the reason he/she thinks. No, the two factions are unlikely to come together because one believes that private issues like what to do in a case like Cecily experienced should be handled by the doctors and family involved, and the other thinks that clearly the only women who would "choose" an abortion are women who got pregnant because they were probably irresponsible and decided they didn't want to bother with having a baby. In other words, one side sees women as competent beings who are capable of making decisions about their own families and their own health, and the other sees women as secondary to a fetus that may or may not be viable.

Am I wrong?

(sorry for hijacking the blog, Cec.)

[Lisa]

28.

I too was appalled and terrified by that comment. McCain has shown his hatred of women over and over. Thank you so much for writing this.

[Nikki]

29.

Amen girl, amen.

My middle finger is up in the air along with yours.

[ktpupp]

30.

Amen, Cecily! I hurt for you last night when I heard his awful words... I hope you feel better having written this, and pleasepleaseplease tell me you've actually sent a copy of this to Mr. McCain!!!

[Greta]

31.

Very well written and perfectly civil, which isn't what he deserves.

[Kerri Anne]

32.

Anonymous, he surely did air quote a woman's "health," and while he did also say "And it's got to be courage and compassion that we show to a young woman who's facing this terribly difficult decision," if you listened to everything he said before and after that, and take into account his and Palin's stance on the fact that Roe v. Wade should be OVERTURNED, then this "difficult decision" he thinks everyone ought to be so "compassionate" about, is really to give women no decision, no choice in the matter at all.

Beautifully and so passionately written, Cecily.

[Leslie F. Miller]

33.

When he put that word in air quotes, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I wanted to toss my TV out the window.

But then I'd have missed the real important stuff, the stuff on TV that matters—like Law & Order SVU.

I'm sorry for your experience and the extra hurt that John McCain put on it, and I'm sorry that some of our own neighbors are so stupid that they can't see what's right in front of their faces. (That was for "anonymous," who is so for good reasons.

[Abigail]

34.

I watched the debate and of course thought of you. I'm so sorry.

Not only did he express vile opinions, he expressed them in a trivializing and mocking way. The finger quotes? Really? Fuck you Gollum. You ain't getting your precious and hey, guess what? Your legacy is fucked.

[Jenn]

35.

Well said. Would you consider emailing this to him?

[Sue/STE]

36.

As soon as I heard him say that I knew you would kick him in the balls. Thank you for doing that. I linked to this post on my blog, because all I could do was sputter and spit.

You rock.

[Lisa]

37.

I've been waiting to hear your response on this, and you did not disappoint. I can't imagine how your blood must be boiling right now.

Somehow, the full impact of the air quotes didn't hit me while watching (perhaps because I was feeling crappy from the cold), but it sure has me spitting nails today. What did make me want to throw things at the tv was his comment about "it's got to be courage and compassion that we show to a young woman who's facing this terribly difficult decision." Yeah, by taking the decision entirely away from her. Right.

I can't wait for him to get his just desserts on Nov 4.

[Stacy]

38.

So wonderfully written I don't have words to compliment you. I can feel your pain and furry in your words. You should print this out and send it to him.
Abortion is so blown out of proportion. I will never get why YOU (men, republicans, anyone really) are allowed to have an opinion about what I do within MY UTERUS.
I hate that such a personal issue is so political.

[Mental P Mama]

39.

I want you to send it to him. He needs this. And the comments.

[Heather]

40.

I only partially caught what McCain said about abortion, so I had to go find it. Unbelievable his tone and words in talking about the health of the mother. And the use of air quotes! No wonder I saw so many women turn their dials to negative at that point.

I used to like him too, but during the course of this campaign, I have lost any respect I once had for this man.

[KimPossible]

41.

I cringed last night when McCain did that air quote thing - good lord how stupid and inconsiderate can you be.
But Cec, my opinion is that you should also write to Obama. His understanding of late term abortions and interchanging that term with "partial birth abortion" is simply uneducated. Furthermore he says he would not let Roe V. Wade be overturned but I think we would agree that it would be weakened significantly if there was a caveat in place to prevent late term abortions and he is for letting that possibility become a reality. Weakening that all important ruling would just open the door for further weakening of it in the future - a crack in the pavement can turn into a pothole before you know it. Also, in R V. W mental health/wellness of the mother could be considered as a factor but he disagrees with mental wellness being included as a health factor.
I hope you agree that this is not good Cec and since you write so sincerely and from the heart I thought maybe you could seek to educate Obama as well. Obviously I think he would absolutely agree that in your specific situation both you and the doctors made the right decision, the ONLY decision really. But we need to keep abortion safe and legal for all women no matter the circumstance. To me that's what pro-choice means.
Kim

[wealhtheow]

42.

You should get this published as an editorial. It's so important that people know what is at risk with this election.

[elayne]

43.

SEND THIS.

Cecily, find an address, find a HUNDRED addresses, and do a carpetbomb mailing or whatever it's called and SEND THIS. If there is even one chance in a million, in a billion that it ever reaches his eyes, or the eyes of any intelligent, rational, able-to-see-reality-instead-of-stereotypes person, and the one in a trillion chance that it might make a difference, it is a chance that has to be taken.

Please. SEND THIS.

[Brigid]

44.

Senator Obama said it best:

"Nobody is Pro-Abortion."

But that doesn't mean that it's not the right decision in many situations.

[KimPossible]

45.

I meant to include this link in my last comment. It's a good article I think that speaks tohow Obama's position on abortion has shifted some over time.
I expect this stance on abortion from the Republican party but it scares the shit out of me to see it coming from the Democrats as well. If my understanding of his stance is correct then it's a slippery slope he is sliding down and I would hate for him to take us with him!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amie-newman/where-is-obamas-truth-on_b_111481.html

Kim

[Carrie Jo]

46.

I think Kim has a very good point. I too thought of you when I saw McCain do those despicable air quotes when he mentioned a woman's health. What an insulting slap in the face to ALL American women. Seriously, fuck you McCain.

[Karen]

47.

This post brought me to tears.

I simply cannot understand how anyone BUT ME can decide what I do with my body. My uterus. Why do women's bodies need to legislated? Aren't we equal in this nation? As much as I despise McCain for his disrespectful treatment of women, I am more disturbed by WOMEN who want to take away the choices of OTHER WOMEN. I have so much hope for this country to be tolerant of others. To be tolerant of others' beliefs. Senator McCain reminds me that a hell of a lot of folks in this country want to take my choices away from me. Simply because I have a uterus. The land of the free? It's hard to see that sometimes.

Thank you Cecily, for speaking for women who value freedom to live their lives by their own choices.

[Ally]

48.

Love you.

[kristenl]

49.

Cecily, as soon as I saw this, I thought of you.
If you could somehow tell McCain your story, right to his face, there is no way he could be so dismissive and insulting, right?? He is just painfully ignorant, right?!? If there were faces and names and stories attached to his headless, slutty, partial birth abortion getters; there is no way anyone could ever assume this medical procedure was done lightly, without consequences, right?
I love it when these proponents of "small government" republicans really only want to govern what's in your pants or who's in your bed.
I am sorry that your pain is being treated like there was a choice.
Lets have a vote to ban vasectomies too. Isn't that just premeditated abortion like a million times over?
Ridiculous. Can this man really be president? I can't help but wonder how the GOP is going to fix the election this year...

[electriclady]

50.

You should seriously get this (or rather a version of this, with a paragraph including your story) published as an op-ed. Seriously.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/opedsubmit.html
Or even on Babble or another site. Email me, I might know someone.

[wrongshoes]

51.

Wow, extremely powerful ending there, which I didn't see coming at all.

Have you read the abortion article in the Fall 2008 issue of Brain,Child? I found it to be extremely moving.

[Amy]

52.

Amen.

[angie best-boss]

53.

Cecily,
Thanks for writing this - I was thrilled to share it with it Kaylyn, my teenage daughter. Sharing your heart touched hers.

[d.rex]

54.

This is extremely well-written and touching. I am so very sorry for your loss -- and that you had to listen to someone in such a powerful position say something so personally hurtful. I couldn't agree more: Fuck you, Senator McCain. Fuck you.

[Courtney]

55.

You tell him! He's such an ass.

[Dara]

56.

I absolutely adore you Cecily! You are without a doubt one of the strongest women I know. It made me sick to my stomach last night to hear those words when out o the corner of my eye I could see the candle flickering for all of the babies out there who were taken from their mommies too soon.

Fuck you McCain. Indeed.

[Amanda]

57.

Once again, you put into words perfectly what's in my mind. I was so upset last night when this vile man made his air quotes about "health" that I just shut down for the evening.

Just like the rest of his party, they believe that women are second class citizens. Sure they nominated a woman as VP, but she's the equivalent of a trophy wife - smart, but not too smart, pretty, witty in their social circle, and otherwise vapid and malleable. But in all other ways, a second class citizen - incapable of equal pay ("They just need more training and education) or reproductive rights. Oh no, the only reason a woman would have an abortion is if she's trying to get out an unwanted pregnancy. She should have to carry that pregnancy to term no matter the consequences.

Rape or incest? They should be counseled into a culture of "life" - besides they were probably acting like a slut anyway.

Life threatening problems? Oh you just wanted to end the pregnancy cause you didn't want to bother with it. What a selfish person you are that you opted to live!

So I'll end this incredibly long rant with your own words, Cecily.

Fuck you, Mr McCain. Fuck you.

[Sara]

58.

"Fuck you, John McCain, fuck you." I used those words earlier in the year when he portrayed an anti-molestation bill as one for comprehensive sexual education.

And I used them last night, too. When he used those little air quotes I wanted to put my fist through the television. My first thought was "oh dear god I hope Cecily isn't watching. No one who has ever been in that situation needs to see and hear that condescending prick say that."

Thank you for your post. As always, you say it so eloquently.

[KLynn]

59.

Love to you, Cec. I'll not go into my opinions on McCain, because the rant would likely go on too long. The man does not deserve to be a U.S. senator, let alone president with his narrow minded, ignorant views. Obama MUST be president, for the good of all Americans.

[watercolor]

60.

Amen!!! Removing options for one's health is never a good thing. Why doesn't he get that??? Supporting choice is NOT the same as thinking abortion is a great and wonderful thing. It means, for me, that I think it is an option that needs to be available to my doctors should the need arise to keep me healthy and whole.

By the way, have you seen this horrific disgusting site?!
http://abortiontracker.com/

I cannot believe this invasion of the privacy of women's medical records is legal.

[Kermit]

61.

I can't make the leap to call him a hater of women. But the air quotes around health were ridiculous.

The extreme measures to insure election scare me. It's one of the problems I had with Hillary Clinton as well. I feel like the needs of the country get thrown out the window and competitiveness takes over.

[trishka]

62.

cecily, i too immediately thought of you when i heard about what mccain said last nite in the debate. it made me feel sick to my stomache, on your behalf.

you are so strong, woman, the way you deal with this all the time. i am honored to know you.

[Ashley]

63.

This post made me want to hug you, partially for what you've been through, but partially because you're so damn awesome.

Seriously, you should send this to McCain.

[Tara]

64.

I was so upset by him I had to leave the room a couple of times last night (and I missed the first 30 minutes!0. Very well-said. I too am linking this everywhere I can.

[Ninotchka]

65.

I'm so sorry, Cec. Sorry you and every other woman who has suffered such a tremendous loss had to listen to that poor excuse of a "public servant" devalue and insult you and your painful experiences.

[Libby]

66.

He just seems so unhinged - he's frightening me more and more every day.

Big love to you, and your health, and your very much wanted boys.

[Lori]

67.

I immediately thought of you too when I heard him mindlessly ranting. And then the air quotes came and I wanted to vomit or put my sofa through the television. I couldn't decide which so I just sat there devastated that somebody could have such a lack of understanding about what kind of pregnancy risks pre-e and HELLP are.

I am with the others. Please, please, PRETTY please, send this to the two campaigns.

I'm sorry that ill informed old fart intruded on a day of remembrance for you.

[Erin]

68.

I'm Canadian and didn't watch the debate, for the simple fact that McCain makes me want to throw something at my television. I did see the clip and the hand gesture though and then felt the primal urge to punch that man in the face. I am one of the lucky ones, my pre-eclampsia came at the end of my pregnancy and my son and I are here today, but to say that the health of the mother is essentially a lie infuriated me beyond belief. I wonder if McCain had ever sat in a hospital room with one of his wives and watched as nurses ran out the room to find a Doctor because their blood pressure was high enough to induce a stroke, if he would still feel the same.

Bravo to you Cecily, bravo! I'm a so glad that you are here to represent us and that you do it so well. You are a hero to me.

[C]

69.

You know...I didn't like McCain, but I didn't actually full on HATE him until last night and his stupid airquotes when he said "health." My blood is still boiling, and I am incoherent with rage.

[Penny]

70.

Cecily.
I've been away from your writing for so long I didn't even know you had a new blog and many new ventures.
But what I saw in the debate last night made me sick... and my first thought was of you and your boys.
I had a newborn around the time you lost those sweet babies and I cried a river for you.
Much much love to you. And keep on writing. You are heard, you matter, and you are making a difference.

[kathy a.]

71.

excellent piece. ((( cecily )))

what an ignorant man he is.

[matt duke]

72.

well written. our experience wasn't exactly like your's but close enough that i understand your outrage better than i'd like.

too bad mccain has chosen to become such an ignorant asshole so late in what has been a relatively distinguished career.

[kathleen999]

73.

I thought of you too. And his sneering comments made me sick.

[Cetta]

74.

My head exploded when McCain did his little airquotes and was so freaking smug and condescending. Nevermind that he, as a man, has no idea how incredibly difficult any decision like this is. Nevermind that he cannot string words into a coherent sentence on the subject. The fact that he has any chance of getting into the white house is terrifying. He babbled on and on about looking at the person as a whole when deciding on a Supreme Court Justice and then ended it by saying that their view on Roe v Wade would definitely be a part of that. Translation: no pro-choice justices.

I'm sorry, Cecily. I thought of you immediately and wished you could be right there to make him face the reality of situations like these.

All I can say is: VOTE! And vote Obama.

[Melissa in TN]

75.

Hey Cec,

First of all I am sorry for his insensitivity. I immediately thought of you last night when he was saying that stupid stuff about the importance of the mother's health being stretched. I was telling my sister about you and Nicholas and Zachary today and how off-base he was about the issue.

Hugs to you. I am so sorry for your loss.

[Mr Angry]

76.

What a shame he won't read it. I found it bizarre that he did the air quotes not because I thought he was somehow a better person but because he's a politician. They're usually better at hiding their darker selves. He doesn't deserve such an eloquent reply but I hope the catharsis of writing it helped you. And the "fuck you" was perfectly timed!

[Kris]

77.

I am trying to be very hopeful that he won't get elected. I honestly wasn't as scared for Bush's 2nd term as I am right now. I just keep thinking of the country that we are leaving for our children and it brings me to tears.

Gah! I just want to scream I am so mad at him!

[Jen aka pi c's]

78.

couldn't have said it better myself. no, really i couldn't have...this was great.

[gillian]

79.

Cecily for president!!!!!

[Kathy]

80.

This is a beautifully written entry. I'm just sorry you had to go through so that you could represent what's right.

[mamadaisy]

81.

amen, sister.

[MystikMomma]

82.

Well done, Brava! He has been very dismissive of women in general. I just don't understand how a woman could honestly vote for a man who isn't willing to support them fully. Our health is not important, the fact that we are not paid is not important. We are what??? Just woman relegated to volunteerism? Feel good factors?

Yeah, Go to Hell, McCain and your Pal Palin!

[Kristin]

83.

Well said Cecily! I was so infuriated when I saw him say that. You are one of 3 women I know who would have DIED with the end of their pregnancy. If you read only one other post on this issue, check out Julie's post on "a little pregnant" http://www.alittlepregnant.com/alittlepregnant/ My post is not nearly as eloquent.

[Heather]

84.

I couldn't agree more for different reasons, but thank you for voicing what more people need to know.

[Cara]

85.

I'm so glad that our plight is FINALLy going National.

It sucks that it has to exist at all - but people are starting to listen.

Senator McCain's ingnorance and "buy in" personality aside, the issue is flying now! I just pray that the collective nation's mind is open to hearing the truth.

We matter. Our dead babies matter. We are the extraordinary individuals here!

[jenn]

86.

"Fuck you." That's exactly what I said out loud to my TV the second he used those presumptuous air quotes.

[Catherine]

87.

Let's just all hope there are more of us than there are of them. The lunatics (religious fundamentalists) took over the asylum for the past 8 years, and if McCain doesn't find some way to get them to the polls this time, he'll lose. He is pandering with this issue, and it'll work - those people are both obsessed and motivated. Fundies don't work on logic.

The thing I've always found ironic is, all these neoconservative politicians don't give two shits about the religious nutcases or their issues. They know all they have to do is say they're anti-choice and throw "gay marriage" around a little, and all the good little fundies will march to the polls and vote in lockstep. But they get very, very little payoff for their loyalty. And if the liberals on the SCOTUS can hold out until January, the fundies will see almost no return on their 8 years of investment.

To which I say, SUCK IT, LOSERS.

[CreoleInDC]

88.

All I can say to this is HUMPH. November 4th can't get here fast enough for me.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[Diane]

89.

Why can't this be on the news instead of Joe the Plumber?

[kim]

90.

why are the ones who disagree with the author always sign themselves anonymous? they always come off as cowards. i've never understood that.

i, by the way, agree with the "fuck you, mccain" sentiment.

[Kate]

91.

Thank you for writing this. While I was watching the debate last night I thought of you. I also thought of my own pregnancy, how hard it was, and how close it was to going terribly wrong. How I would not have been able to get the care that I did with a $5000/year insurance policy. How lucky I am to have my child. How easily I could have been in your situation. How easily anyone could be in your situation.

I am so sorry that this is all coming at such a bad time of year. No wonder the anniversary is hitting you so hard.

[Leta]

92.

Cecily, I knew I could count on you!

You are one of the most powerful voices we have. Thank you. Keep telling your story over and over, until everyone in America has heard it.

I have respected McCain up until now, too. But last night, between the women's health air quotes, "class warfare", and "spread the wealth", my respect is G-O-N-E.

Senator McCain, WOMEN'S HEALTH IS NOT A JOKE.

I want Cecily to go on tour with this incredibly brave girl:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/16/campaign-adwatch-rape-vic_n_135278.html

Oh, and BTW...
The 18th century French peasants sacking Versailles and beheading Marie Antoinette and her children just because they were the wasteful king's family? THAT'S class warfare.

Arguing over a 3% difference in the optimal tax rate on earned income over $250,000 is not.

[Ellen]

93.

I wanted to smash the tv when he made those sneering little air quotes. As someone who had severe pre-eclampsia as someone whose health and even life was threatened by her pregnancy, I am the woman who doesn't exist in his eyes. I am the figment of the pro-choice movement's imagination.

I think someone said this above, but I NEVER thought John McCain could make me so angry. I still really wish I could throw something and make myself feel better...

[Photographer Lori]

94.

I hope you mail this. I think you should mail it to every newspaper in the country and maybe a few will print it.

People need to read real life accounts of who is making these sad and horrible and life altering decisions.

I've said it before...nothing is ever black and white.

LORI

[Ellen]

95.

Uh, I should add that I was, thankfully, far enough along that my doctors were able to save both my son and myself. It doesn't change the facts of the situation as he referred to it, however; it happens. (And dude, if it didn't happen, then what would you even be giving away by letting that provision stay in the law?) And every time I've gotten pregnant since I've had to live with the real fear that it could happen again, too early to save my child. So do not go telling me, John McCain, that the health of the mother is some twisty sophistry on the part of pro-choice baby haters.

(Must stop. Am raising blood pressure again, just thinking about it.)

[Tricia]

96.

I seriously stood up and shouted at my tv and started yelling. My husband thought I was losing it. I don't know you personally but I could only think of you when he did those air quotes and I just wanted to run and protect you from the pain that that punch in the gut must have felt like.

[Liz]

97.

I _KNEW_ you'd say it beautifully! I linked to you!

[Holly]

98.

watercooler, I think the abortion tracker website is a parody, thankfully.

They had this on their about us section:
"We are also looking for a number of teenage girls to work as interns over the summer. If you are interested, please use our contact page to apply at once, and be sure to include a photograph. We have beach and swimming facilities, so please include swimsuit photos whenever possible"

[Holly]

99.

And it links to a site called childtrader.com!

[Amy]

100.

Preach it sister! Although on a transcript it may not appear he said anything that terrible, HE DID. His tone and just ...coldness about this topic only made me happier that I am voting for Obama.

It's all about CHOICE. Abortion is a terrible thing, and it should be prevented if at all possible. But sometimes there is no other option. And damnit, we should have that option available.

God bless!