“The Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams reported from Alabama on Thursday, baffled by a fight over a new law that gives the unborn legal representation in court.
Alabama civil rights attorney Julian McPhillips spoke warmly to Williams about about HB494, a bill that was passed in July and allows for more state money to provide lawyers for “the defenseless.”
Williams thought it sounded great, until she heard some more details.
“HB494 allocates state funds to pay for lawyers to represent fetuses,” said Susan Watson, executive director of the Alabama ACLU, which has filed suit against the law.
In Alabama, when a teenager fails to get parental consent for an abortion, she must go to court. Under the new law, the judge can appoint an attorney for the fetus, making it much harder for women to access an abortion, according to Watson.
Williams then asked McPhillips more about how he would go about representing his unborn clients.
“You’re playing theater of the absurd,” McPhillips shot back. But soon he told Williams that he will often talk to mothers about their fetus using “some figurines,” which he produced to Williams’ horror.
Watch the interview, courtesy of Comedy Central:
Crazy. Insane.
If we’re not careful, those jesus freak clowns will be the death of us all.
Think of the fetus, developing in the womb, with the promise of his/her whole life ahead. And then it’s born, and finds itself living in Alabama.
It isn’t about women or fetuses. It’s about government power, and, for the conservative movement, about ending liberalism once and for all times.
This is a great piece – rare in the media – because it’s one of the few that tackle this aspect of the issue. The questions about confidentiality, legal relationships, and especially about the distinction between a fetus (which feels pain) and a grown man (who also feels pain) highlight the odd contortion lawmakers must perform in order to get the “consent of the governed” out of the way, so conservative bureaucrats can do whatever they want.
The simpleminded religious folk who provide their “base” support are being played by lawmakers who, at heart, have no other interest in any opinion of the religious community, least of all anything having to do with spirituality or even life itself.
These same lawmakers consider the Pope a fool over climate… and commerce… and sexuality… and torture… and war…
While Republicans are nuts (18 Republicans sponsored the Bill, and 22 out of 24 voted “yes” on it), it should be noted that 6 Democrats and 1 Independent also voted “Yes” on this Bill. Might be time to consider replacing those Democrats. The other 5 Democrats voted “No”.
“You’re playing theater of the absurd”
Yeah, well, at least she’s not doing it in a courtroom like you do.