The alternative to Hershele Ostroper’s theory that Obama either wants everyone to like him or that he actually is anti-choice is that he actually, sincerely wants to find common ground among people who see their views as irreducibly opposed. He might even actually think that’s how democracy works.

I’m reminded of something Warren Ellis had to say about that brand of democracy. I’m pretty sure it’d be inappropriate for this blog, but the gist of it is simple: imagine you’re locked in a room with 99 people who want to do you harm and the 100 of you have to vote on how you’re spending your evening.

Thats the problem with finding common ground, thats the problem with democracy. There are some lines which cannot be crossed, some rights which simply cannot be infringed upon, abridged, or compromised over. Any common ground in a situation like this necessarily means that the side who is trying to merely maintain their rights is going to be oppressed. The only power they have is to try to hold back how badly they’re going to be oppressed.

Jill’s not complaining about having to work with people she disagrees with. She’s pointing out that there isn’t really common ground with groups that don’t even believe in contraception. There is common ground to be had with some people who call themselves pro-life, and Jill describes what that common ground is:
abortion reduction through contraception, poverty alleviation, and increased gender equality

If we agree on that goal, then we can find some compromises in programs for alleviating poverty, support for new mothers, social and academic support for pregnant teenagers, pre-and perinatal care, and–arguably most importantly–family planning.

However, if their goal is punishing female sexual behavior, and our goal is respecting female reproductive decisions, then…we don’t have common ground on this issue. We don’t even have amenable effective outcomes. If they want to make birth control less accessible, their policies are directly in opposition to their stated goals, our actual goals, and the beliefs held by a strong majority of Americans. The ground they’ve staked out isn’t common.

That’s common ground.

The alternative to Hershele Ostroper’s theory that Obama either wants everyone to like him or that he actually is anti-choice is that he actually, sincerely wants to find common ground among people who see their views as irreducibly opposed. He might even actually think that’s how democracy works.

They’re saying it in public:

“Right-Wing Protesters: Birth Control Will Kill You”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/right-wing-protestors-bir_n_212030.html
BTW I love your blog!

Remember, to these people there is no real difference between contraception and abortion. They are morally equivalent. They might have the good sense not to say that in public, but for the forced-birth crowd abortion is simply the more serviceable argument for the current political climate.

They’re saying it in public:

“Right-Wing Protesters: Birth Control Will Kill You”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/right-wing-protestors-bir_n_212030.html

Doesn’t she then have a moral obligation to suck it up and start pushing contraception?

Of course not. Remember, to these people there is no real difference between contraception and abortion. They are morally equivalent. They might have the good sense not to say that in public, but for the forced-birth crowd abortion is simply the more serviceable argument for the current political climate.

Alternatively, of course, Obama is simply anti-choice. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, though.