Connie Schultz: Silence Is Not An Option In Contraception Debate

Connie Schultz writes that Rick Santorum’s attacks on women’s health have gone too far, in her column, “A Woman’s Womb: America’s New Sports Arena”

In advance, I apologize to my grown kids for what might be, for them, an embarrassing discussion about their mother’s sex life and contraception.

However, dear children, I do want to point out that in the battleground state of Ohio — where you were born and raised — your mother has been hearing far more lately from Rick Santorum than you. This may be contributing to my mood.

It seems that recent polls have inspired Santorum to ramp up his efforts to alienate every thinking woman in America.

Consider, for example, Santorum’s stand on free prenatal testing: “It saves money in health care. Why? Because free prenatal testing ends up in more abortions and, therefore, less care that has to be done, because we cull the ranks of the disabled in our society.”

As it has for millions of mothers, prenatal testing saved my life — and my yet-to-be-born daughter’s life, too. The only time I’ve had high blood pressure was during my pregnancy. I spent most of my third trimester lying on my left side to keep myself and my baby alive. My only outings were for regular ultrasound exams to make sure she was not in distress. I’m as pro-choice as they come. In 1987, I chose to become Caitlin’s mommy.