Bush abortion furor takes down Nancy Pelosi's website

It started as a comment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who told reporters yesterday that if the Bush administration goes through with its proposed regulation on abortion, "it will launch a dangerous assault on women's health."

Digg put the comment on its front page, linking to Pelosi's website.  Which, as our colleagues at Web Scout reported today, crashed. Big time.

"Our website is being deluged with readers incredulous that the Bush administration may be trying to redefine contraception as abortion," the speaker's press secretary, Brendan Daly, said in an e-mail. "We hope to restore full service to our website soon."

The site was back up within an hour. Daly, noting that Pelosi is a Digg user, added that the speaker "appreciates the attention the site has given to this issue."

The furor began a few days ago when it was reported that the Bush administration is considering a regulation meant to protect doctors and nurses from performing services that violate their moral beliefs.

Abortion advocacy groups criticized the proposal, arguing it would in effect redefine contraception as abortion. On the other side, abortion critics said it will ensure doctors are not discriminated in hiring or employment if they don't want to take part in an abortion.

--James Gerstenzang and Johanna Neuman

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

Nancy Pelosi is a stupid, ignorant democratic MORON

[Nancy Klein]

As a Californian, an American, and a human being, I am so ashamed of Pelosi - and ahamed of the people who have put her where she is. Abortion is not of God - and it is is killing of the innocent, to say the least! If the camera focuses on Charles Manson - or Nancy Pelosi ... I see no difference in those crazed eyes.

[Pat Hayes]

The Bush administration is to be commended for trying to protect the rights of medical professionals to conduct themselves in ways that align with their firmly held moral beliefs. I myself am a member of a Church which teaches that all male children of God should be freed from sin by a benign modification in the first week of life. This procedure is quite similar to the common process of foreskin removal, but applied closer to the body. I have however met with a great deal of irrational opposition from other so-called medical 'experts' in attempting to save the souls of young boys by this simple process, and emotive and irrational words like "castrate" are used to prevent me performing the medical procedures dictated by my conscience. Let us all hope that the divine light of truth will eventually prevail in this Great Country under God.

I see by the two previous comments reasonable debate on this topic may be impossible. If the new law proposed protects the rights of Doctors and Nurses not to perform procedures that they do not believe in then what of the rights of the patient? If you believe surgery is wrong (and there are groups that believe that) then should surgery for anything be banned? If contraception is abortion then it is Ok to deny rape victims the morning after pill? The oath a doctor takes states "first do no harm" who defines harm?

A doctor or nurse that puts his or her religion ahead of the patients needs is a poor physican. Physican heal thyself

[Steven Stapleton]

Someone once said, "That government which governs least, governs best."

If you believe that abortion is wrong, don't practice it. Stop trying to tell people how to run their lives. It doesn't affect your life, so butt out.

You say you want to fight for freedom, but deny it to women? This is just one more weak attempt by the Bush administration to put a stamp on his presidency, which is a sham to begin with.

[Derrick]

I saw an article on this earlier today. Honestly, I thought it was an article from The Onion. That's how stupid this abortion proposal is.

[Amelia]

My IUD is thumbing its nose at Bush as we speak.

[faultroy]

Sadly, the idea of a reasoned logical response is out of the question.
I mean these bigoted feminists cannot possibly imagine a world which may not have the same twisted values as their liberal myopic Women's Studies educations would allow.
Obviously the feminist Mantra: "My Body, My Choice" does not apply to anyone other than a card carrying Liberal Feminist. According to them, being a healthcare provider means that you must do anything and everything you find morally repugnant and in violation of your oath to "do no harm," because by not doing so you violate of the First Feminist Principle--"....it's all about me...me...me.. me!!!!!!!!
No wonder no one except other feminists takes them seriously. How can you possibly take someone seriously when every time one attempts to give a group--and in this case doctors and nurses-- the same rights as these hystrionic Feminists DEMAND, Feminist rant about "women dying like flies in the street."
The thought of taking their business and money elsewhere is not an option to these Zealots. Nor would the idea of moderating the proposed law by REQUIRING hospital personnel to find alternative sites for patients requesting treatment be considered either. How could it? --Then there would be nothing to get hysterical about. What did this country do to deserve such wacky Drama Queens?

[Madeline Knapp]

Nancy Pelosi is clearly interested in preserving women's rights, and nothing more. Those who blame feminism for the woes of the world are nothing new, much like many of comments above, rather a sampling of misogyny. AND, there is really no need to "get hysterical" since Bush and McBush McCain are both on their way out. Women's rights WILL be preserved, whether or not the Pope like it, and whether or not the men and patriarchal posters above, like it.

justice for all ;that is what it says..are you suggesting that because roe v
wade allows the indicrimant killing of the unborn that this is indeed JUSTICE
FOR ALL? if you remove the hood from over your head you would see that
it is what it is...legalized murder..