Is Gov. Ron DeSantis going too far in trying to defeat an amendment to restore abortion access?
That’s what one group says.
“Gov. DeSantis is using his election police to intimidate voters who dare to have beliefs that differ from his. This opens the door towards making voters and all Floridians feel unsafe for voicing their constitutionally protected opinions on important issues like abortion,” says All Voting is Local Action’s Florida State Director Brad Ashwell.
“It’s been clear from day one that the purpose of the election police was to harass voters who don’t have the same viewpoints as the governor. By going after a petition for Amendment 4, which is already on the ballot, Gov. DeSantis is undermining the will of voters and stomping over their democratic freedoms for his own political gain,” Ashwell adds.
State officials are visiting people who signed the petition to get the measure on the ballot, per the Tampa Bay Times, in an effort to establish what reporters call “potential petition fraud.”
The DeSantis administration is already under fire for a so-called transparency webpage that combats “the lies and disinformation surrounding Florida’s abortion laws” to make the case that the amendment, which would end the current ban on the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, is not needed.
Prior to that, the administration waded into the debate about ballot language to ensure it reads that litigation would impact the state budget if the amendment should pass.
The Governor is investing what appears to be dwindling political capital into this push. New polling suggests legalized abortion, with 55% approval, is more popular than DeSantis, who is under 50%. However, the amendment would need 60% support to pass.
–A.G. Gancarski, Florida Politics
Deborah Coffey says
Fascist police at your door. Ir’s just the beginning of executing Florida’s Nazi Manifesto and that of the entire country if Donald Trump wins the election. Brace yourselves.
Peg Jordan says
I don’t know who you are, but I do know you lied when you said “ All of Florida”. I live in Florida and you’re not speaking for me and I have a different opinion from you and from Governor DeSantis, although he’s the best governor we’ve ever had. Nothing in the constitution gives anybody the right to kill babies. My Bible tells me that there is only one person that has the right to take a life or give a life ,Jesus Christ.
I don’t believe there is any reason for taking a baby‘s life even if the mother suffers or the baby suffers it’s not anybody’s decision but God. Now, if you can show me anywhere in God‘s word that you have the right to take a baby’s life just because you think you need to, show it to me quote it to me and we’ll go from there.
I’m sick and tired of people that say they’re Christian and still approve of killing babies. They are not Christians. They cannot be Christians because they go against the word of God. And I would debate this till my last breath because this is what I believe.
SleepTech says
Not being snarky, just a question. What if the baby is dead? Sometimes when a baby is not viable, it passes away but does not completely clear the mother. Doctors then have to do a D&C (also known as an abortion) or the deceased tissue will rot and become toxic killing the mother. A total ban on abortion would end the possibility of this procedure.
Deborah Coffey says
That’s fine. Believe what you want. Just know that 2/3 of Americans don’t agree with you: “May 1, 2024 — About two-thirds (65%) oppose the 2022 Supreme Court decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and 34% approve, numbers that have …(CNN)
Also, if you believe it’s okay for election police to come to your front door to intimidate you for the way you vote and what you believe, then, we probably need to search the Bible to see if Jesus approves of Nazis.
Bob says
The question is, what constitutes a baby, i.e. a human being. You have every right to hold the mystical belief that an embryo is a full human being and to refuse to have an abortion if you need one. But as you have stated, the basis of that belief is religious. And what you are doing is trying to force your beliefs on others. If you want your beliefs enforced by law what you want is a government like they have in Afghanistan. So, no thank you.
Hi says
Next time you have a medical problem. Call jesus.
exasperated says
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
King James Version
18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Ray W. says
Hello exasperated.
In colonial New England of the 1600s, a number of town councils passed similar laws. A rebellious child could be put to death, though as I recall the history one adult son was executed for rebelliousness. Many were punished in other ways.
Sherry says
Hello Peg,
So I’m not a Christian, and I don’t live my life according to the Christian “mythology” of the bible. Why should I not be entitled to make “private” decisions about the control of “MY” own body and “MY” own family in the privacy of “MY” doctor’s office. . . without the government (NOT Your God) “FORCING” me to go through a pregnancy carrying the fetus from “incest” or “rape”. . . or a fetus that is growing in my fallopian tube that is endangering my life/future fertility?
How would you like another’s “religious beliefs” ruining your life? Would you like to live under Sharia law? How is that any different than you imposing your Christian rules on me?
Jim says
I won’t argue with you on whether DeSantis is the best governor Florida has ever had. From what I see as his predecessor’s, he hasn’t had much competition.
I respect your opinion regarding abortion. I admire the fact that you are committed to your position.
But, setting your opinion on abortion aside, do you have no problem with the government sending it’s police force to interrogate it’s citizens regarding their decision to sign a petition promoting a cause that they believe in? If the tables were turned and this petition was to eliminate all abortions (and even those after birth as Mr. Trump says….), would you be happy with the police asking those folks about their signature? If you say yes, would you still feel that way if the governor was a Democrat and the legislature was controlled by Democrats? I have to say that I seriously doubt you would be happy then.
I say this because we can not allow the government to harass, threaten or intimidate the citizens for exercising their rights. That has to apply for the times we agree and disagree with the matter at hand. I hope you will consider this argument as a cornerstone of a democracy.
Ron DeSantis is not supporting democracy when he has his armed police contacting citizens for this when there has been absolutely no evidence that anyone was coerced, bribed or tricked into signing. This is just a blatant attempt at intimidation by the government and that should trouble every Floridian regardless of their political persuasion.
Laurel says
Peg Jordan: Shall we debate an ectopic pregnancy? How about sepsis? What does your bible say about those?
Skibum says
Peg, you should move to one of the middle eastern countries where they have religious authoritarian governments that force all their citizens to obey religious laws or face severe penalties, including death. If that is what you want to live under, then the USA certainly is not the place to be. Here in America we have this little thing called FREEDOM where people can choose to adhere to their own particular religion of choice, or none at all. And YOU, my dear, don’t get to impose YOUR personal religious beliefs on anyone else, no matter how many passages in the Bible you read and wish to live by. You talk about the Constitution and the Bible like they are one in the same. You are confused about the legal and medical differences between a baby that has been born and then becomes a human life, and a fetus that is developing in the womb. If you want to pretend that an unborn fetus is a human life, you do you. But don’t expect everyone else to share your opinion, which is all it is. I would love to see you obtain a life insurance policy on a fetus so you could try to collect on it in the event that it never makes it to viability. I would love for you to try to have any court in the land hold your male partner financially responsible for your fetus’ “child” support expenses during your pregnancy. Hello! If those common things are not made available to you or anyone else who is pregnant, what in the world makes you believe a baby and a fetus are the same, legally? Be very careful, because the very same religious text you wish to live by and want everyone else to live by too also prescribed stoning to death as a punishment for a number of sins including stealing, adultery, using God’s name in vain, etc. I believe far more women than men were stoned to death in ancient times. Should we then return to that in 21st century America? Throughout history, issues rising from opposing religions and the resulting disagreements have started wars an killed millions and millions of people around the world… many times more deaths due to religious beliefs than from abortions. Think about it.
DaleL says
Peg Jordan, I believe you are making the common mistake of confusing what is with what there will be, if everything goes alright. The advice against that false reasoning is: “Don’t cross a bridge until you come to it.” In my view, until a fetus has developed sufficiently to be able to live outside the woman, it is not a baby.
Even if a fertilized egg manages to be accepted and implants, most die on their own for various biological reasons. From an biological perspective, this is normal and to be expected. It makes no sense for a woman to carry a defective, nonviable (outside the woman) fetus to term. It serves no purpose. If the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), it cannot develop normally. Such a pregnancy threatens the life of the mother and the developing fetus will not survive.
The Christian Bible has the story in Numbers 5:12-28 concerning the test for a pregnant possibly unfaithful wife. If she fails the test, her fetus dies (is aborted). Or, Psalm 137:9, “Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.”
In any case, Congress (the government) cannot establish a religion, not yours or any other. One of the most basic freedoms, is the freedom to choose if, where, and when we have children.
Steve says
Absolutely Unbelievable the depths this man will stoop to. He’ll do anything to subvert the will of the people.
SleepTech says
I have to agree.
Tom D Hutson says
Election Police
What to say about our Little Baby Mussolini, sometimes Governor, Commander in Chief of his private Florida Army, the one SMACKED DOWN by his surrogate Daddy Warbucks.
First off, he and his minions can take their “ELECTION POLICE” and stick them where the sun does not shine. They are only want-to-be State Police with imaginary powers trying to Intimidate voters. The fact is, it is not any of Baby Mussolini or his minion’s business of who signed any petitions, we have clerks in the County and State Office that do that very nicely.
Second, I personally could care less what anyone’s personal stand on the Abortion Amendment or the Marijuana Amendment might be. We all know about opinions, everyone has one. I will personally VOTE YES on both amendments.
Please let’s take the Bible out and who is the better Christian, and who is killing babies. Ask yourself “WHY” is our Little Baby Mussolini and his minion supporters so “AFRAID” of the Florida Voters? After all, regardless of your position on these issues you only have one vote in the election booth on these issues.
In a few short days Florida will have it’s answer from the registered voters on these issues. Using Baby Mussolini’s Election Police and screaming baby killers, and if you do not vote my way you are not a “Christian”. Get a life!
As for the Marijuana Amendment, I believe some antagonists have watched to many old Reefer Madness movies. As for law enforcement, traffic stops will still be conducted and tests administered if needed. No changes there, other than officers will need more than just smell of marijuana to conduct further investigations.