TENNESSEE, USA — Otis Sanford reporting:
Well, it turns out that the group known as Tennessee Right to Life is not quite as cold-hearted as it appears. The group had been unrelenting in its demand that no changes be made to an existing state law that bans any abortions in Tennessee even to save the life of the mother.
That stance was so heavily criticized, even by some conservative Republicans, that Tennessee Right to Life had little choice but to cave.
Now, the group supports a narrow exception to the law that allows doctors to abort a pregnancy if it saves the mother's life or protects her long term health.
Still, Right to Life still opposes exceptions in cases of rape or incest, and those changes to the law are not being considered by lawmakers.
So, at last there is some movement to amend one of the worse bills ever passed in Tennessee, but the larger issue here is this — Tennessee Right to Life has far too much say in the legislative process.
Instead of listening to doctors and other healthcare professionals, lawmakers are giving more weight to a political group disguised as a protector of life, and it's shameful.
If only we had a governor and enough sensible Republican legislators with the courage to do what's right — especially for women — instead of doing the bidding of certain right-wing groups. We would all be much better off.
I'm Otis Sanford, and that's my point of view.