* Here’s the raw video of Republican freshman Congressman Joe Walsh saying to reporters after Thursday’s debate that abortions are “absolutely” never needed to save the life of pregnant mothers…
* And here’s Walsh’s long, rambling Friday press conference where he tried to kinda-sorta walk things back a bit , but then didn’t answer any questions…
“Walsh’s comments have no grounding in science and are completely inaccurate,” said Dr. Cassing Hammond, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Life-threatening medical conditions that can lead to terminating a pregnancy include infections of the uterus or the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus, some heart conditions and pre-eclampsia, a rapid rise in blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy and in the period right afterward, said Dr. Erika Levi, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“All of these conditions can occur throughout the pregnancy,” Levi said. “If these conditions occur prior to viability (of the fetus) then, at that point, abortion can become the only option to save the life of the mother.”
Dr. David Grimes, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, added others to the list, including complications of diabetes, pulmonary hypertension and cancer, which he said sometimes can require termination of the pregnancy before treatment can proceed. Cases severe enough to require abortions are rare, Grimes said, adding that he nonetheless sees several a year.
After coming under fire for suggesting that scientific advancements have made abortions to save a mother’s life unnecessary, Congressman Joe Walsh Friday continued to describe himself as “pro-life without exception” but also said he would support some medical procedures for pregnant women even if they result in the loss of the baby.
The McHenry Tea Partyer made the comments at a 2:30 p.m. news conference in Elk Grove Village, his wife Helene by his side. He arrived at the vacant factory warehouse by truck, and left without taking questions from the press.
* Jackie Speier, lawmaker who needed abortion, rips Joe Walsh: Rep. Joe Walsh’s claim that abortions are never necessary to save the life of the mother “showed absolute ignorance about science and medicine,” according to a California Democrat who once spoke of her own needed abortion on the House floor. Rep. Jackie Speier, who appeared on the House floor in 2011 to talk about an abortion she needed to save her life, told POLITICO on Friday that Walsh didn’t understand “how painful it is on a physiological and emotional level” to have a second-trimester abortion.
* Rep. Joe Walsh edges away from controversial remark about abortion
* Doctors dispute ‘inaccurate’ abortion claim from Rep. Joe Walsh: In his practice, he said, he’s often cared for women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or leukemia whose oncologists refuse to administer treatment until the pregnancy is over. Type 1 diabetes can be severely aggravated by pregnancy, and an abortion may be necessary to save a patient’s eyes or kidney function. And in some severe cases of pre-eclampsia, the liver can begin to die — and the only treatment is ending the pregnancy.
* Sen. Durbin jumps into firestorm over Walsh’s abortion comments
I actually felt like an idiot over the weekend about this. I watched the debate and while that last question got tough, I didn’t see it becoming a national thing. That press conference is hermain cain/blago/palin-esque bizarre. He makes a video with his wife and then you can’t see her or the rest of the warehouse.
if Walsh were not so horrible I would thank him for igniting anew the Akin fire. the Walsh/Akin conflation is all over the national airwaves. time to hit the coat of Paul Ryan with that more! after all, they are all the same, science denying, women controlling bunch.
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- Shore - Monday, Oct 22, 12 @ 10:05 am:
I actually felt like an idiot over the weekend about this. I watched the debate and while that last question got tough, I didn’t see it becoming a national thing. That press conference is hermain cain/blago/palin-esque bizarre. He makes a video with his wife and then you can’t see her or the rest of the warehouse.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 22, 12 @ 10:07 am:
If he’s re-elected, Rep. Walsh is certainly the front-runner to replace Rep. Akin as chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
His knowledge of Science and Technology is now well-documented, as is the vast Space between his ears.
- walkinfool - Monday, Oct 22, 12 @ 10:14 am:
Joe thinks he’s a lot smarter than he is. That’s why he yells, and is so defensive when anyone who challenges his “facts”.
- amalia - Monday, Oct 22, 12 @ 10:46 am:
if Walsh were not so horrible I would thank him for igniting anew the Akin fire. the Walsh/Akin conflation is all over the national airwaves. time to hit the coat of Paul Ryan with that more! after all, they are all the same, science denying, women controlling bunch.
- amalia - Monday, Oct 22, 12 @ 10:50 am:
and send this to friends in Iowa, contraception IS an issue!!!!!
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/10/21/1056071/rep-steve-king-wont-say-if-he-believes-contraception-should-be-legal/?mobile=nc
- Obamas Puppy - Monday, Oct 22, 12 @ 12:35 pm:
I love this guy he gives a new meaning to offensive politician.