A Republican lawmaker in Idaho is on the record comparing a woman having an abortion to prostitution.
Ever since Roe v. Wade was upheld in 1973, anti-abortion activists have been fighting for its repeal ever since. Forty years later and a woman's right to choose is still under-attack. In Idaho, Rep. Ron Mendive (R-Coeur d'Alene) spoke to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) during a breakfast presentation on criminal justice reform. According to the Idaho Press, Mendive caused the entire crowd to "gasp" for making the comparison of an abortion and prostitution
"Since the ACLU supports a woman’s right to choose abortion, shouldn't the organization also support prostitution, Mendive asked ALCU-Idaho executive director Monica Hopkins. Mendive then said that prostitution is 'a woman’s choice.' Hopkins noted that a woman’s right to access reproductive health care is constitutionally mandated, while prostitution is illegal. She also reminded Mendive that prostitution is not always a “choice,” noting that a bill targeting human trafficking could be presented to lawmakers during the legislative session."
While Mendive's comments are alarming, they are now lost in what seems to be an endless amount of extreme rhetoric coming from the far political right. Mendive was elected to the state legislative last year, riding the support of Idaho Choose Life. While a woman's right to choose is settled and the law of the land, Republican lawmakers like Ron Mendive won't stop until the case is brought back to the Supreme Court.
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