Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio released their monthly Thanks and Spanks today. The organization's cheers and jeers go to two groups or individuals who have made a difference in reproductive rights, either good or bad.

Kudos to the Columbus Dispatch for their May 20th editorial endorsing Comprehensive Sex Ed. They made a clear case for medically-accurate instruction and an end to ineffective abstinence-only programs.

• Comprehensive Sex Ed classes are shown to dramatically increase the use of contraceptives and even delay the age when teens first have sex.
• All Comprehensive Sex Ed classes start with a solid discussion about the benefits of abstinence and why it's important to wait until adulthood before having sex.
• Seventy-one percent of Ohioans believe that schools should focus equally on the value of abstinence and the value of condoms and contraceptive use. The percentage rises to 81% among parents who have kids in school. (Quinnipiac poll)
• Abstinence-only programs, which do not teach birth control, leave teens and young adults without the knowledge of how to prevent a pregnancy or stop the spread of STD's once they become sexually active.

The Columbus Dispatch receives our thanks for a well written editorial that has raised awareness of the issue as the Ohio General Assembly prepares for the introduction of the Ohio Prevention First Act. Click here for the complete text.



Unfortunately, not everyone in Ohio is working to assist young people in Ohio with making good choices about sex. The Ohio Union Activity Board at Ohio State invited author Tucker Max to campus this month to discuss his book, blog, and upcoming movie, "I hope they serve beer in hell."

The author's writings are entirely autobiographical stories about how he has exploited women in varying degrees. Average tales involve Mr. Max getting women to engage in sexual experimentation after they have become so intoxicated they lose clear judgment, or even the ability to consent. Despite the deplorable content of his writing, the OUAB paid Mr. Max $8,500 in speaking fees and travel accommodations to present his message to Ohio State students. Funding for the event came from student activity fees charged to every undergrad. Why the OUAB Executive Board decided to hold the event after multiple student objections is beyond us.

Hopefully, the large student protest (including many Planned Parenthood volunteers!) and media storm that accompanied the event will convince the OUAB to make better choices regarding the educational and entertainment events they offer.

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The president has nominated Federal Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Associate Justice in the U.S. Supreme Court. While conservatives are steadily working at painting Sotomayor as a liberal activist, multiple media and pro-choice organizations note that she has never made a decision on reproductive rights or gay marriage.

How quickly the Senate decides to move forward, and how Sotomayor answers the inevitable questions about Roe v. Wade, is yet to be seen.

Official statements from pro-choice organizations and RNC talking points after the jump for our 50th post!
STATEMENT FROM CECILE RICHARDS, PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA, ON NOMINATION OF JUDGE SONIA SOTOMAYOR TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

This historic nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court sends a strong signal that President Obama understands the importance of ensuring that our Supreme Court justices respect precedent while also protecting our civil liberties.

Judge Sotomayor has vast experience in nearly every aspect of the law, having served as a big-city prosecutor and a corporate litigator, a federal trial judge on the U.S. District Court, and an appellate judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. What our nation needs from our Supreme Court justices is a deep understanding of the law, an appreciation of the impact of the court’s decisions on everyday Americans, and a commitment to the protection of our individual liberties. Judge Sotomayor will bring this dedication and commitment with her to the bench.

There is no doubt that Judge Sotomayor’s story is an inspiration to all. Her nomination as the first Hispanic woman justice reminds us that, with hard work and commitment, all things are truly possible in America.

National Organization for Women (NOW) president, Kim Gandy:

Judge Sotomayor will serve the nation with distinction. She brings a lifelong commitment to equality, justice and opportunity, as well as the respect of her peers, unassailable integrity, and a keen intellect informed by experience. President Obama said he wanted a justice with "towering intellect" and a "common touch" and he found both in Judge Sotomayor.

NARAL Pro-Choice America made this statement:

President Obama has selected a nominee with a distinguished record of professional accomplishments as a judge, prosecutor, and community leader. This impressive personal biography signals that she possesses an understanding of how the law affects everyday people's lives," NARAL President Nancy Keenan said. "We are encouraged by the strong support she receives from her peers and other legal scholars and the fact that the Senate has twice confirmed her for federal judgeships. We look forward to learning more about Judge Sotomayor's views on the right to privacy and the landmark Roe v. Wade decision as the Senate's hearing process moves forward.

Finally, the RNC's communications department released talking points for their members to respond to media inquiries. They also sent them to the media on accident. TheHill.com posted them this morning:

President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is an important decision that will have an impact on the United States long after his administration.

Republicans are committed to a fair confirmation process and will reserve judgment until more is known about Judge Sotomayor’s legal views, judicial record and qualifications.

Until we have a full view of the facts and comprehensive understanding of Judge Sotomayor’s record, Republicans will avoid partisanship and knee-jerk judgments — which is in stark contrast to how the Democrats responded to the [Chief Justice John] Roberts and [Justice Samuel] Alito nominations.

To be clear, Republicans do not view this nomination without concern. Judge Sotomayor has received praise and high ratings from liberal special interest groups. Judge Sotomayor has also said that policy is made on the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Republicans believe that the confirmation process is the most responsible way to learn more about her views on a number of important issues.

The confirmation process will help Republicans, and all Americans, understand more about Judge Sotomayor’s thoughts on the importance of the Supreme Court’s fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law.

Republicans are the minority party, but our belief that judges should interpret rather than make law is shared by a majority of Americans.

Republicans look forward to learning more about Judge Sotomayor’s legal views and to determining whether her views reflect the values of mainstream America.

President Obama on Judicial Nominees

Liberal ideology, not legal qualification, is likely to guide the president’s choice of judicial nominees.

Obama has said his criterion for nominating judges would be their “heart “and “empathy.”

Obama said he believes Supreme Court justices should understand the Court’s role “to protect people who may be vulnerable in the political process.”

Obama has declared: "We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom, the empathy to understand what it's like to be poor or African-American or gay or disabled or old — and that's the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges."

Additional Talking Points

Justice Souter’s retirement could move the Court to the left and provide a critical fifth vote for:

Further eroding the rights of the unborn and property owners;

Imposing a federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage;

Stripping "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance and completely
secularizing the public square;

Abolishing the death penalty;

Judicial micromanagement of the government's war powers.

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