Johnsen: I have written a few pieces about how law and policy treat the fetus in cases where the woman has chosen to bear a child. In such cases I have encouraged approaches that do not create an adversarial relationship, but instead … seek to support women in acting responsibly and bearing healthy children. There are situations where the law could and should recognize the fetus, in ways that would not be create [sic] an adversarial relationship but actually support healthy childbearing.
This view is important because as Justice Blackmun acknowledged in Roe v. Wade, “[i]f this suggestion of personhood is established, [Roe’s] case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [Fourteenth] Amendment,” (emphasis added).
But according to Johnsen, the fetus magically becomes a person when the mother wants to have the baby. Essentially you could have two women, both six months pregnant, one carrying a “fetus person” protected by the Constitution because she wants to have the child, and the other one carrying a “fetus blob of tissue” with no rights whatsoever because she doesn’t want to have that baby.
What is Johnsen being nominated for again?
Obama has been working overtime to make good on the promise he made to Planned Parenthood during his campaign, saying, “There will always be people, many of good will, who do not share my view on the issue of choice. On this fundamental issue, I will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield.” You got that right.
So if the promotion of abortion at all costs is the end game here, then perhaps Obama should just commission Planned Parenthood to function as the Justice Department. At least it would save the taxpayers some money. Oh wait, Planned Parenthood already get millions of taxpayer dollars. Well then, perhaps attorneys could wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers: “DOJ brought to you by NARAL Pro-Choice America.” It would make much more sense than what Obama is currently doing.
Now, I know many of Dawn Johnsen’s supporters are quick to point out that she already served at the Department of Justice under former President Bill Clinton. And I’m glad they bring that up, because she should probably be asked about VAAPCOM.
What is VAAPCOM, you ask? Well, it was the “Violence Against Abortion Providers Conspiracy” investigation that was discovered by Judicial Watch, a watchdog organization, after a Freedom of Information Act request. The documents revealed that the Justice Department under Janet Reno started an investigation in 1994 — while Johnsen was a deputy assistant attorney general — where they pressured the FBI to investigate pro-life organizations and its supporters.
Apparently they sought to prove there was a national conspiracy of pro-life “extremists” who were attacking abortion clinics. After months of monitoring several organizations, including Concerned Women for America (CWA), the Christian Coalition and the National Right to Life Committee, among others, the FBI failed to come up with anything. And though the FBI wanted to end the investigation, the DOJ pressured them to continue.
Someone should ask Johnsen, and any other candidate involved with the Clinton DOJ at the time, if they have any knowledge of such investigations. Is this the type of “work” we can expect to see again from the DOJ? Looking at resumes like Dawn Johnsen’s, it wouldn’t surprise me.
You don’t hire professional hunters unless you want to catch a prey.