Pine Ridge tribal president impeached for abortion support (SD)

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/06/29/news/top/news01.txt

PORCUPINE (AP) -- The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council voted 9-5 Thursday to impeach the tribal president for proposing an abortion clinic on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Cecelia Fire Thunder survived two earlier attempts to remove her from office since she was elected in November 2004 as the tribe's first female president.

This time, the issue was over South Dakota's new abortion ban that does not include exceptions for rape or incest.

After Gov. Mike Rounds signed the bill, Fire Thunder vowed to work to open a Planned Parenthood clinic on the reservation, beyond the reach of state law.

<snip>

Or is it about not wanting an abortion clinic on tribal lands?

Those are not the same thing.

Russell Means can't get over losing to a woman. He's only against Patriarchy when it comes to WHITE men... but is fine when it's a fellow NA.

And of course, there are always some women who will support such misogyny.

I wonder if they'll still have the PP clinic, just using this to get rid of her? It is all just too bad.

It sounds to me like they just don't want a Planned Parenthood on their land. Also, Planned Parenthood is not just an "abortion clinic". There may be some technicality here or maybe having a Planned Parenthood ON their premises causes other problems for them. I just think the story is simplistic and possibly biased. Calling Planned Parenthood an "abortion clinic" is the tip-off here.

She has had supporters and nonsupporters, dealing with Russel Means over the yrs. It goes beyond the "abortion" thing, this is used as an excuse, rather like "BOO!" was used as an excuse federally to keep them in power there. Popular support and money aren't always with the same person and here is another instance of that.

And a male spearheads her departure.

have access to abortions if they want them. State law does not regulate what goes on in the Indian Health Program.

issues.

Just like the man in the White House, Means is trying to get the Presidency by nasty tactics... since he can't get people to vote him in.

He is NOT an advocate for the Lakota people. Especially the women. Shame.

...banning all abortions, even those due to rape and incest. That is one bad, medieval law. I think they even want to close off "saving the life and health of the mother."

Of course, the same idiots want to make sure that pharmacists don't have to fill a prescription to prevent pregnancy, either. Catch-22, that.

Planned Parenthood, as other posters are noting, is NOT "an abortion clinic." It's the smallest percentage of what they do overall. They do more to prevent abortions than any other group in the nation because they will give patients truthful information about sexuality. And if you should happen to need help with infertility, they'll even help out there.

I'm very sorry President Fire Thunder ended up a casualty in the culture wars.

Hekate

them?

PP is among the good guys, imo.

Hekate

it sounds like they just attack this woman over and over, at any excuse

a bit like how clinton was constantly savaged for every move he made, the rightwing dirtbags just never rest

Sickening.

in a headline -- and it turns out to be bad for progressives! :eyes:

So what happens now? Is there a tribal VP waiting to step in? Or will there be a new election? If so, is Ms. Fire Thunder eligible? 'Cause if she is, she'd probably win, and we'd be back to Square One...

From the article I read, the impeachment vote meant that Cecelia Fire Thunder was now out of office. Is that how it works for the Oglala Sioux nation or does the process resemble that of our government's road to impeachment, when the vote to serve someone with articles means that president was impeached, but can only be removed from office after both houses of Congress assent? Is this it for her, or is there more to the process? Googling produced...muddy results, as usual.

the phrase "the impeachment," does mean she has been removed from power. Egh.