Arizona Republicans incredibly are using the idea of fighting racism as excuse to pass law to criminalize some abortions, and punish the doctors who perform them.

From Verde Independent:

PHOENIX -- State senators voted to make race- and gender-based abortions illegal, but not before adding provisions that could send doctors and others involved in these acts to prison.

Monday's 21-5 vote came amid charges and counter-charges about whether girls and blacks are being targeted in the womb. Lawmakers from each side cited figures designed to back their contentions.

The only clear thing is that the bill, which already has been approved in similar fashion by the House, is likely headed to the governor's desk, possibly by the end of the month. And Jan Brewer has signed every measure restricting abortion that has been sent to her.

HB 2443 does more than make criminals out of doctors who terminate a pregnancy knowing the woman's reason is to select the race or gender of the child. It also imposes criminal penalties on anyone who solicits or accepts funds to finance abortions based on race or sex.

Violators would face a presumptive prison term of 3.5 years.

That latter provision is aimed at Planned Parenthood. Proponents of the measure, citing undercover videos, say organization representatives have taken money from individuals interested in limiting births to African American women.

That these Republicans are hiding behind the idea of protecting minorities by outlawing abortions is laughable at best. The only evidence they produce for making the case that Planned Parenthood is accepting donations to fund some kind of "In Utero genocide" are these highly suspicious tapes made by James O'Keefe and his lackey Lila Rose.

You remember James O"Keefe and his fact free and fraudulently doctored anti-Acorn videos don't you?

Yet based on this kind of "information" Republicans in Arizona, and in other places across the country, feel justified in making abortions a criminal offense if it can be suggested that the reasons for the procedure are based on the race or sex of the fetus

Fortunately for the people of Arizona at least, there are some smart, no nonsense Democrats in the State Senate as well.

Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, said that's just a cover for a new restriction on abortion.

"This is one of the most offensive, odious pieces of legislation I've ever seen,' she said.

"It's sexist, it's racist, it's paternalistic, it's disrespectful of women's decision making and moral agency,' Lopez continued. And she chided the Republicans for pushing this legislation in the name of preventing discrimination while they have cut funds for health care and ignored "institutionalized poverty.'

"It seems that the proponents of this legislation only believe human life is valuable when it's in utero,' she said.

I could not have said it better myself.

There is at least one Republican in Arizona not afraid to just tell it like it is, without even bothering to hide behind the idea of standing up against racism as practiced by Planned Parenthood. (An idea so stupid, by the say, I cannot believe my fingers allowed me to type it.)

But Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said he sees the bill as a means to that end.

"We have an obligation to protect the most innocent among us, the unborn,' he said. "Whatever we can do to limit the number of deaths of these unborn children, I'm always a 'yes' vote.'

Pearce said the only time a woman should have a choice is when the decision is saving the life of the mother or the unborn child.

"Now you have a real hard decision that a family must make,' he said. "But until then, it is our responsibility to save lives.'

That last part was just in case some of you were actually buying that whole "fighting racism" malarkey. This is all about taking a woman's rights over her own body away from her, plain and simple.

Apparently to be a Republican politician in 2011 is to have absolutely no shame.