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"No Comment Nan" Abandons Hudson Valley Women and Medical Ethics

Earlier today, I held a press conference blasting Rep. Nan Hayworth for supporting the Republican Party's "War on Women."

Earlier yesterday, I held a press conference blasting Rep. Nan Hayworth for supporting the Republican Party's "war on women," hiding from the press when right wing leaders used hateful and sexist language, and abandoning her oaths as a doctor to care for all of the sick - including pregnant women suffering serious medical complications.


I was honored that several dozen supporters joined me outside her district office in Somers to spread this message. This incredible turnout - both today and at our first "Women for Becker" event on Sunday - is a clear sign that the people of this district are fired up to elect a new Representative who’ll actually be there for us.

This was not a simple press conference - This is a rallying cry! Comments like Rush Limbaugh's are just the latest in the Republican War on Women. Back when Nan was running in 2010, she went around and told all of us in Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, and Dutchess that she was pro-choice because she knew that she couldn’t win in this district any other way.

But a funny thing happened on Hayworth’s way to Washington. All of a sudden, it was 'I’m pro-choice, unless...' That’s just absolutely bogus: either you’re pro-choice, or you’re not. Time and again, Nan Hayworth keeps making it clear that she’s not pro-choice, not when it counts. That's why Planned Parenthood gave her a mere 17 points out of 100 on its pro-choice rating scale. We deserve better in a Representative. We deserve someone who will stand up for us when we need them to.

Hayworth's support for HR 358, the “Let Women Die Act," was also inexcusable. That vote would have let doctor’s deny women life saving reproductive care if the doctor personally didn’t want to provide it. I’m a doctor, too. We swore an oath to 'first, do no harm,' which is why I would never turn away a patient who was seriously ill, and why I get so incensed when I hear that Nan supported a bill which would have let doctors do just that. Rather than do the right thing on an issue of life and death, Hayworth pandered to the extreme right, and that’s absolutely disgraceful.

We need to elect a new Congressperson who will stand up for women and lead on important issues, not one who "could not be reached for comment" when reporters asked her about Rush Limbaugh's hateful comments. Enough with “no comment Nan.” Enough with the hypocrisy. Enough with fighting for the few at the expense of the rest of us. We deserve a congressperson who will fight for us in Washington - who will stand up against the special interests and lobbyists, and against out-of-control right wing leaders like Rush Limbaugh, Eric Cantor, and John Boehner. Our Congressperson needs to be a leader and a problem solver, and that's the kind of Representative I'll be.

One final note: It was great that local college student Jordan Beberman also spoke up on the stakes for her generation at this press conference. Beberman comments rang so true: “I want to live in a society that respects all women’s rights to make fundamental decisions about their own lives. I want to know that my real concerns are taken seriously by my government and my Representative. Nan’s votes and comments say loud and clear that she does not share that belief.”

Thank you for your eloquent words, Jordan, and thank you to everyone else who stood with me today!

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Ilir Zherka, a lifelong advocate of human rights and the executive director for the National Conference on Citizenship, was the morning keynote speaker at the 11th annual Not-For-Profit Summit.
sayitsnotsojack May 20, 2013 at 04:36 pm
With all these non profits not paying taxes they have certainly made a lot of us who pay the billsRead More for them non profit also.
W Kelly May 20, 2013 at 09:51 am
Don't believe a word of HVHC mission statement they tossed out the Meth Clinic since it carriesRead More negativity to the new and improved hospital.
Danny May 18, 2013 at 12:20 pm
It is dangerous and a menace to our already horrible traffic on 6. Thank God none of those kids gotRead More hit running in between cars looking for change. Traffic was backed up all through Mohegan...Poor choice of a way to raise monies for a good cause.
Concerned Parent May 21, 2013 at 09:08 am
@w Kelly.....Ahhhhhhhhh maybe the cops are not educated about addiction?? Why not ask the neighborsRead More of the soon-to-be closed HVHC Methadone Clinic -- the veterinarian, residents in hear-by homes, the stores and restaurants in the shopping center, etc. -- have they experienced any "problems" with the clients going to the clinic ?? Personally, I believe the "cops" should be focusing on the known areas to buy drugs -- it does not take a rocket scientist to see the dealers. What happened to the bike patrols used by the police dept ??? As said by another, thank goodness we live in the U.S. for freedom of speech. I
W Kelly May 21, 2013 at 06:06 am
Residential is right, Dogwood, Sprout Brook, Highland Park all the neighbors off of Highland Ave ,Read More Dunbar Heights yes those are all in very close proximity to Meth Clinic. Tell me why all the cops /troopers say a very bad thing for the community?
elijah ryan May 21, 2013 at 12:13 am
Well, well, well, I left Peekskill 2 years ago and Mad Dumb Mary Foster is still in office andRead More better yet still wrecking havoc upon the wonderful people of Peekskill. How's Targets doing down on Louisa St.? The New Firehouse is beautiful. (That's a Joke) What happened to Main St. some drug lord bought new softer lighting so their street level dealers are harder to be recognize by the Police? Paramount closed, Paramount reopened what happen? The Republican in charge didn't pad your pocket Mary? Wouldn't bow down to you? Tumolo out Johansen in. Gene was great Eric will do a great job too just don't short change him. Frank Catalina running for Mayor? Dear people of Peekskill DON'T SCREW THIS UP !!! Everyone crying over the Methadone clinic moving into town? Afraid the "drug addicts" will destroy the town. "?" First of all the Addict's already live among you, shop in your businesses, eat in you restaurants, vote in political elections, and own businesses and restaurants that you patronize. These people are recovering from a addiction just like an alcoholic recovering from alcoholism. They are not thugs, thieves, rapists, they are hard working people like you and me, well like some of you and me, trying to make a living. Mary called the area they want to open the clinic a residential neighborhood. "?" Sewage treatment plant, Highland Self Storage, Hudson Valley Bus Company, residential. Interesting. Still see the day workers hanging out in the same spots, illegal immigrants? No. Undocumented Democrats, Yes. No Peekskill Celebration? Italian Feast? Assumption School closing it's doors? Notice a few more empty stores in town. All on your watch Foster. Miss living down here, don't miss Foster and her gang of thugs. Is Havernik still your puppy on a string. Mary? WHY?! WHY?! I Know, follow you leader Obama and blame George Bush for everything.
sayitsnotsojack May 19, 2013 at 11:37 am
The long suffering tax payer should look at it as them paying for their extravagant health care andRead More pension plans. As for lending a hand they have had our hand outs for way too long.
Teleman May 19, 2013 at 05:09 pm
We've got the Constitution on our side. Although it is being eroded, we still have quite a largeRead More number of the population who still believes in it- 46,455 gun background checks per day since bama got in office- ( yes, we already do background checks for the majority of gun purchases)
Teleman May 19, 2013 at 04:57 pm
Let's face it- we can find niche studies to suit any position we take- but the justice departmentRead More study I am citing is a large piece that goes from 1993-2010- before, during and after the 1994 assault weapons ban -and it spans a pretty large time frame in which to draw these conslusions. This is a very comprehensive look at gun crime in the US- and it shows massive decline despite rising ownership. Deny all you want, because to continue your agenda, it's your only choice.
Abby Normal May 19, 2013 at 11:27 am
Tele, I keep hearing the mantra from the right saying more guns equal less crime. The truth howeverRead More flies in the face of this propaganda. A recent study actually shows that the highest homicide rates are in the states with the fewest gun controls. States like Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alaska just to name a few. Sure, there are fewer homicides in Alaska than in New York, but adjusted for population, the per-ca-pita homicide rate is significantly lower in New York.
Victoria Hochman May 10, 2013 at 06:59 pm
thanks
Victoria Hochman May 10, 2013 at 06:51 pm
Thanks Liz, We appreciate your support and I will pass your kind comments on to our staff. I'm sureRead More it will mean a lot to them.
joshua tanner May 10, 2013 at 06:07 pm
Nice photo
Teleman May 15, 2013 at 04:11 pm
I stand by my statement- until these contracts are fully re-negotiated and the unions startRead More contributing to their benefits and taking zero % or minimal raises, the taxes will continue to increase year after year- Buchanan will no longer be the so-called "bargain" some claim it is.
Sick of the Lies May 10, 2013 at 10:04 am
Hey Fly, before you make comments, you should check the facts. The contracts are alive and well.Read More Mr. Donahue should try learning to read and checking the facts before sending his brilliant letters to the editor in for publishing. They are almost always entirely fictional....but perhaps he really believes what he says. Yeah, right. He intentionally makes up stories to sucker people like you into believing his nonsense.
Fly on the Wall May 10, 2013 at 02:47 am
All of those lucrative 2% contract raises have since expired! DUH. Unlike the 15% raises yourRead More glorious mayor has doled out with great regularity.