Letters

Congressman Nick LaLota’s claim to be a centrist on abortion is worthy of the pages of George Orwell’s’ classic book “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” rather than a 2024 congressional campaign.

Here is the language in a recent LaLota campaign flyer: “Centrist position on abortion, opposes nationwide ban.”

Really? Since when does the revocation of a 50-year right by the current U.S. Supreme Court constitute the basis for claiming a “centrist” position on abortion?

In 1973, in the Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court established the right to an abortion, and reaffirmed that right in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey case. When Donald Trump appointed three ultra-conservative judges to the Supreme Court, it became a court in search of a case to end abortions. That case was Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Let us be clear: The 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey was the “centrist” position on abortion. Dobbs, which LaLota implicitly supports by his campaign position, is the antithesis of centrist — it is chaos.

Since the Dobbs decision, Nick LaLota must be aware of the turmoil created for women, their families and health care in general. Your call: Does the following seem “centrist” to you?

From ABC News: “Delayed and denied: Women pushed to death’s door for abortion care in post-Roe America — Eighteen women told ABC News their heartbreaking stories of pregnancy and loss.”

In Indiana, Dr. Caitlin Bernard was fined $3,000 by the state’s medical board for providing abortion services for a pre-teen rape victim. In addition, the Indiana attorney general sought prosecution of Dr. Bernard. That is astonishing. Dr. Bernard is a hero, not a criminal.

These are but two of hundreds of stories of women’s lives upended and doctors harassed and cowered.

Is all this having an impact on OB/GYN services generally? Yes! The American Association of Medical Colleges is reporting several negative impacts due to Dobbs: burnout and early retirement of OB/GYN providers, medical students spurning OB/GYN for other disciplines, doctors relocating to states with less severe abortion restrictions, services denied due to constant concerns about legal ramifications, OB/GYN service deserts — that is, no OB/GYN providers available. It is a nightmare.

In “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” George Orwell introduced the idea that language could be deployed as a weapon to hide the truth rather than express it. Do not be fooled by Nick LaLota’s Orwellian sleight-of-hand. There is a true centrist running for Congress — and his name is John Avlon.

Mike Anthony

Westhampton

Anthony is a former chair of the Southampton Democratic Committee — Ed.