Monday, July 13, 2009

Ginsburg comment reflects eugenic roots of pro-abortion movement

Justice Ginsburg made some interesting comments recently in an interview with the New York Times Magazine. Here's the most controversial: "Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe [v. Wade] was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion."

Whatever we might say about Ginsburg's own views on eugenics and abortion (Jill Stanek and Wesley Smith discuss it), it seems that she thought that a pro-eugenics mentality was at least in part behind the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion on demand.

The comment calls to mind the disturbing history of the movement for abortion rights, including Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, a racist and eugenicist.

Update: Jonah Goldberg discusses Ginsburg and eugenics.