Susan J. Demas: Can we find common ground on abortion after the Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting?

Like many people who consider themselves pro-choice, I've tried to find common ground with the other side for years.

I've known the joy of motherhood and the sorrow of miscarriage. And I've come out of the experience believing that women and their doctors should be trusted to make healthcare decisions. 

But truthfully, "pro-choice" and "pro-life" aren't accurate labels for many people. Abortion is an intensely personal issue. And for many, it's rather complicated.

We know that half of all pregnancies are unintended. Sometimes they end in abortion. Sometimes parents have kids they're unprepared for — and yes, tragically, sometimes they have children they don't really want. Sometimes it's a happy surprise for everyone.

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Susan J. Demas: Sorry, ladies. Republicans will eventually support gay rights, but aren't that into yours

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision last week, Republicans have fallen over themselves to convince us this wasn't another salvo in the War on Women.

In a 5-4 decision no female justice supported, the High Court said closely held corporations have the right to deny employees birth-control coverage.

Cue the right-wing's justifications, which range from foolhardy to outright falsehoods:

- Hobby Lobby still covers 16 other forms of birth control. That's great, but it excludes some big choices for women, like IUDs and emergency contraception. The court has since issued an emergency injunction for a Christian college, which opens the door to institutions denying all contraception coverage.

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