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Showing posts with label gop war on women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gop war on women. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Where Is The Fringe?
April 24th, 2012
Rachel Maddow on the GOP's new normal; attempting to force victims of rape and incest to give birth to children conceived during such crimes.
Rachel Maddow on the GOP's new normal; attempting to force victims of rape and incest to give birth to children conceived during such crimes.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
What War On Women?, cont...
April 17th, 2012
Jon Stewart notes that while Fox News fiercely denies there is a "war on women" at all they have equally passionately propagandized that "wars" on Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, Ladies nights, fisherman, salt, "spuds" and fossil fuels are all very real.
Jon Stewart notes that while Fox News fiercely denies there is a "war on women" at all they have equally passionately propagandized that "wars" on Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, Ladies nights, fisherman, salt, "spuds" and fossil fuels are all very real.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
What War On Women? cont...
April 10th, 2012
As a result of the ongoing war on women, which exists no matter how much senior Republicans are now scrambling to deny it, the gap between support among American women voters for President Obama and Mitt Romney has grown wildly. Yesterday, Herman Cain was asked about this on Fox and explained the numbers as follows:
As a result of the ongoing war on women, which exists no matter how much senior Republicans are now scrambling to deny it, the gap between support among American women voters for President Obama and Mitt Romney has grown wildly. Yesterday, Herman Cain was asked about this on Fox and explained the numbers as follows:
"I think many men are much more familiar with the failed policies than a lot of other people, as well as the general public."You read that right.
Monday, April 9, 2012
What War On Women?
April 9th, 2012
That's the official GOP line; there is no "war on women."
Today, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called it a "manufactured issue".
He went so far as to presume that high ranking Republican women agree with him:
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| Image via |
Today, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called it a "manufactured issue".
He went so far as to presume that high ranking Republican women agree with him:
"There is no issue. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire and Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe from Maine, I think, would be the first to say — and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska — ‘We don’t see any evidence of this.' "Really?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The War On Women, cont...
March 25th, 2012
One more time, if you think there is no GOP war on women, you are not paying attention. Or, you're in denial.
One more time, if you think there is no GOP war on women, you are not paying attention. Or, you're in denial.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Maureen Dowd Kicks Some Flabby, Creepy, Misogynistic Ass
March 4th, 2012
If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be coming to the defense of basic women's rights as well as explaining the fundamentals of hormone therapy while the nation headed into the 2012 Presidential contest, I would simply not have believed them. After posting about this HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, I have come to the conclusion that Margaret Atwood was not fabulist in the least.
Maureen Dowd nails these creeps to the wall:
"Limbaugh leeringly suggested that were taxpayers to be stuck with the bill, Fluke and other “feminazis” should give them something back: sex videos. “We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch,” he said.
Fluke was lobbying Georgetown University to change its policy for three years before she became a cause célèbre outcast when the Republican congressman Darrell Issa barred her from an all-male panel on contraception. But her conflict with her Jesuit school did not stop its president, John DeGioia, from eloquently defending his student (who ended up testifying for Nancy Pelosi’s all-Democratic panel).
“She provided a model of civil discourse,” he said in a letter to the school. “This expression of conscience was in the tradition of the deepest values we share as a people. One need not agree with her substantive position to support her right to respectful free expression.”
He branded the reaction of Limbaugh and some other commentators as “misogynistic, vitriolic and a misrepresentation of the position of our student.”
Given this season’s lava spill of hate, it was fitting that DeGioia evoked St. Augustine: “Let us, on both sides, lay aside all arrogance. Let us not, on either side, claim that we have already discovered the truth.”
It’s hard to believe that not that long ago, Bob Dole, the former G.O.P. leader and presidential nominee, was a spokesman for Viagra. (Mother Jones pointed out that Rush, a Viagra fan, might be confusing the little blue pill and birth control, since “when and how much sex you have is unrelated to the amount of birth control you need.”)
Rush and Newt Gingrich can play the studs, marrying again and again until they find the perfect adoring young wife. But women pressing for health care rights are denigrated as sluts."
If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be coming to the defense of basic women's rights as well as explaining the fundamentals of hormone therapy while the nation headed into the 2012 Presidential contest, I would simply not have believed them. After posting about this HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, I have come to the conclusion that Margaret Atwood was not fabulist in the least.
Maureen Dowd nails these creeps to the wall:
"Limbaugh leeringly suggested that were taxpayers to be stuck with the bill, Fluke and other “feminazis” should give them something back: sex videos. “We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch,” he said.
Fluke was lobbying Georgetown University to change its policy for three years before she became a cause célèbre outcast when the Republican congressman Darrell Issa barred her from an all-male panel on contraception. But her conflict with her Jesuit school did not stop its president, John DeGioia, from eloquently defending his student (who ended up testifying for Nancy Pelosi’s all-Democratic panel).
“She provided a model of civil discourse,” he said in a letter to the school. “This expression of conscience was in the tradition of the deepest values we share as a people. One need not agree with her substantive position to support her right to respectful free expression.”
He branded the reaction of Limbaugh and some other commentators as “misogynistic, vitriolic and a misrepresentation of the position of our student.”
Given this season’s lava spill of hate, it was fitting that DeGioia evoked St. Augustine: “Let us, on both sides, lay aside all arrogance. Let us not, on either side, claim that we have already discovered the truth.”
It’s hard to believe that not that long ago, Bob Dole, the former G.O.P. leader and presidential nominee, was a spokesman for Viagra. (Mother Jones pointed out that Rush, a Viagra fan, might be confusing the little blue pill and birth control, since “when and how much sex you have is unrelated to the amount of birth control you need.”)
Rush and Newt Gingrich can play the studs, marrying again and again until they find the perfect adoring young wife. But women pressing for health care rights are denigrated as sluts."
Damn straight.
Newt Watch - Cashing In On Rush Limbaugh's "Slut-Shaming"
March 4th, 2012
Well, even after the fat man issued his phony apology, there was at least one politician who sought to gain some advantage by dragging himself through Rush's snail-stain.
The National Journal reports:
"Newt Gingrich on Saturday used the flap over Rush Limbaugh's controversial denunciations of Sandra Fluke as a way to attack President Obama for acting "opportunistically" when he called the Georgetown University law student to express his disappointment over Limbaugh's comments.
After Limbaugh described Fluke as a “slut” and “prostitute” for advocating for subsidizing birth control, Obama contacted Fluke personally. Numerous conservatives and other GOP presidential candidates have rebuked the conservative broadcaster to varying degrees, but the former House speaker said he saw the issue much differently.
"I think the president will opportunistically do anything he can," Gingrich said in response to a reporter’s question after a rally in Hamilton. "I think the most important use of language in the last week has been the president's apology to religious fanatics, and I want to stay focused on what the president has said, and I think what he said was inexcusable and is exactly the wrong policy at a time of life and death, and playing political games is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned."
My first reaction is to suggest that Gingrich, with this act of opportunism, is the last person who should accuse anyone else of behaving "opportunistically."
What's really illuminating here is that he attempted to use the vile spectacle while simultaneously framing it as no big deal.
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The National Journal reports:
"Newt Gingrich on Saturday used the flap over Rush Limbaugh's controversial denunciations of Sandra Fluke as a way to attack President Obama for acting "opportunistically" when he called the Georgetown University law student to express his disappointment over Limbaugh's comments.
After Limbaugh described Fluke as a “slut” and “prostitute” for advocating for subsidizing birth control, Obama contacted Fluke personally. Numerous conservatives and other GOP presidential candidates have rebuked the conservative broadcaster to varying degrees, but the former House speaker said he saw the issue much differently.
"I think the president will opportunistically do anything he can," Gingrich said in response to a reporter’s question after a rally in Hamilton. "I think the most important use of language in the last week has been the president's apology to religious fanatics, and I want to stay focused on what the president has said, and I think what he said was inexcusable and is exactly the wrong policy at a time of life and death, and playing political games is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned."
My first reaction is to suggest that Gingrich, with this act of opportunism, is the last person who should accuse anyone else of behaving "opportunistically."
What's really illuminating here is that he attempted to use the vile spectacle while simultaneously framing it as no big deal.
How Rush's Slut-Shaming Is Actually Injuring People
Mar 4th, 2012
An ordinary American mother writes that her 16 year old daughter "suffers from menorrhagia and secondary dysmenorrhea. That is, since almost the time of her very first period, she bled so heavily and suffered such severe pain and cramping that she was rendered immobile for the first 2-3 days of menstruation. She would become so violently ill that she would miss at least 2 days of school each month."
For this reason, her daughter is prescribed hormonal treatments. Yes, the pill.
What follows is a harrowing account of the abuse her daughter is now receiving from classmates and, apparently, possibly even a teacher. All of this is being justified by her tormentors with phrases like these:
"Birth control whore"
"I told my mom you were on the pill and she said you were nothing but a little tramp"
"My mom said some guy she listens to on the radio was just talking about girls like you- he even said you were a slut!"
"Yeah, my mom said the same thing, said it's about time people spoke up and weren't afraid to tell the truth"
Apparently, these classmates discovered the young woman was on "contraception" because of an extended school trip which required prescription disclosure to the institution before being allowed to participate. It is not clear how the information was disseminated to them. What is clear is where they have found encouragement for their mouth-breathing, spittle-dribbled harassment.
This is the world as Rush Limbaugh would have it in microcosm. For women, there are two choices only:
Shame or agony.
An ordinary American mother writes that her 16 year old daughter "suffers from menorrhagia and secondary dysmenorrhea. That is, since almost the time of her very first period, she bled so heavily and suffered such severe pain and cramping that she was rendered immobile for the first 2-3 days of menstruation. She would become so violently ill that she would miss at least 2 days of school each month."
For this reason, her daughter is prescribed hormonal treatments. Yes, the pill.
What follows is a harrowing account of the abuse her daughter is now receiving from classmates and, apparently, possibly even a teacher. All of this is being justified by her tormentors with phrases like these:
"Birth control whore"
"I told my mom you were on the pill and she said you were nothing but a little tramp"
"My mom said some guy she listens to on the radio was just talking about girls like you- he even said you were a slut!"
"Yeah, my mom said the same thing, said it's about time people spoke up and weren't afraid to tell the truth"
Apparently, these classmates discovered the young woman was on "contraception" because of an extended school trip which required prescription disclosure to the institution before being allowed to participate. It is not clear how the information was disseminated to them. What is clear is where they have found encouragement for their mouth-breathing, spittle-dribbled harassment.
This is the world as Rush Limbaugh would have it in microcosm. For women, there are two choices only:
Shame or agony.
The Right Goes From "Religious Freedom" To "Slut Shaming" In Just Two Weeks
Mar 4th, 2012
by F. Grey Parker
When the GOP made the bright decision to attack the Obama Administration's new contraceptive requirements, they framed their argument as one of "religious freedom."
by F. Grey Parker
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The War On Women Meets The War On Science
march 1st, 2012
Well, this certainly is a convergence of two lunatic disciplines; practiced denial of science meets institutional misogyny. I suspect a sprinkling of Dominionism was added for flavor.
Igor Volsky writes:
"Just moments after Senators defeated the so-called Blunt Amendment, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) accused Sebelius of lying about the administration’s rule requiring employers to provide birth control coverage in their health insurance plans and falsely insisted that religious organizations would be required to provide “abortifacient” drugs." EMPHASIS MINE
One more time... were talking about organizations that seek to participate in secular society, for commercial benefit, underwritten in dozens of ways by the U.S. taxpayer. They don't like it? Close. Period. I say that as a Christian.
Well, this certainly is a convergence of two lunatic disciplines; practiced denial of science meets institutional misogyny. I suspect a sprinkling of Dominionism was added for flavor.
Igor Volsky writes:
"Just moments after Senators defeated the so-called Blunt Amendment, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) accused Sebelius of lying about the administration’s rule requiring employers to provide birth control coverage in their health insurance plans and falsely insisted that religious organizations would be required to provide “abortifacient” drugs." EMPHASIS MINE
Sebelius: There also is no abortifacient drug that is part of the FDA approved contraception. What the rule for preventive care…
Murphy: Ma’m that is not true…Is the morning after pill or something like that an abortifacient drug?
Sebelius : It is a contraceptive drug, not an abortifacient… It does not interfere with a pregnancy. If the morning pill were taken, and a female were pregnant, the pregnancy is not interrupted. That’s the definition of abortifation.
Murphy: Ma’m that is your interpretation, and I appreciate that’s your interpretation.
Sebelius: That’s what the scientists and doctors…
Murphy: We’re not talking about scientists! Ma’m we’re not talking about scientists here, we’re talking about religious belief. Ma’m, I’m asking you about a religious belief. In a religious belief, that is a violation of a religious belief.This man is an idiot. Worse, he's a very dangerous idiot. Science isn't a political or theological opinion.
One more time... were talking about organizations that seek to participate in secular society, for commercial benefit, underwritten in dozens of ways by the U.S. taxpayer. They don't like it? Close. Period. I say that as a Christian.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Day In "Slut Shaming"
Feb 29th, 2012
It's been a hell of a day in the world of "slut shaming." A hell of a day, indeed. In case you haven't heard yet, Rush Limbaugh savagely attacked Sandra Fluke, the young woman whom House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) refused to allow to testify during his all-male-witness contraception hearing two weeks ago:
"What does it say about the college coed Susan [sic] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex.
"She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex. What does that make us? We're the pimps.
"The johns, that's right. We would be the johns -- no! We're not the johns. Well -- yeah, that's right. Pimp's not the right word.
"OK, so, she's not a slut. She's round-heeled. I take it back." EMPHASIS MINE
via Media Matters
In case you are wondering what set Rush off, Ms. Fluke managed to get her voice heard in a separate hearing held by the The Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. Although House Republicans managed to intentionally prevent her appearance from being broadcast, it wound up being seen by a lot of people anyway. You know how that pesky internet is.
This woman not being effectively silenced altogether was too much for Rush to bear.
Of particular note is his remark today about the quantity of sex a person engages in having anything to do with "contraception."
Beyond a refusal to recognize the fact that a majority of women use "contraception" as an essential component of health-preserving hormone therapies (such as the one related in Ms. Fluke's testimony), this exposes the psyche of the contemporary, self-declared conservative male...
"Behold, the most influential voice in Republican politics.
I'm curious whether GOP officials, including Darrell Issa, are comfortable with the language Limbaugh used today. If recent history is any guide, Republican officeholders are loath to disagree with the radio host publicly, and it'll be interesting to see if GOP lawmakers or candidates make any kind of exception here.
Given that they started this War on Women, it seems unlikely, but here's hoping I'm wrong."
That's a damn good question. And, it should be asked of every single elected Republican in the United States.
Believe it or not, the day got even more depressing.
The National Review published a "hilarious" piece by Charles C. W. Cooke showing just how stupid we liberals are and 'exposing' the fact that access to birth control is a phony issue. His piece, titled "My Contraceptive Haul," (yuk yuk) details how easy it was for him to find condoms simply everywhere in NY City.
They are speaking for millions of Americans who think that women shouldn't be speaking on this subject at all.
It's been a hell of a day in the world of "slut shaming." A hell of a day, indeed. In case you haven't heard yet, Rush Limbaugh savagely attacked Sandra Fluke, the young woman whom House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) refused to allow to testify during his all-male-witness contraception hearing two weeks ago:
"What does it say about the college coed Susan [sic] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex.
"She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex. What does that make us? We're the pimps.
"The johns, that's right. We would be the johns -- no! We're not the johns. Well -- yeah, that's right. Pimp's not the right word.
"OK, so, she's not a slut. She's round-heeled. I take it back." EMPHASIS MINE
via Media Matters
In case you are wondering what set Rush off, Ms. Fluke managed to get her voice heard in a separate hearing held by the The Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. Although House Republicans managed to intentionally prevent her appearance from being broadcast, it wound up being seen by a lot of people anyway. You know how that pesky internet is.
This woman not being effectively silenced altogether was too much for Rush to bear.
Of particular note is his remark today about the quantity of sex a person engages in having anything to do with "contraception."
Beyond a refusal to recognize the fact that a majority of women use "contraception" as an essential component of health-preserving hormone therapies (such as the one related in Ms. Fluke's testimony), this exposes the psyche of the contemporary, self-declared conservative male...
They think this debate is about rubbers and fucking.Steve Benen raises an eyebrow:
"Behold, the most influential voice in Republican politics.
I'm curious whether GOP officials, including Darrell Issa, are comfortable with the language Limbaugh used today. If recent history is any guide, Republican officeholders are loath to disagree with the radio host publicly, and it'll be interesting to see if GOP lawmakers or candidates make any kind of exception here.
Given that they started this War on Women, it seems unlikely, but here's hoping I'm wrong."
That's a damn good question. And, it should be asked of every single elected Republican in the United States.
Believe it or not, the day got even more depressing.
The National Review published a "hilarious" piece by Charles C. W. Cooke showing just how stupid we liberals are and 'exposing' the fact that access to birth control is a phony issue. His piece, titled "My Contraceptive Haul," (yuk yuk) details how easy it was for him to find condoms simply everywhere in NY City.
"Were one to have listened uncritically to the more hysterical elements in America’s news media over the past month, one would have concluded that contraception is intractably hard to come by in the United States; but a cursory glance at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s well-appointed website gives quite the opposite impression. There, contrarily, visitors are informed that anyone in need of contraception is somewhat spoiled for choice." EMPHASIS MINEWhile poking fun at the "NY Condom App" available for a number of smart phones, he says:
"Never has a society been so precisely and easily led to safe sex."He even describes how his pockets were "bulging" with so many rubbers. Again, it's all about rubbers and fucking.
"Next time someone tells you that, if the federal government does not force all health insurers to cover contraception without raising premiums, the sky is going to fall, why not take him for a walk in a major urban area? You’ll only have to go a couple of blocks." EMPHASIS MINEYou just read that right.
"Take him."There are so many things wrong with these two men that go beyond their dripping smarm.
They are speaking for millions of Americans who think that women shouldn't be speaking on this subject at all.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Revoking The Church's Tax Exemption?
Feb 12th, 2012
A few days ago, I quipped that if we are to conflate churches with businesses then we ought to reexamine the tax exempt status of the former. I was being facetious at the time. Today, PoliticsUSA actually makes a strong argument to do just that:
"It was reported in this column that the USCCB sent out letters to be read in parishes around the country informing Catholics of the Obama Administration’s alleged “war on religious liberty.” When parish priests read the letter to their congregations, they politicized the pulpit and violated their tax-exempt status as a religious organization. Senator Rubio is complicit in not reporting the violation to the IRS, and for following the bishops’ orders and drafting legislation imposing the Vatican’s ban on contraception. It is time to revoke tax-exempt status from all Catholic churches and end their taxpayer-funded entitlements once and for all. There is no doubt the USCCB violated their agreement with the IRS and Rubio’s statement that he directed his staff to draft legislation after an officiant read a letter from the Catholic archdiocese opposing the administration’s decision proves it. Rubio claims he was ignorant of the issue prior to hearing the archdiocese’s letter and his willingness to obey the USCCB precludes him from serving as a U.S. Senator. Either Rubio follows Vatican law, or he follows U.S. law and the Constitution; he cannot do both."
Agreed.
A few days ago, I quipped that if we are to conflate churches with businesses then we ought to reexamine the tax exempt status of the former. I was being facetious at the time. Today, PoliticsUSA actually makes a strong argument to do just that:
"It was reported in this column that the USCCB sent out letters to be read in parishes around the country informing Catholics of the Obama Administration’s alleged “war on religious liberty.” When parish priests read the letter to their congregations, they politicized the pulpit and violated their tax-exempt status as a religious organization. Senator Rubio is complicit in not reporting the violation to the IRS, and for following the bishops’ orders and drafting legislation imposing the Vatican’s ban on contraception. It is time to revoke tax-exempt status from all Catholic churches and end their taxpayer-funded entitlements once and for all. There is no doubt the USCCB violated their agreement with the IRS and Rubio’s statement that he directed his staff to draft legislation after an officiant read a letter from the Catholic archdiocese opposing the administration’s decision proves it. Rubio claims he was ignorant of the issue prior to hearing the archdiocese’s letter and his willingness to obey the USCCB precludes him from serving as a U.S. Senator. Either Rubio follows Vatican law, or he follows U.S. law and the Constitution; he cannot do both."
Agreed.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The GOP War On The Separation Clause
Feb 8th, 2012
by F. Grey Parker
I regard myself as a Christian. I believe in the Gospels. I generally keep it to myself and out of my writing because I have the right to do so. In America, no one may tell me what, how, when or where to worship.
I am protected from litmus tests or societal demands to prove my faith by the Constitution. That's what the separation clause provides for.
What I am not guaranteed is special status to impose my religion when I participate in public markets. I am also (supposed to be) Constitutionally disallowed access to taxpayer monies while simultaneously demanding the right to implement policies driven by a theological agenda in those markets.
Period.
Contrary to popular GOP propaganda, there is no war on religion in the United States. That is absurd. What we do have currently is a coordinated effort to attack the bedrock principle of separation. Nothing illustrates this more than the current brouhaha over the Obama Administration's new birth control guidelines.
by F. Grey Parker
I am protected from litmus tests or societal demands to prove my faith by the Constitution. That's what the separation clause provides for.
What I am not guaranteed is special status to impose my religion when I participate in public markets. I am also (supposed to be) Constitutionally disallowed access to taxpayer monies while simultaneously demanding the right to implement policies driven by a theological agenda in those markets.
Period.
Contrary to popular GOP propaganda, there is no war on religion in the United States. That is absurd. What we do have currently is a coordinated effort to attack the bedrock principle of separation. Nothing illustrates this more than the current brouhaha over the Obama Administration's new birth control guidelines.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Komen Kerfuffle
Feb 7th, 2012
Of all the blow-ups in the GOP's ongoing war against women, nothing has been as spectacular as the reaction to the Susan B. Komen foundation pulling their grants to Planned Parenthood. Before cheering their apparent reversal, it's worth noting how small a victory this is.
Michael B Keegan wrote this weekend:
"I too am angry at Komen's decision to put right-wing ideology ahead of its purported public health mission. But our deeper anger should be directed at someone else: the Republicans in Congress and GOP leaders who consistently make the same choices involving many times more money, and many times more women's lives. The shock of the revelation of Komen's new policies only highlighted how numb many of us have become to the larger, unrelenting attacks on women's health by right-wing elected officials.
The grants to Planned Parenthood that Komen would have severed totaled $680,000 over the last year - a total that the organization thankfully made up in two days from contributions that have poured in in response to the Komen betrayal. Let's put that in perspective. Last year, the House GOP voted to zero out the entire $317,000,000 Title X family planning budget - including about $75 million that would have gone to Planned Parenthood's preventative care and treatment programs for low-income women. Deciding that this plan wasn't disastrous enough, the House alsopassed an amendment to eliminate all federal funding to Planned Parenthood, an estimated total of$363 million, much of which goes to care for the Medicaid patients who make up almost half of Planned Parenthood's clientele. The amount that Komen would have cut from Planned Parenthood's women's healthcare was significant-- but the amount that House Republicans were prepared to cut was 500 times larger."
We should be glad that so many citizens spoke out and effected some change. But, the mission to destroy Planned Parenthood and other supports for millions of women is otherwise proceeding according to plan.
Of all the blow-ups in the GOP's ongoing war against women, nothing has been as spectacular as the reaction to the Susan B. Komen foundation pulling their grants to Planned Parenthood. Before cheering their apparent reversal, it's worth noting how small a victory this is.
Michael B Keegan wrote this weekend:
"I too am angry at Komen's decision to put right-wing ideology ahead of its purported public health mission. But our deeper anger should be directed at someone else: the Republicans in Congress and GOP leaders who consistently make the same choices involving many times more money, and many times more women's lives. The shock of the revelation of Komen's new policies only highlighted how numb many of us have become to the larger, unrelenting attacks on women's health by right-wing elected officials.
The grants to Planned Parenthood that Komen would have severed totaled $680,000 over the last year - a total that the organization thankfully made up in two days from contributions that have poured in in response to the Komen betrayal. Let's put that in perspective. Last year, the House GOP voted to zero out the entire $317,000,000 Title X family planning budget - including about $75 million that would have gone to Planned Parenthood's preventative care and treatment programs for low-income women. Deciding that this plan wasn't disastrous enough, the House alsopassed an amendment to eliminate all federal funding to Planned Parenthood, an estimated total of$363 million, much of which goes to care for the Medicaid patients who make up almost half of Planned Parenthood's clientele. The amount that Komen would have cut from Planned Parenthood's women's healthcare was significant-- but the amount that House Republicans were prepared to cut was 500 times larger."
We should be glad that so many citizens spoke out and effected some change. But, the mission to destroy Planned Parenthood and other supports for millions of women is otherwise proceeding according to plan.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The GOP War On Women, cont...
Jan 10th, 2012
Sarah Seltzer notes a very bad development today:
"This is bad news--one of the worst laws in the "war on women" being fought in the courts has gotten the go-ahead from an appeals court--which means doctors may now be forced to deliver ultrasounds and read out information to abortion-seeking patients, no matter what they themselves or their patients want."
Sounds like any number of other laws the GOP has passed around the country topromote job growth inflict a narrow moral code on American women, right? Nope. This is way worse.
"In May's Houston Chronicle, writer Beverly McPhail described the procedure that as of today, may have to be enforced (emphases mine):
What if the women seeking to terminate her pregnancy has conceived as the result of a sexual assault? This will be a second violation. The sheer amount of damage this could cause is incalculable.
Sarah Seltzer notes a very bad development today:
Sounds like any number of other laws the GOP has passed around the country to
"In May's Houston Chronicle, writer Beverly McPhail described the procedure that as of today, may have to be enforced (emphases mine):
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 88 percent of abortions occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Because the fetus is so small at this stage, traditional ultrasounds performed through the abdominal wall, "jelly on the belly," often cannot produce a clear image. Therefore, a transvaginal probe is most often necessary, especially up to 10 weeks to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The probe is inserted into the vagina, sending sound waves to reflect off body structures to produce an image of the fetus. Under this new law, a woman's vagina will be penetrated without an opportunity for her to refuse due to coercion from the so-called "public servants" who passed and signed this bill into law."This is state-ordered rape.
What if the women seeking to terminate her pregnancy has conceived as the result of a sexual assault? This will be a second violation. The sheer amount of damage this could cause is incalculable.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The GOP War On Reproductive Rights, cont...
Nov 1, 2011
It just never ends. Since the election of the 112th Congress and its corresponding Dominionist ascension, every month has represented another series of attacks on women's freedom. Mother Jones reports:
"The "personhood" amendment on the Mississippi ballot on November 8 doesn't just ban all abortions—an issue that my colleague Tim Murphy has covered quite well. It would also likely outlaw several types of birth control and possibly make all forms of hormonal contraception illegal in the state."
It just never ends. Since the election of the 112th Congress and its corresponding Dominionist ascension, every month has represented another series of attacks on women's freedom. Mother Jones reports:
"The "personhood" amendment on the Mississippi ballot on November 8 doesn't just ban all abortions—an issue that my colleague Tim Murphy has covered quite well. It would also likely outlaw several types of birth control and possibly make all forms of hormonal contraception illegal in the state."
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