Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
I don’t think Barry Goldwater would recognize Conservatism or his Republican Party if he was alive today. Conservatism used to mean belief in safe and sound economic spending and freedom for all from governments getting too large and too restrictive on personal freedoms. Recently we have seen Republicans offer up a brand new and dangerous definition of rape in an attempt to restrict abortions and to restrict government money being used to pay for them. Now we are seeing another Republican attempt to restrict the use of contraceptives under the guise of ending the alleged use of Federal funds to pay for abortions.
A recent article outlined the legislation proposed by Rep. Mike Spence of Indiana to eliminate the entire $327 million dollar budget for Title X. Title X is a program that provides funding for women’s health and family planning costs. “The measure would eliminate all $327 million in funding for Title X, a family planning program that began 40 years ago under President Richard Nixon. And while Planned Parenthood receives millions of dollars from the program, Title X funds cannot be used for abortion services. The money is to be used for noncontroversial family planning services, mostly for low-income families.”
Rep. Spence and his fellow Republicans are trying to defund Planned Parenthood because it receives millions from Title X funds to assist women in their family planning and health matters. In order to try to end abortions without testing the strength of Roe v. Wade in the courts, the sponsors and backers of this bill don’t care if low-income women suffer by not getting the health care that they so desperately need. Many of these same legislators also backed the repeal of the Affordable Health Care act which would also assist low-income women get affordable health care.
The proposed legislation would end all monies from Title X and the effects of those funds drying up could be catastrophic for women. “The pro-abortion-rights group NARAL said the legislation would lead to more unwanted pregnancies by cutting funding for contraceptives. “The new anti-choice House leadership now wants to take away birth control and cancer screenings from millions of American women and men,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL. “While these politicians attack abortion coverage from every angle, they now want to deny funding for birth control, even though that’s the best way to prevent unintended pregnancy. Americans will not stand for this blatant hypocrisy.” ‘
Is it just me or do I detect a pattern here? What do these mostly male Republicans have against women? I was thinking of writing an article asking when America will have its own “Egyptian” moment, but maybe I should ask when will American Women have their “Egyptian” moment?
Source: Raw Story
Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
Circle City,
Thanks! You have our condolences, but to be honest I would prefer Pence in Indianapolis than WAshington, D.C. Maybe you can lead an uprising in the Hoosier State to prevent Pence from winning the governor’s race.
Excellent article! I’m in Indiana and the proposals the republican led State legislature have come up with are outrageous.
Governor Mitch Daniels usually tries to stay away from social issues but this is his last term. I believe our next governor will be Mike Pence and you’ve heard some of the draconian things he wants to do.
ShireNomad: “The abortion question ALWAYS comes back to this: when is the being growing within the womb not yet a child?”
—
With all respect due, no, it doesn’t. The debate in law always comes back to the Forth Amendment regarding privacy. That is the basis for Roe v Wade. The Court has always applied a balancing test that involves viability as well as the health of the mother but the issue still boils down to privacy at its heart. If it didn’t, any state or the federal government could prohibit all abortion.
Good catch Pete on the huge amount of money would be saved by screwing womens health care.
Hen Man,
I truly think McCain had a Senior moment there! Did you see his eyes? He was afraid to even open his mouth. It was the classic deer in the headlights moment. Or if your prefer, the Dan Quayle in the headlights moment.
HenMan,
Hilarious! You did forget Congressional pages though!
Elaine,
Great video. I especially liked the one showing McCain as the “maverick” that he. What a goof. He belongs in Arizona with that thinking and his voting record. Maybe we can get Arizona to secede from the Union if Texas goes. Sort of a Two birds and one stone concept.
Bonnie,
I liked that idea. If the Republicans ever succeed in making all abortions illegal, then your idea would be a great response.
Elaine-
As that video clearly showed, John McCain is a sad, pathetic shadow of that courageous young man of integrity who refused early release from a North Vietnamese P.O.W. hellhole unless all his fellow prisoners were also released.
Today he has no fixed principles other than “what do I need to say or do to stay in the Senate”. He couldn’t answer the reporter’s questions because he hadn’t seen the poll numbers or gotten the G.O.P. talking points to see what the answer should be.
wow, 327 million, that would be about 3 1/2 of the 3,443 f-35 lightning 2 fighters they plan on buying.
From The American Independent (2/10/2011)
DeGette, Pelosi see chance to seize on public opinion against GOP abortion bills
http://www.americanindependent.com/169050/degette-pelosi-see-chance-to-seize-on-public-opinion-against-gop-abortion-bills
Excerpt:
Colorado U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the series of Republican anti-abortion bills introduced in the House this month presents pro-choice lawmakers with an opportunity to shed light on the motivations driving such bills. They said that, given the facts, the mainstream American public and complacent lawmakers will not only rally against these specific bills but also more readily stand guard against similar future efforts to cut back on women’s rights.
The GOP bills– three of them at last count– would appear to have little chance of passing the Democratic majority in the Senate and even less chance of escaping a veto from the president.
On a conference call with reporters, though, Pro-Choice Caucus leader DeGette focused on the rhetoric around the bills, which she said has so far been shaped largely by the Republicans sponsoring them. She said reporters keep writing that the bills are about cutting federal funding. That’s only true up to a point, she said, and it’s mostly a smoke screen.
“They want to take this much further out. These bills are really about limiting women’s rights to reproductive care.”
Reproductive care, beyond access to abortion, includes at very least providing counseling on sexual health and pregnancy and providing access to birth control that prevents pregnancy and defends against sexually transmitted diseases. It also means providing regular medical checkups that screen for diseases like HIV and breast and cervical cancer and that also ward off the onset or limit the advancement of other conditions that might reduce fertility.
DeGette is gearing up for debate as soon as next week, for example, on the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act put forward by Indiana Rep. Mike Pence. Title X provides federal money for family planning.
It is a War on Women by Republican men who seem to hate women almost totally–except for (as stated above) any mistresses, call girls, hookers, bimbos, or lap dancers associated with any United States Senator or Member of the House of Representatives. Immaculate conception hasn’t happened for a few thousand years. Thus, there is a man in the equation of any baby that may possibly be aborted. It takes two to tango. Thus, anytime there is an abortion, the man who fertilized that egg should be held equally culpable; and, DNA testing will help to identify the man involved easily. If you lock up the woman and doctor involved in an abortion, then lock up the offending man who contributed to the situation with his sperm. As for contraception, it is presently legal and should be treated like all legal prescriptions including Viagra. If contraception were to be made illegal only for American women, the women of American should resort to the Lysistrata solution. That should be fun.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cB5O0UI6Og&w=640&h=390]
rafflaw,
They just want to keep gals barefoot and pregnant, doncha know.
Here’s John McCain being questioned on the issue of contraceptives for women and Viagra:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6IlGXhCUHo&w=480&h=390]
The last clause in the proposed anti-abortion, anti-birth control legislation reads:
“None of the above restrictions shall apply to any mistresses, call girls, hookers, bimbos, or lap dancers associated with any United States Senator or Member of the House of Representatives”.
A scenario:
A sorcerer visits the maternity ward of a hospital, going from new mother to new mother, and offering them any or all of the following:
– A job they would not otherwise be able to have.
– Loads of money.
– Freedom to enjoy her life without obligation.
– Never having to see the father (who is abusive) again.
– A cure for her terminal illness.
And to complete the spell, she must merely sacrifice her newborn child.
Is it a “war on women” to say the hospital should be kicking the sorcerer out the door? Should the hospital gladly invite the sorcerer into every last room rather than be accused of denying the women such opportunities? Is any mother who accepts the offer just exercising her rights?
The abortion question ALWAYS comes back to this: when is the being growing within the womb not yet a child? At birth you clearly have a newborn baby and nothing, NOTHING excuses the mother or her doctor from killing it, even the mother’s own life.
So track that same life back in time and point to where you think it hadn’t yet developed a right to live. Is there any logic behind your selection, or is it arbitrary? Is it a “war on women” that much of the population, many women included, disagree loudly with your assessment? That they might themselves have an issue with your “war on babies” and their right to live?
I guess they are creating jobs by setting up additional police work when they pursue legislation to spy on Women’s use of contraceptives.
BTW:
When’s the last time the word JOBS!!,have been utttered by these representatives?
Just asking.
I like that idea eniobob. I think we could also withold the viagara from the male members of Congress and the Senate and I think we may get their attention. No pun intended.
All of these men in congress who seem to know whats best for woman and their rights.I have a suggestion that has been on my mind for a while. All these people who seem so against a womans right to chose,Have a registry of these people set to take care of these children so there will be no need for and abortion.
In other words put up or shut up.
Thanks Kay. The Republicans then would be considered radical Democrats now by this crop.
HenMan,
I think another translation would be we Men want to control women as much as we can because they are second class citizens. That is how I read it!
“noncontroversial family planning services”…Rep. Mike Pence
I think what he means is giving women useful family planning information like, “You should tell your husband he should keep his pants on.”
Republicans I know that voted for Barry Goldwater were in favor of use of contraception