-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
The push by Republicans to deny funding of Planned Parenthood has been justified by citing the abortion services provided by Planned Parenthood. However, the contraceptives provided by Planned Parenthood prevent abortions. Cutting funding for contraception would actually
increase abortions.
The Republicans have tried to frame the issue as a fight against abortion. We have discussed how Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) took to the Senate floor to falsely claim that well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood provides is abortion services, here.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has let the cat out of the bag. It’s not about abortion, it’s about promiscuity.
“Planned Parenthood,” King said gravely, “is invested in promiscuity.”
At least he is honest enough to drop the pretense that the defunding of Planned Parenthood is about abortion.
There has always been a cognitive dissonance from the pro-life camp who see abortion as this great evil and also refuse to support contraception. It has always been about sex. That is the real reason that the pro-life crowd supports abstinence-only as the only form of birth control. It’s about control over a woman’s sexual persona.
It is ironic that the ones who so quickly condemn government intervention in its citizen’s private lives, can so readily support measures that would allow government intrusion in the most personal aspect of human existence.
H/T: Pema Levy, Political Correction.
Lisa,
“Also 54% of those having abortions were using some form of contraceptives when they conceived according to the Guttmacher Institute.”
Pray tell–what is “some form of contraceptives” that those women were using when they got pregnant? Can you provide a link to a Guttmacher Institute study that reported that statistic?
Oh boy, lets put more strain on already overstretched and underfunded services. PP ain’t broke, so stop trying to fix it or eliminate it.
Rep. King is a high school graduate, failure in college and former bulldozer operator. It shows. ‘Nuff said.
“However, the contraceptives provided by Planned Parenthood prevent abortions. Cutting funding for contraception would actually increase abortions.”
Defunding Planned Parenthood would just move their funding to the 7000+ community health centers nationwide that provide the same services that Planned Parenthood provides and more.
Also 54% of those having abortions were using some form of contraceptives when they conceived according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Finally, the abortion rate is highest in NYC at 41%. That is a city that has had free contraceptives for years. Why then it the abortion rate sky high? There is more to the puzzle that just giving free contraceptives.
Off Topic:
‘Pro-Life’ Alaska GOP Kills Health Bill To Insure Thousands Of Low-Income Women And Children
By Tonya Somanader
Think Progress, 4/16/2011
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/16/alaksa-bill-women-children-abortion/
On Wednesday, the Alaska Senate shot down a health bill that would expand a program that provides medical services to the low-income children and pregnant women. The 14-year-old program, Denali Kid Care, is specifically “designed to ensure that children and teens of both working and non-working families can have the health insurance they need.” The bill seeks to “restore the original income eligibility threshold established more than a decade ago, raising it from the current 175 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty line” — a move that bill sponsor State Sen. Bettye Davis (D) said would cover nearly 1,300 more children and about 250 pregnant women. But the bill — which passed the Senate last year 15 to 4 — failed this year. The obstacle? A woman’s right to choose.
The Alaska Supreme Court holds that the state must fund medically necessary abortions if it funds medically necessary services for others with financial needs. The mere possibility that a woman could have even a “medically necessary” abortion under this health insurance program was enough for Republicans to stall the bill in a 10 to 10 vote:
– Abortion was a key issue in floor debate Wednesday. Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, said he believes the Senate has shown a propensity for standing up for children and families but that he in good conscience could not vote for a bill that would help some but also result in abortions.
– “I think there are just a lot of unknowns about what is ‘medically necessary,’ what is considered an abortion,” said Sen. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), who did not support the bill.
According to Davis, the program expansion “might” fund 22 abortions. But that hypothetical number was enough for 9 Republicans and 1 Democrat to block coverage for over 1,000 Alaskan women and children. “Six Senators who voted for the measure last year voted against it today.” Only one Republican — state Sen. Lesil McGuire — supported the measure, stating “that the Senate cannot turn its back on pregnant women who need help.”
While Davis reserved the right to reconsider the bill later, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) — who vetoed the very same bill last year over abortion — said “he cannot envision a scenario in which he’d support an expansion.”
Steve King is just ticked off because Planned Parenthood doesn’t recommend anal sex as a birth control method.
erykah,
One lives to be of service.
Where are the libertarian trolls trying to wring some statement about liberty from this. too bad it isn’t about tax breaks for the wealthy.
Swarthmore mom,
“Old men that don’t look as good as Demi Moore have been marrying younger for years. What do they call them?”
Dirty old men with dough?
😉
Budda,
Erykah is laughing–out loud!
You know us fat gurls need luv’n too. Why is it you always see them with minorities. Is it because they can’t get a real man?
Some might call them letches….
Old men that don’t look as good as Demi Moore have been marrying younger for years. What do they call them?
SWM,
Thats true…..and to think that a “Kid was raised by a Cougar”….T-Shirt should be the next line of goods…
Elaine, There is that new Ashton Kutcher campaign out with the “real men don’t buy girls” ads. I have always thought that.
frank,
P.S. And we love men who have great senses of humor!
frank,
Only women who ARE chicks dig dudes with money. The rest of us females prefer men of substance who are intelligent, ethical, empathic, and respectful of the opposite sex.
frank,
I have heard that is the sheen of women….lol…
OS,
Of course, I want to hear from the buddha about his expertise on the subject…. maybe he has more experience that the rest of us….
Lawrence: Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I were a millionaire I could hook that up, too; ’cause chicks dig dudes with money.
Peter Gibbons: Well, not all chicks.
Lawrence: Well, the type of chicks that’d double up on a dude like me do.
AY, et al: The Buddha could explain the meaning of the koan, “What is the sound of one hand clapping.”