Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
I have written a number of posts for the Turley blog about The GOP’s war on women and proposed extreme anti-woman legislation which has been sponsored by members of the Republican party (here, here, here, here, here, and here). In a piece for Mother Jones, Stephanie Mencimer said that Paul Ryan has a “long history as a culture warrior”—and that people are taking “a fresh look” at it since Mitt Romney named Ryan as his running mate. I thought I’d do some investigating of my own to find out more about the Wisconsin “culture warrior’s” position on women’s issues.
According to Laura Bassett, Rep. Ryan “voted to defund federal family planning programs, authored a budget that dismantles Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, all of which disproportionately aid and employ women, and voted multiple times to prevent women in the military from using their own money to pay for abortions at military hospitals.”
Sylvia Casablanca, a medical doctor and holistic psychotherapist, wonders if Ryan will now “head the conservative war on women.” Casablanca wrote in a VOXXI article that Ryan “sounds, thinks, acts, so much like Rick Santorum!” She added that both men have spent much of their public lives “battling the things that matter most to women.” She continued, “He [Ryan] has been opposing contraception, eulogizing women who quit successful careers to be stay-at-home moms (like their own wives have done), and vowing to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Affordable Care Act. And, Ryan voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.”
Casablanca feels that Ryan’s stance on the issues mentioned above are “zilch” compared to his “support of a federal ban on abortion in all circumstances, including incest and rape.”
In her Mother Jones article, Mencimer also wrote the following:
What isn’t so well known about Ryan’s record, though, is that one piece of legislation he supported is so extreme that it would have turned Romney’s children into criminals.
The Sanctity of Human Life Act, which Ryan co-sponsored, would have enshrined the notion that life begins at fertilization in federal law, thus criminalizing in vitro fertilization—the process of creating an embryo outside of a woman’s womb. In IVF, doctors typically create multiple embryos and then only implant the healthiest ones in the woman. Some of them stick and become babies, and some don’t. The embryos that don’t make it to the womb are either frozen for later use or destroyed. The Sanctity of Human Life Act, if passed, would make all those embryos “people” in the legal sense, so if they aren’t used or don’t become babies after being implanted, they would essentially become murder victims under the law.
H.R. 212: Sanctity of Human Life/Personhood Bill
Sponsor’s Summary: To provide that human life shall be deemed to begin with fertilization.
Excerpt from the text of H. R. 212:
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) FERTILIZATION- The term ‘fertilization’ means the process of a human spermatozoan penetrating the cell membrane of a human oocyte to create a human zygote, a one-celled human embryo, which is a new unique human being.
(2) CLONING- The term ‘cloning’ means the process called somatic cell nuclear transfer, that combines an enucleated egg and the nucleus of a somatic cell to make a human embryo.
(3) HUMAN; HUMAN BEING- The terms ‘human’ and ‘human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, beginning with the earliest stage of development, created by the process of fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent.
Link to MSNBC Hardball Video: Revisiting Ryan’s extreme pro-life positions: Chris Matthews talks with Kate Michaelman, former head of NARAL, and Politico’s Maggie Haberman about Paul Ryan’s extreme pro-life stance, and his support for a federal ‘personhood’ law.
In addition, Rep. Ryan is a cosponsor of some other “extreme” anti-woman legislation that has been introduced in Congress. To wit:
H.R. 3805: Ultrasound Informed Consent Act
Sponsor’s Summary: To ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and the opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion.
H.R. 3: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
Open Congress Summary: This bill would make permanent and expand the Hyde amendment restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortions. It seeks to prohibit even indirect funding streams that may potentially come in contact with abortion services. For example, it would deny tax credits to companies that offer health plans that cover abortions and it would block anybody with insurance that covers abortions from receiving federal subsidies or medical cost tax deductions, even if the abortion portion is paid separately with personal funds. Women who use tax-free Medical Savings Accounts would have to pay taxes on the costs of abortions.
H.R. 358: Protect Life Act aka “Let Women Die” Bill
Open Congress Summary: Amends the new health care law so that no federal money could be applied to health insurance plans that cover elective abortions, even if the abortion coverage is paid for entirely with private funds. It also states that a federal agency can not force a health care provider that accepts Medicare or Medicaid to provide abortion services, even in cases when the mother’s life is endangered.
From Human Rights Watch:
US: House Vote Puts Women at Risk
Bill Would Permit Hospitals to Let Women in Need of Care Die
(Washington, DC) – The United States House of Representatives approved a bill on October 13, 2011, that would put women’s lives at risk, Human Rights Watch said today. The bill, if it becomes law, would reverse longstanding federal policy requiring hospitals to provide life-saving care regardless of expense, Human Rights Watch said.
The Protect Life Act, HR 358, would amend the healthcare reform law to grant hospitals far-reaching powers to deny patients abortion care, without any exception for emergency situations. US law currently requires hospitals receiving federal funds to provide emergency care to anyone in need up to the point at which they can be stabilized or transferred, if the original hospital is incapable of providing the care they need.
“The misnamed Protect Life Act is about allowing women to die if they need an emergency abortion,” said Meghan Rhoad, women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It is a vicious attack on women’s rights and on the most basic right to life.”
The Paul Ryan Vision: Ban Abortion, Defund Contraception, Outlaw In Vitro Fertilization
What do you think about Paul Ryan’s position on women’s issues?
SOURCES
Paul Ryan: the ‘Personhood’ Crocodile? (Huffington Post)
Paul Ryan Sponsored Fetal Personhood Bill, Opposes Family Planning Funds (Huffington Post)
Paul Ryan, new head of the Republican war on women? (VOXXI)
Bill Press: The Paul Ryan-Mitt Romney ticket: trouble for GOP (Newsday)
Sandra Fluke: 8 Points on Ryan’s Voting Record on Women’s Issues (Politic365)
Rep. Paul Ryan Supported the “Let Women Die” Bill (Blog for Choice)
How Did Your Representative Vote on the “Let Women Die” Bill? (Blog for Choice)
See How Your Lawmaker Voted on the “Let Women Die” Bill, H.R.358 (Prochoice America)
Sandra Fluke: Paul Ryan on women’s issues — so bad it’s unbelievable … but true (Lean Forward/MSNBC)
Five Reasons Why Paul Ryan Is Bad For Women’s Health (Think Progress)
The Paul Ryan Vision of America: Ban Abortion, Defund Contraception, Outlaw In Vitro Fertilization (Democracy Now)
List of Bills Sponsored and Cosponsored by Paul Ryan (Open Congress)
Elaine M.
Ryan’s plan will not become law because Reid won’t allow a vote on it and then it would go to conference which means its current version would not be the final outcome. Most Americans do not know this. So his plan is not worth talking about.
rcampbell: Ryan is just one more of the Republican religious extremists who don’t want the government telling them where they can put creches or copies of the Ten Commandments while demanding the government enforce their Biblical laws superceding our secular Constitution’s guarantees.”
All that, and he wants to force women to have unnecessary medical vaginal probes
while forcing her to pay for this unwanted procedure.
oh no, leejcaroll, I have no qualms about saying Ryan wants women to die. To Ryan and Jim these woman had sex in the ‘wrong’ way, so they all must be punished for life in one way or another! Better to die if you are a s1ut! Am I right Jim?
Paul Ryan: Poster Boy of Today’s Extreme GOP
By Waymon Hudson
8/15/12
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/waymon-hudson/paul-ryan-poster-boy-of-t_b_1776647.html
Excerpt:
Add to those longheld votes and stances Paul Ryan’s horrible history on women’s rights — like co-sponsoring a “personhood” amendment that would ban birth control and some in-vitro fertilization; supporting a ban on all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest; comparing Roe v. Wade to the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision; and supporting defunding Planned Parenthood — and you have the perfect poster boy for the current Republican Party.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, like the GOP legislators in power in Congress and states across this country, claim to be all about the economy and jobs, yet their actions speak of a different agenda to push our country’s social progress back decades by attacking women’s rights, LGBT people, and the social safety net that are part of the very fabric of our country. So as we move to the election, let’s demand that the conversation around this election not just be lip service to either party’s desired daily talking points but a real investigation and discussion about the actions and positions taken by the candidates. We must remind the media there is a lot more to people like Paul Ryan than wonky budget talk and P90X workouts; there is a history of extremism that is out of step with American values and ideals.
Okay maybe he doesn;t want women to die but the reality is, at the least, he does not care what happens to them after they are born. Equal pay? Nope. access to preventive low cost services such as mamograms, pap smears, contraception education, STD treatemnt (Oh and by the way Jim, don;t women to have access to STD counseling, you had better hope neither you nor any of your men family members, friends, come into sexual contact with one of the women who was not able to get that counseling and potentially medications) abortion – and forget general access we know where you stand on that, youre rapedor victim of incest and have to have an additional reminder on the form of a forced pregnancy, ie reraped, as well as the knowledge that the product of that horrendous criminal behavior is in the world so you can never escape the knowledge and even potential worry you may run into this result of the horrendous that happened to you. Yep Ryan cares about women, the way that you probably care about carrioon in the middle of the road.
Jim,
His votes say otherwise. Show me evidence that his many votes are not how he thinks of women.
Ryan is just one more of the Republican religious extremists who don’t want the government telling them where they can put creches or copies of the Ten Commandments while demanding the government enforce their Biblical laws superceding our secular Constitution’s guarantees.
OK, I want to know who’s torturing Champ Blossum and what information they hope to extract from him/her!
Yes, Elaine, any politician who voted against the Ledbetter Act is against women getting equal pay for equal work. Ryan wants women to be second class on the pay scale, in self determination and in the ability to plan their own lives.
And some people call this authoritarian zealot a ‘libertarian’? He is the stereotype white male preserved in amber from the 1950’s, ever mourning his loss of superiority over all the rest of us second class citizens. Women and browns are only equal to Ryan if they have the money!
Remember “Voo Doo Economics”? We have come to a new level:
Voo Doo PIN Economics.
Jim, Paul Ryan wants any woman with the misfortune to miscarry to take her chances that the hospital will help her in a timely manner. Not after an inquisition as to what caused the miscarriage.
” The Protect Life Act, HR 358, would amend the healthcare reform law to grant hospitals far-reaching powers to deny patients abortion care, without any exception for emergency situations. US law currently requires hospitals receiving federal funds to provide emergency care to anyone in need up to the point at which they can be stabilized or transferred, if the original hospital is incapable of providing the care they need.
“The misnamed Protect Life Act is about allowing women to die if they need an emergency abortion,” said Meghan Rhoad, women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It is a vicious attack on women’s rights and on the most basic right to life.”
We have already seen pharmacists refuse morning after pills to women for religious reasons, I would not be surprised to see women in emergency situations being turned away by some sociopath zealot like you at the hospital if she presents with any miscarriage.
Mr. Spindell, when you voted for Obama you elected the classic politician adept at speaking out of both sides of the mouth. He criticized the hated Bush and his policies and then proceeded to continue to murder and support the very policies he spoke against so eloquently.
I believe most if not all politicians are cut from the same cloth and their interest is not the well being of my country.
Frankly, I am disappointed in the quality of comments on this blog. I guess you will tell me where I can go, but I sincerely hope you will agree with me there is no need for combative banter.
Civility is a luxury we can afford.
Jim,
“Women are not 2nd class citizens.”
Evidently, Rep. Paul Ryan considers us women to be second class citizens. The legislation that he has cosponsored is indicative of that.
Jim,
I am a woman…and a tax payer. I believe we need to have a discussion about Paul Ryan’s positions on women’s issues.
Give us all the specifics and details about Ryan’s great budget plan for this country. Have you “crunched” the numbers for Ryan, the budget wonk, and Romney?
Paul Ryan: Just plain bad for women
BY ZERLINA MAXWELL
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/the_rumble/2012/08/paul-ryan-just-plain-bad-for-women
There is something missing in all the talk about the Paul Ryan pick. The focus has been on his economic views and his proposed budget, which would end Medicare as we know it.
We need to start talking about his extreme views on women’s rights and social issues. Ryan may come off as a harmless, smiling congressman primarily concerned with the nation’s debt, but he has voted for some of the most extreme positions on issues near and dear to many female voters.
Ryan voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay act, a law that makes it easier for women to challenge unequal pay. Ryan believes that life begins at conception and that abortion should be illegal in all cases, including rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. Ryan co-sponsored federal personhood legislation called the “Sanctity of Human Life Act.” For those unfamiliar with “personhood” bills, this is legislation to give a fetus all the rights of an individual, “to provide that human life shall be deemed to begin with fertilization.” The real world impact of such a law would be to dramatically curb if not outright outlaw abortion, limit some forms of birth control and even threaten in vitro fertilization.
Ryan is staunchly against the contraception mandate included in Obamacare, claiming it infringes on religious freedom. Like Mitt Romney, he wants to repeal Obamacare — which on Aug. 1 began covering a number of preventative health services for women at no additional cost. While being against more women having access to affordable contraception and essential women’s health care services, Ryan has also voted to defund Planned Parenthood four times. His budget would completely eliminate funding for family planning under Title X, the section of the law which provides access to birth control, STD screenings and cancer screenings to low income families.
So while the focus over the past 48 hours has been on Ryan’s budget and the false perception that he’s a deficit hawk, attention must also be paid to his views on the issues that impact women’s health and American families. Paul Ryan is bad for women.
rafflaw
Women are not 2nd class citizens. That is Bias rhetoric. Ryan cares about our country and its path to bankruptcy. What will happen to women if China refuses to buy our Debt? That is the war Liberals need to talk about.
Mike Spindell
There is no war on women that is a cooped up phrase by Liberals. The only war is on those who actually pay taxes.
Elaine,
Great job.
Jim,
It is obvious by Mr. Ryan’s votes and statements that women are a second class of citizens. Maybe it is his Catholic upbringing, but that is not a reason, merely an excuse. If the bill you voted for can allow for women to die, guess what? He has to live with that consequence. When his budget cuts aid to women on a significant level, at least it exposes the fact that he is consistent.
champ,
What is this “truly evil entity” of which you speak?
Champ when you voted for GW Bush you elected a murderer and thus committed treason against your country. How’s that for hyperbole?
Elaine,
Another blog in your continuing to expose the war
on women, well done.
Dredd,
Your comment on Rand’s adoration of Hickman points to the fact that she loves sociopaths and we
can then correctly assume her to be one herself. We also might make that assuption about Ryan since conflating Rand’s beliefs with those of the religious right is a lesson in hypocritical denial.