1) Republicans not only want to reduce women's access to abortion care, they're actually trying to redefine rape. After a major backlash, they promised to stop. But they haven't.2) A state legislator in Georgia wants to change the legal term for victims of rape, stalking, and domestic violence to "accuser." But victims of other less gendered crimes, like burglary, would remain "victims."3) In South Dakota, Republicans proposed a bill that could make it legal to murder a doctor who provides abortion care. (Yep, for real.)4) Republicans want to cut nearly a billion dollars of food and other aid to low-income pregnant women, mothers, babies, and kids.5) In Congress, Republicans have proposed a bill that would let hospitals allow a woman to die rather than perform an abortion necessary to save her life.6) Maryland Republicans ended all county money for a low-income kids' preschool program. Why? No need, they said. Women should really be home with the kids, not out working.7) And at the federal level, Republicans want to cut that same program, Head Start, by $1 billion. That means over 200,000 kids could lose their spots in preschool.8) Two-thirds of the elderly poor are women, and Republicans are taking aim at them too. A spending bill would cut funding for employment services, meals, and housing for senior citizens.9) Congress voted yesterday on a Republican amendment to cut all federal funding from Planned Parenthood health centers, one of the most trusted providers of basic health care and family planning in our country.10) And if that wasn't enough, Republicans are pushing to eliminate all funds for the only federal family planning program. (For humans. But Republican Dan Burton has a bill to provide contraception for wild horses. You can't make this stuff up).Sources:
1. "'Forcible Rape' Language Remains In Bill To Restrict Abortion Funding," The Huffington Post, February 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206084&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=6"Extreme Abortion Coverage Ban Introduced," Center for American Progress, January 20, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205961&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=72. "Georgia State Lawmaker Seeks To Redefine Rape Victims As 'Accusers,'" The Huffington Post, February 4, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206007&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=83. "South Dakota bill would legalize killing abortion doctors," Salon, February 15, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206102&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=94. "House GOP Proposes Cuts to Scores of Sacred Cows," National Journal, February 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206103&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=105. "New GOP Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Let Women Die Instead Of Having An Abortion," Talking Points Memo, February 4, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205974&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=116. "Republican Officials Cut Head Start Funding, Saying Women Should be Married and Home with Kids," Think Progress, February 16, 2011
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/16/gop-women-kids/7. "Bye Bye, Big Bird. Hello, E. Coli," The New Republic, Feburary 12, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206104&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=128. "House GOP spending cuts will devastate women, families and economy," The Hill, February 16, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/144585-house-gop-spending-cuts-will-devastate-women-families-and-economy-9. "House passes measure stripping Planned Parenthood funding," MSNBC, February 18,2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206122&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=13"GOP Spending Plan: X-ing Out Title X Family Planning Funds," Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206105&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=1410. Ibid.Birth Control for Horses, Not for Women," Blog for Choice, February 17, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206106&id=26177-9159447-tVAlRWx&t=15
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Republican War Against Women
As a member of MoveOn.org, I receive regular email on issues of vital importance. This one can't wait so I am posting it here and now:
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It doesn't take a shrink to realize that these men have serious issues with women. They like them dumb and pregnant and that's exactly what they get.
ReplyDeleteIt's really an attempt to create a theocracy. Redefine women's rights, remove the rights of LGBTs, remove the rights of immigrants and institutionalize prejudice (see the latest from Arizona). The religious right in this country has co-opted the Republican/Tea Party and is using them to attempt a revolution by legislation.
ReplyDeleteEach year, Federal support for Planned Parenthood provides more than 800,000 women with breast exams, more than 4 million Americans with testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and 2.5 million women with contraception, which prevents unintended pregnancies, and therefore abortions.
ReplyDeleteThe bogus Republican claim of withholding monies for abortion as a pretext for defunding Planned Parenthood is bullshit and immoral.
Given the Republican juggernaut against woman's health, labor unions, NPR and everything we hold near and dear, I am no longer inclined to be civil to them. With gloves off, I look forward eagerly to a vicious backlash.
It doesn't take long for a GOP-controlled legislative body to reveal its true nature: authoritarian, plutocratic, and theocratic-tending. The simplest way to explain a healthy relationship between a government and its people is that it should be minimalist in "moral" matters (aside from violent crime, fraud, corruption, etc.) and as helpful as possible in other areas, within honest budget constraints. I don't believe today's Republican Party officials are interested in either half of that prescription: they evidently believe the government has the absolute right to tell you how to live your life in an astonishing number of ways (especially if telling you carries the added benefit of forcing you to accept a set of religious principles), and some of them refuse to acknowledge that government should ever help anybody for any reason. By all means, the government should take your money and as much of it as possible (especially if you don't happen to have much), but it should never use any of that money to benefit people like you. Oppressive and unhelpful -- that's the spirit!
ReplyDeleteI can't understand how any rational person who isn't filthy rich could even consider voting Republican at this time: there is nothing worth supporting in their ideology or agenda. To everyone out there who voted GOP or smugly "stayed home to send a message," congratulations. You're getting exactly the "government" you richly deserve. The sad thing is, everybody else is also getting exactly the government you richly deserve. The only silver lining is, of course, that when a political party behaves in such a brazenly stupid manner, most people quickly turn sour on them. They look like they're about to shut the government down like they did in the 1990s. Without meaning to detract from President Obama's acumen, I hope he will be open to some advice from Bill Clinton. "The Big Dog" knew exactly what to do in most of his arguments with a thuggish, hypocritical opposition – he's a wily, older politician and more than worth listening to if it comes to a shutdown, even if circumstances are somewhat different.
I'm filthy rich, and I will be the first on the ramparts to fight this hideous attempt to distroy my country. I have daughters and a daughter-in-law that should have at least the same freedoms I have had. How DARE these s.o.b.'s! Look for me on the front line with my little pink walker!!!
DeleteThe great battle now, as it has always been, is between the forces of ignorance and enlightenment. The difficulty is in the definition of and distinction between the two...
ReplyDeleteBloggingdino,
ReplyDeleteI recall a post written by Sheria some time ago on deportment (forgiving myself a moment for not researching the archive, I believe the title was "Can you handle the truth"). At first, I was a bit skeptical of her point but, upon further reflection, I now understand what Sheria was trying to telling us. President Obama does not have the same freedom of movement that former President Clinton had and must, by default, approach the problem of partisan thuggery in a different manner.
It is a damn shame we cannot benefit from the full breadth and scope of President Obama's intellect, but I think his plate is full, and we will just have trust in his ability to navigate this miserable state of the state and find the best possible outcome given the limited options available to him.
Edge,
ReplyDeleteIn contemporary America, I think the distinction between ignorance and enlightenment is exceedingly well defined. In living memory, there is nothing more ignorant than the Baghead and Beckhead rabble that is taking us down the road to ruin.
Octo,
ReplyDeleteIn this case (a looming shutdown), what "freedom of movement" did President Clinton have that President Obama doesn't? I thought Sheria's point was a very good one and wrote in support of it, but I don't see why it should go against what I said just above. Bill Clinton's style was never based on aggressiveness or anger -- he was genial, but effective. "Outmaneuvering" is probably the word I'm looking for.
Bloggingdino,
ReplyDeleteA less than well thought out remark on my part, I did leave an unintended impression. What seems different this time around is the ferocity of right wing attacks against Obama that started weeks before his inauguration - starting with Limbaugh's "I hope he fails" remark that turned the GOP into cogs. The sheer ugliness of right wing attacks exceeds anything I recall during the 1990s.
There are also clear differences in personality and style, comparing Clinton versus Obama. As President President Obama himself describes it, he regards the politics of pettiness as a "distraction" unworthy of presidential time and attention. Unfortunately, there are impatient and inferior creatures such as myself who would relish a good GOP bashing.
The current crop of Baghead and Beckhead crazies value NOTHING! Not even their own mothers, wives, sisters, or daughters. I find their moral bankruptcy is absolutely astonishing.
The greatest power a citizen of this country has is the vote. Without any changes in voting rules, the poor need to make it a priority to vote. Get an absentee ballot if you work from 6 to 6 on Election Day. Vote early if you can. Show up at the polls and vote early before work. Make the effort. Vote.
ReplyDeleteAll kinds of shenanigans will be seen in the coming two years. Get social networking going. Make sure every one of your Facebook Friends are registered to vote and vote. Work at the polls. Advertise when a representative or senator does something against the constituents and for a corporation. Hold them to account for their jobs.
It sickens me.
Dino:
ReplyDelete"The simplest way to explain a healthy relationship between a government and its people is that it should be minimalist in "moral" matters"
It may be apocryphal, but Justice Brandeis was supposed to have said "morality is not the governments business, it's God's business. God can handle it." I agree in as far as it not being the government's business because I think that enforcing crimes against God or against religious precepts runs afoul or the establishment clause. "sin" is not a matter for government.
Charlene:
You're right. It isn't too late and for too many years we've had officials elected by a plurality of a minority. Maybe we should have a negative poll tax - don't vote? Pay a $500 tax.
I have always felt the GOP had a problem with women and women's rights, talking Palinhead notwithstanding. If they had won, the GOP would have found a way to box her in.
ReplyDeleteNow they are equating their mid term election wins with the idea that most Americans agree with thier ideals and want them to tear this country apart. They either can't understand or won't accept that their elections have more to do with the general pissed offness of the public and little to do with their agenda.
Here's to hoping they shoot themselves in both feet before the next election -
Garlic and stakes are the obvious solution. Beck and Limbaugh are vampires and need to be staked and their mouths stuffed with garlic. As for the leadership of the Republican party, aliens from outer space sent here to take over the world. Call Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum and let's have a repeat of Independence Day.
ReplyDeletePlease forgive me, but my head is about to explode and the only thing that relieves the pressure is very tacky humor on my part. On a serious note, I agree with Charlene that we need to fix our efforts on getting out the vote in 2012. Assuming that we survive until then, we'll have another shot at reining in the Republican party ideology.
Dino and Captain, I'm totally in accord, morals or religion are not the province of government. You'd think that the "no big government Republicans" would be the last group to believe it appropriate to legislate issues such as what goes on in our bedrooms, whom we marry, and our childbearng choices. I hate hypocrisy.
No Big Government indeed. Just big enough to keep the slaves and the women and the serfs in line and to protect their property.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter what you say, it's what you do that's what you are - as the song says. I've been reading Thomas Paine of late and it's full of things that still seem so pertinent. The necessity of dealing with the economic situation is indeed the mother of many a bad measure -- or at least the convenient excuse for exercising power in a self-serving way. As Thom said:
"Immediate necessity makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into opressions. Expedience and rights are different things."
We didn't get the "smaller government" argument when the Patriot act was proposed, did we? I think what they're looking for is the compactness of a Royal government and one with a king very able to be bought.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI am deleting the above comment by one Mark Alexander, whom I suspect of being a troll. Here is the aforementioned person's comment:
ReplyDelete"hmmm. this has blog has turned out to be very liberal Democrat. But according to some, this isn't a one-sided conversation? Something is wrong here. I'm Independent myself. I didn't have anything to input to this topic. I was just noting the one-sidedness, that's all."
So what is the point of this comment? On one hand, the commenter thinks this "blog has turned out to be very liberal" yet the same person has nothing "to input." Pure gibberish!