What Are We, In 1952?!?

It's been bananas lately with the issue of birth control and abortion coming to the forefront of the discussion. In their continued efforts to distance themselves from the reality that exists in America, Republican leaders have yet again attached themselves to a social issue that’s guaranteed to backfire in November. Birth control. I don't know whether to be horrified that at a time when there are so many other, more important issues to be discussing, this is where we find ourselves, or to be hysterically gleeful that they are going down this loser of a path, those Republicans.

Ignoring years of public-opinion polls, the GOP is backsliding into the 1950s to question whether contraception is a legitimate health-care benefit. Duh. Not only is it a legitimate health-care benefit, but it SAVES money long term in most cases. The target of this attack, as always, is President Obama. Well, President Obama and every woman in America. The President issued an executive mandate requiring that free birth control be included in health plans provided to employees of schools, charities and hospitals connected to religiously affiliated institutions. Those good old boys in the GOP see this as a prime opportunity to attack Obama’s healthcare reforms, and also to wake up all those old, white, racist, sexist, homophobic Christian evangelicals who don’t like the president in the first place.

As political miscalculations go, this one could be HUGE, and I hope it is! In my opinion they (the GOP) are exposing themselves as the out-of-touch FREAKS that they are. If you’re looking for a sure way to galvanize female voters against your party, attack birth control.

But this isn't just an issue that's being batted about in the press. This last week, there was a House Oversight Committee hearing where Republicans had the audacity to convene a panel on birth control coverage with five men and....wait for it... no women. NO WOMEN! You read that right! This is a women's health issue and you have no women testify?!?! That's insane. Foster Friess, a high profile donor to Rick Santorum's campaign, referenced an old joke about closed knees when discussing the controversy over mandatory access to contraception with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Thursday. He said, "back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. ... The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn't that costly". Andrea Mitchell was almost speechless. It would be funny if it wasn't so scary.

It's all scary to me because I remember the first time George W. Bush ran for President. There was no way he was going to win, right? Especially with Al Gore, who had been a part of such a successful administration was running against him. Right? But then, pow, bang, boom. He DID win. He STOLE the election and served 2 terms and left our country raped and pilaged.

We have to stay aware and involved. It's never been more important. There are people out there who would have us revert back to a time of segregation, to a time when women's place was in the kitchen, when abortions were performed in back alleys, when gays had to hide in shame. It's ridiculous. We need to be moving FORWARD. Not backward.

Imma do what I can! YOU SHOULD TOO!

XXX


L.A.K.