GOP Kicks Women Out Of Contraception Debate

[Maude]

Congress, in an attempt to be even less "fair and balanced" than cable news, has decided to take women out of the debate altogether. In a hearing with the House Oversight Committee, Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) was asked by ranking Democratic committee member, Elijah Cummings (D-MD) to include the testimony of a woman. Issa refused, making the claim that,

"As the hearing is not about reproductive rights and contraception but instead about the Administration’s actions as they relate to freedom of religion and conscience, he believes that Ms. Fluke is not an appropriate witness." More...

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[Austin]

I've been following this all day. I'm gobsmacked.

This is going to backfire on them.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/OMPOW

[doggie]

well of course a woman's opinion is not desired it would go against these old fucks wanting to rule the world.

[Maude]

I've been following this all day. I'm gobsmacked.

This is going to backfire on them.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/OMPOW

I certainly hope so. If they get their way, things are going to start looking like a Margaret Atwood novel. :shock:

ETA: Grammar. I know how to use it.

[mrs]

I thought DC Rep was there and spoke out? Did they kick her out?WTF

[AudreyE]

This is really freaking me out. We're heading toward things I wouldn't have believed possible. Where will it end?

[No Fun My Babe]

I certainly hope so. If they get their way, things are going to start looking like a Margaret Atwood novel. :shock:

ETA: Grammar. I know how to use it.

Party down in Gilead tonight! Don't forget your veils! We can have us a good ol' fashioned book burning and get some mens for reading of the scripture. I heard one of the Of's fulfilled her godly duty so there's sure to be a birthin' ceremony soon.

This whole thing is pretty blatant, even for them. Daaaamn.

Edit: Blatant, especially for them. Usually they at least try to be a little sneakier.

[PokaDot]

I can't believe something that is fairly easily available is even up for debate!

Don't these jackasses know that BC is used for more than preventing the babiez? I use it to regulate my period or I'd have it every other week....which makes me very anemic (because, TMI: I have an insanely heavy period-I use the diva cup and I have to change it every 30 minutes for two days), which turns me into someone who will faint on the floor walking across the room scaring the crap out of my roommates.

[nokidsmom]

Can't believe this stuff is happening in 2012.. :shock:

Guess I should get my burka out :evil:

[No Fun My Babe]

Similar situation. I've been on BC for years because without it, I'll just bleed, bleed and bleed some more. I'm still heavy flow, but at least I won't bleed to death from it, heh.

These asses don't give a shit about anyone but themselves and their asanine views. And money.

[Austin]

I thought DC Rep was there and spoke out? Did they kick her out?WTF

She left in protest because they wouldn't approve anyone from the other side to even speak. It was a crock of shit.

[socalrules]

I would think all male politicians, regardless of political affiliation, would want BC available for woman. After so many of them falling from grace because of their affairs (I'm looking at you Newt and your helmet-haired wife), they shouldn't want any of the mistresses coming up pregnant and creating more scandals.

I have to use BC or my cramps will be so bad I will be in the fetal position for five days every month. Until a man can understand feeling like you are being stabbed in the abdomen repeatedly every month, he needs to stay away from my BC. Its amazing that the GOP refuses to even recognize that BC has more benefits than just preventing pregnancy. Why don't we ban viagra because if God wanted a man to get it up, he wouldnt make him impotent. Maybe an asprin between his knees will work.

[liltwinstar]

God, this is scaring me! What century are we living in again??

I can't really form a coherent thought right now, so pardon me if I step on toes, but I think it's dangerous to say "I take BC pills for reasons other than birth control." I know what you all are getting at, but I think it dilutes the issue. Women have a right to healthcare and prescriptions that benefit them, full stop. The end. Seems we're playing right into their hand when we say "well, I take the pill for these *other* reasons, not to prevent pregnancy." We have a *right* to take pills to prevent pregnancy!

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but to me, the issue is privacy and the ability to get the medical care we need. I know a lot of the conservative rhetoric is that only promiscuous sluts get on the pill or need other contraceptives, so I understand why it seems important to remind the powers that be that BC pills are useful for more things than just preventing pregnancy, and that married women need/take contraceptives. At the same time, a "slutty" girl has the *right* to get birth control pills, and I think we need to fight for that, too.

(off soapbox now...)

[Kelya]

Can someone break this down for me? My brain isn't processing this correctly- they wouldn't let this woman speak because her testimony focused on reproductive rights instead of the "real issue" (which is something to do with money/federal government even though everyone knows its actually about reproductive rights?). They get to decide who speaks?

Sorry for being especially slow with this, I just don't get it.

[SpeakNow]

Why doesn't the GOP work on getting vasectomies illegal. Oh wait...men deserve to control their reproductive rights.

[emmiedahl]

I don't really understand either Kelya. Apparently some members of the GOP think Obama is conspiring against religion by asking religious organizations to allow their workers to take free birth control from their insurance companies. Catholic Charities and most Catholic nonprofits are for it, apparently, but they and anyone with two X chromosomes was not allowed to speak at the hearing.

[muffynbear]

I think we should have a Congressional hearing about vasectomies with only women testifying. Seriously, ITA with the poster upthread... time to get out my burka.

[PokaDot]

I think there should be a congressional hearing about ED pills.....I'm sure I can find some religion against Viagra and Cialis .

The commercials.....with 'Bob'......so defrauding.

[Lillybee]

I guess we all should be running out to buy Bayer asprin to put between our knees as bc.

[No Fun My Babe]

God, this is scaring me! What century are we living in again??

I can't really form a coherent thought right now, so pardon me if I step on toes, but I think it's dangerous to say "I take BC pills for reasons other than birth control." I know what you all are getting at, but I think it dilutes the issue. Women have a right to healthcare and prescriptions that benefit them, full stop. The end. Seems we're playing right into their hand when we say "well, I take the pill for these *other* reasons, not to prevent pregnancy." We have a *right* to take pills to prevent pregnancy!

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but to me, the issue is privacy and the ability to get the medical care we need. I know a lot of the conservative rhetoric is that only promiscuous sluts get on the pill or need other contraceptives, so I understand why it seems important to remind the powers that be that BC pills are useful for more things than just preventing pregnancy, and that married women need/take contraceptives. At the same time, a "slutty" girl has the *right* to get birth control pills, and I think we need to fight for that, too.

(off soapbox now...)

I'm scared too. I think most of us think that these kinds of things really can't happen. I see things every day and think, "nah, there's no way..." but I'm honestly fucking terrified. I don't even know what else to say.

There are many reasons women take BC, all of them valid. I was just mentioning why I, personally, took them. But I suppose you have a point... We shouldn't have to explain ourselves to anyone. Every woman's reason is her own and none of their damn business.

I was going to say more but it's past 6 am and my brain doesn't function 100% on the best of days, but now it's officially gone on strike. ZZZZZ.

"The Vasectomy Trials" has a nice ring to it. That's an idea I can definitely get behind.

[Austin]

I'm sorry to say, but to me it seems pretty simple: if women cannot self-determine their fertility, they cannot self-determine at all. They believe this would force women out of the workforce, out of colleges, and back into the kitchen. If anybody doesn't believe that's what a lot of these guys want, they haven't been paying attention.

And I agree that framing it in "I take birth control for other reasons" is the wrong way to go. I take birth control because I am done bearing children. I take birth control because I DON'T WANT any more children. I take birth control because it's my choice, and it's my right to self-determine.

[kb2]

I'm sorry to say, but to me it seems pretty simple: if women cannot self-determine their fertility, they cannot self-determine at all. They believe this would force women out of the workforce, out of colleges, and back into the kitchen. If anybody doesn't believe that's what a lot of these guys want, they haven't been paying attention.

And I agree that framing it in "I take birth control for other reasons" is the wrong way to go. I take birth control because I am done bearing children. I take birth control because I DON'T WANT any more children. I take birth control because it's my choice, and it's my right to self-determine.

The church authorities are claiming that buying insurance that will cover drugs that people are ALREADY taking is SUCH an affront to their beliefs. But when have they turned down money from women who are working because they delayed or limited childbearing with birth control? When have they turned down the man-power available because people delayed or limited childbearing through birth control? They're fucking BENEFITTING off the money and time of Caltholic and other women (and men) thanks to birth control, and they're not thinking of cutting themselves off from that. Such hypocrites.

ETA: I mean, I agree that what they want is for women to drop out of the workforce, etc. Bu in the meantime they'll ACCEPT money no matter how it was acquired.

[browngrl]

I'm scared too. I think most of us think that these kinds of things really can't happen. I see things every day and think, "nah, there's no way..." but I'm honestly fucking terrified. I don't even know what else to say.

There are many reasons women take BC, all of them valid. I was just mentioning why I, personally, took them. But I suppose you have a point... We shouldn't have to explain ourselves to anyone. Every woman's reason is her own and none of their damn business.

I was going to say more but it's past 6 am and my brain doesn't function 100% on the best of days, but now it's officially gone on strike. ZZZZZ.

"The Vasectomy Trials" has a nice ring to it. That's an idea I can definitely get behind.

Me too. This is just the sort of thing that has me increasingly concerned. For many years I have been content to keep silent about women's rights and for many years I was not willing to call myself a feminist - after all in my own life - men have been very supportive and I have been able to do all I wanted. However I have come to see that if I don't start taking a stand then these people will eradicate women's rights without a backward glance. I find myself feeling more and more militant about the whole thing - which is a bit frightening in and of itself. However I think that we are coming to an impasse - and everyone will have to decide the side they want to be on.

[AudreyE]

The problem with thinking things can't happen is that I was laughing at Smuggar two weeks ago, thinking what a delusional tool he is to believe Santorum would be taken seriously. Of course, I thought that with Palin, Bachman, Cain, Gingrich, and, once upon a time, the second term of GWB. I'm learning it's not safe to think anything is too obviously foolish for these people.

[AudreyE]

Also, we're partially in this trouble, because of the ability of educated fiscal conservatives to believe this stuff can't happen, and they can use and control the fundies at will. Yeah, right.