The GOP's Misogyny Problem Part II

The GOP's War on Women is now on steroids.

• Arizona has a bill that would make it OK for a doctor to lie to a pregnant women- telling her all is fine even if the fetus has severe deformities and disabilities- all in an effort to reduce abortions. Parents would not be able to sue the doctor for withholding this vital information. Unbelievably, there are similar laws in nine states- Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Idaho, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, South Dakota and Indiana.

• Arizona also has a bill pending that would make it OK for an employer to grill an employee about what she is using contraceptives for- and if it is to prevent pregnancy- this bill would make it OK to fire her!

• Indiana not only allows a doctor to lie to his or her patients, but requires it. The GOP controlled legislature passed a bill that requires doctors to tell patients seeking abortion that it causes an increase in breast cancer, although this has been thoroughly debunked by the scientific community. An amendment that doctors provide "medically and scientifically accurate" information to patients was voted down.

• Kansas is considering sweeping anti-abortion laws that would include taxing women who get abortions- even in cases of rape, to save the life of the mother, or to remove a fetus after a miscarriage- which is defined as abortion in Kansas.

•  Tennessee Republicans are pushing a bill that would require the state to publish names of doctors performing abortions and detailed information on the women having them.

• Far righter Ann Coulter recently said it would be OK with her if young adults and women lost their right to vote, because more Republicans would be voted into office.

• Mitt Romney said as president he would end Planned Parenthood.

• As part of their war on Planned Parenthood, Texas forfeited millions in Medicaid funds which will destroy the Women's Health Program that provides preventative care including cancer screenings and contraceptives to more than 130,000 low income women. The conservative Texas budget board in 2011 called it "the most cost effective program in Texas".

• In 2010, 23 states passed abortion restriction laws. In 2011, 83 such laws were passed, often with the help of ALEC and the US Conference on Catholic Bishops.

• Last Fall, House Republicans tried to pass a bill that would have allowed any hospital receiving federal funds to deny performing emergency abortions, even if a woman's life was in danger.

For more on the GOP's Misogyny Problem.

But here is the good news- the backlash has begun and it will be strong. Most Americans do not agree with the radical agenda of the far right to turn back the clock on women's rights. There will be  a Women's Grassroots Congress this month and  marches are planned nationwide  for April 28.

From the new group Organizing against the War on Women-

"Help defend women’s rights and pursuit of equality. Join Americans all across the United States on April 28th, 2012, as we come together as one to tell members of Congress in Washington DC and legislators in all 50 states, “Enough is enough!”

All Americans have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, including contraception, without interference from government, business or religious institutions"

The GOP's Misogyny Problem

What on earth is happening to the Republican Party? I go away for a month and come back to find they are firmly planted in the Dark Ages about women's rights. Here are just a few of the anachronistic, absurd and dangerous ideas they have been espousing of late.

Iconic photo of GOP's arrogance and misogyny- the men only- panel on birth control.

• Santorum says free, prenatal care (that saves women's and babies' lives) increases abortions and should not be provided. This comes on top of him saying that birth control "harms women and society" and that he would be for states being able to ban all contraception.
• Santorum's sugar daddy said "gals" should just put an aspirin between their legs- then they wouldn't need contraception.
• The Republican House Oversight Hearing Committee began with an all male, religious panel to make a case for denying access to birth control. Two women were added later- but not one of the witnesses was in favor of birth control.
• Not one Republican on the Senate Judiciary Com voted to reauthorize The Violence against Women Act. The reason? It protects too many women from domestic violence. They wanted to remove protections for lesbians, Native American women and immigrants. To those groups the GOP says, literally "Drop dead."
• Twenty Republicans Senators are co-sponsoring the Blunt/Rubio amendment that would allow any employer to come between you and your doctor. It would allow an employer to deny insurance for any medical treatment that conflicts with their "moral code".
• Virginia's Republican controlled Legislature is considering  a law mandating a medically unnecessary vaginal probe for any woman seeking an abortion.
• Rush Limbaugh, the voice of the right, asked what Democrat (not Democratic) women have against pregnancy.
• Just today, a Republican legislator from Indiana refused to sign on to a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the Girls Scouts- calling it a "radicalized agency" that supports abortion and a homosexual agenda. He added, having First Lady Michele Obama as its honorary president should give lawmakers "pause".
• Of course, this has been going on for awhile- Last February, Republicans tried to eliminate funding for Title X that provides contraception, HIV testing and cancer screenings. Title X has helped in the  early detection of over 55,000 cases of cervical cancer, but that did not stop the GOP from trying to abolish it.

Sadly, I could go on and on. Particularly disturbing are the pronouncements from Santorum World - that he thinks birth control "gives license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be." Really, there are things consenting adults are not supposed to do behind closed doors? I wonder how long it will take him to say that certain sex acts must be banned too.

There is no government as big, as intrusive, as threatening to everyday Americans as the so-called "small government" of the radical right.