Republicans War on Women

Artie60438 wrote:

Did i over react? I don't know. What I do know is that he has attempted to inject pure abortion issues into other threads on different occasions. I know that several times I suggested that if he was so passionate about the issue he should start a dedicated thread about it,yet each time he ignored the advice.

Yeah, I know. But this time, even if we set aside the fact that you introduced the subject (whether you meant to or not,) you also took the bait when he reintroduced it. Perhaps if it happens again, it might be better to just resist the temptation to comment and immediately point out that the subject is off topic and then suggest that he start a dedicated thread?

Scorpion wrote:

Yeah, I know. But this time, even if we set aside the fact that you introduced the subject (whether you meant to or not,) you also took the bait when he reintroduced it. Perhaps if it happens again, it might be better to just resist the temptation to comment and immediately point out that the subject is off topic and then suggest that he start a dedicated thread?

Agreed. I started a dedicated thread for just that purpose about a week ago.

happy jack wrote:

Artie60438 wrote:

Scorpion wrote:

Yeah, I know. But this time, even if we set aside the fact that you introduced the subject (whether you meant to or not,) you also took the bait when he reintroduced it. Perhaps if it happens again, it might be better to just resist the temptation to comment and immediately point out that the subject is off topic and then suggest that he start a dedicated thread?

Agreed. I started a dedicated thread for just that purpose about a week ago.

[b]Have you looked at that thread lately?
Boooorrrring.

It was started it so that a troll that likes to disrupt threads with off topic abortion garbage wouldn't have any more excuses. It seems to be working just fine.

Artie60438 wrote:

happy jack wrote:

Artie60438 wrote:

Scorpion wrote:

Yeah, I know. But this time, even if we set aside the fact that you introduced the subject (whether you meant to or not,) you also took the bait when he reintroduced it. Perhaps if it happens again, it might be better to just resist the temptation to comment and immediately point out that the subject is off topic and then suggest that he start a dedicated thread?

Agreed. I started a dedicated thread for just that purpose about a week ago.

[b]Have you looked at that thread lately?
Boooorrrring.

It was started it so that a troll that likes to disrupt threads with off topic abortion garbage wouldn't have any more excuses. It seems to be working just fine.

Yes, it does seem to be working A-OK. Until now, you hadn't disrupted this thread with your "off topic abortion garbage" since the 17th. Perhaps you have learned something.

FL Gov. Rick Scott Vetoes Funding for Rape Crisis Centers

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While rape survivors spend months on waiting lists

We should be grateful to people like Florida’s far right Tea Party Governor Rick Scott, who make it exceedingly clear that the Republican Party’s war on women is very, very real:
Governor Rick Scott Vetoes Funds for Rape Crisis Centers During Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) shocked the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence this week when he vetoed $1.5 million in funding for 30 rape crisis centers in the middle of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. State lawmakers allotted the money to offset an increase in need and a lack of sufficient funding for victim services.

Brilliant!

Once again the GOP shows it disdain for women....
War on Women, Equal Pay Edition
Republicans Block Paycheck Fairness Act

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In their latest assault on women, Senate Republicans today unanimously blocked the Senate from even taking up the Paycheck Fairness Act. By contrast, every single Democrat voted in favor of the bill.

The important measure would help give women the tools necessary to address the yawning gap between what men and women earn for doing the same work. Lilly Ledbetter herself noted yesterday that it would be the “hammer for the nail” of the Fair Pay Act that bears her name — the first law that President Obama signed. She added, “it’s also an incentive to employers to do the right thing and treat their people fair and pay the equal wage that is required by law.”

(Check out our explainer for everything you need know about the Paycheck Fairness Act.)

Not the First Time the GOP Has Blocked Equal Pay Legislation

Sadly, this is not the first time that Republicans have gone on record opposing equal pay legislation:

Republicans almost unanimously opposed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009, with just 8 Republicans total between both the House and the Senate supporting it.
In 2009, House Republicans overwhelmingly opposed the Paycheck Fairness Act, which nevertheless passed the House on a vote of 256-163.
In 2010, the last time the Senate took up the Paycheck Fairness Act, every single Republican voted in favor of a filibuster of the bill, which then narrowly failed despite the support of 58 Democratic senators. The lone Democrat to vote no in 2010, Sen. Ben Nelson (NE), voted in favor of the measure today. Had Senate Republicans not filibustered the bill in 2010, it would already be the law today.

Mitt Romney Refuses to Say If He Supports the Paycheck Fairness Act

Just as Mitt Romney would not say whether he supported the Lilly Ledbetter Act or would have signed it, he has consistently refused to take a position on the Paycheck Fairness Act. Numerous media outlets, including ThinkProgress, the Rachel Maddow Show, the right-wing Washington Times, and the New York Times have pressed the Romney campaign on this issue for months. None have received a straight answer.

Apparently wanting to have it both ways, Romney’s campaign would say only that he supports the concept of equal pay while repeatedly refusing to signal support for the legislation.

Romney’s latest insult to women is perhaps not particularly surprising, given that his top campaign aide recently referred to women’s issues as just “shiny objects” meant to distract voters.

IN ONE SENTENCE: Women’s rights aren’t a “shiny object” or a distraction, they’re issues of basic fairness and economic security that nobody in America — regardless of party — should be opposed to.

Michigan State Representative Silenced By GOP For Saying ‘Vagina’

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Michigan House Republicans blocked a state representative from speaking on the floor on Thursday after she referenced certain parts of female anatomy in a speech on an abortion bill.

“Finally, Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but ‘no’ means ‘no,’” Rep. Lisa Brown (D) said to cap her remarks in which she expressed stark opposition to a series of bills regulating abortion, including one that would ban the procedure after 20 weeks unless the woman’s life was in danger, according to The Detroit News.

House Republicans called the remarks over the line and barred her from participating in a subsequent debate on education.

“It was so offensive, I don’t even want to say it in front of women,” one state representative said. “I would not say that in mixed company.”

But Brown was defiant, accusing her colleagues of trying to censor her with their sensitive take on acceptable decorum.

“If I can’t say the word vagina, why are we legislating vaginas?” Brown said at a press conference. “What language should I use?”

Wingnuts still living in the dark ages

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A second lawmaker, Rep. Barb Byrum (D), was also gaveled down after introducing a bill that would require men to prove that their life was in danger before they were allowed to receive a vasectomy.

“I was ignored by the majority floor leader and not allowed to speak on my amendment, which would have held the same standards for men and women when it comes to legal, voluntary procedures in reproductive health, and now I am being silenced for standing up for women,” Byrum said, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Rep Bynum should think about adding banning the use of Viagra unless it is used strictly to procreate and require the act be witnessed by a Catholic Bishop.

When a politician decides if the life of the mother is at risk

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“So, uh, we have a problem…” I started, but he interrupted.

“Yeah, the pregnancy needs to be over. Today. Before she goes into heart failure,” he pressed.

I was fully aware of the medical urgency. That the amount of extra fluid the body accumulates in the early 2nd trimester can easily cause a damaged heart to decompensate. She’d already proven her heart wasn’t up to the challenge of the third trimester.

“I have to tell you something,” I said. I’m sure I closed my eyes, because even though I had nothing to do with it, I hated myself for what I was about to say. “There’s a new law. Maybe you don’t know about it? When the hospital’s budget was submitted this year to the state there was an additional clause. No abortions in this facility unless it’s life or death. Doesn’t matter if we can get insurance to pay or even if everyone is willing to waive their fees. The hospital is owned by the state.”

The Dean and the Chief of OB said they objected vigorously, but I don’t remember it being more than a minor blip in the news at the time.

“But it is a matter of life and death.” he said. “It’s not if it’s when. Her ejection fraction sucks. Her heart is crapping out already. Oh, and she had postpartum cardiomyopathy last time.” He was yelling by this point.

No wonder he was amazed that she survived her first pregnancy. Postpartum cardiomyopathy, devastating failure of the heart after delivery, has a 50% mortality rate. Women with underlying heart disease are at increased risk of getting this condition and the lucky survivors are more likely to get it again should they chance another pregnancy.

“Look, I’m not the bad guy here. But unless you can tell me she’s going to die in the next 30 minutes, we can’t do anything. Legal was very explicit. The next step is for you to call the concerned politician who wrote the law, explain her medical condition, and then find out if she meets his criteria for life and death. Basically, you need his permission” I paused, knowing what was coming next.

“You are fucking kidding me. You are just fucking kidding me,” he shouted. Not at me. It was abject disbelief.

Her odds of dying in the pregnancy or postpartum were high, but her chance of dying that day or tomorrow were not. When the balance would tip was difficult to know. Of course, the closer she was to a politician’s definition of certain death, the more dangerous any intervention would be.

“You could also arrange to transfer her to a private hospital, but I’m guessing she somehow hasn’t qualified for Medicaid.” His silence was reply enough.

“How is this a law?” He asked.

“It’s not about medical care, that’s all I know. Anyway, get your thoughts in order. Here’s the number for the hospital lawyer. He’ll arrange a conference call between you and the politician and then he’ll contact me if you’ve made her case.”

Thank you, GOP!

Artie60438 wrote:

Michigan State Representative Silenced By GOP For Saying ‘Vagina’

Massive Crowd Gathers For Reading Of Vagina Monologues At Michigan Capitol

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After two female legislators were banned from the Michigan House floor last week after saying “vagina” during a debate about an anti-abortion measure, a massive crowd has gathered at the state capitol for a reading of “The Vagina Monologues.” There are an estimated 5,000 people in attendance.

Artie60438 wrote:

Artie60438 wrote:

Michigan State Representative Silenced By GOP For Saying ‘Vagina’

Massive Crowd Gathers For Reading Of Vagina Monologues At Michigan Capitol

Quote :

After two female legislators were banned from the Michigan House floor last week after saying “vagina” during a debate about an anti-abortion measure, a massive crowd has gathered at the state capitol for a reading of “The Vagina Monologues.” There are an estimated 5,000 people in attendance.

5000 People Scream "Vagina": World Saved!!!!



Morons.

Todd Akin, GOP Senate candidate: ‘Legitimate rape’ rarely causes pregnancy

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Rep. Todd Akin, the newly-christened GOP Senate nominee in Missouri, said in an interview airing Sunday that “legitimate rape” rarely causes pregnancy.

Explaining his no-exceptions policy on abortions, Akin was asked why he opposes abortion even when the pregnancy is the result of rape.

Quote :

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors, (pregnancy from rape) is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV in a clip posted to YouTube by the Democratic super PAC American Bridge. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Akin added: “But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.

”

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and national Democrats actually spent money in the GOP primary to help get Akin through it. That strategy, at least in this case, appears to be paying dividends.

McCaskill said she was outraged by Akin’s claim.

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“As a woman & former prosecutor who handled 100s of rape cases,I’m stunned by Rep Akin’s comments about victims this AM,” she tweeted. Within an hour, her tweet had been re-tweeted more than 1,000 times.

Akin’s claim is one that pops up occasionally in social conservative circles. A federal judge nominated by President Bush in the early 2000s had said similar things, as have state lawmakers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Politicians and activists who espouse this view often suggest that women who haven’t been raped will claim to have been raped in order to obtain an abortion. An Idaho state lawmaker apologized earlier this year after urging doctors to make sure women who claimed they had been raped were sure of that fact.

Needless to say, this is territory that GOP leaders would rather not have Akin wander into. Getting into the particulars of “legitimate rape” (as opposed to what?) and the female reproductive system has the potential to make this a headache for the GOP and take the focus off of McCaskill and President Obama, who is unpopular in Missouri.

According to a 1996 study, approximately 32,000 pregnancies result from rape annually in the United States, and about 5 percent of rape victims are impregnated.

Akin is also staking out some of the most socially conservative territory possible on this issue. Missouri is pretty socially conservative, but even many Republicans believe in abortion exceptions for rape and incest. A recent Gallup poll showed just 20 percent of Americans believe in no exceptions for abortion.

Pretty awful, huh? Again, their world is defined by fucking Walker: Texas Ranger episodes. They seriously just don't exist in the same reality as the rest of us.

Heretic wrote:

Pretty awful, huh? Again, their world is defined by fucking Walker: Texas Ranger episodes. They seriously just don't exist in the same reality as the rest of us.

The good news is that these lunatic congressional tea party candidates keep states in play that otherwise might go Republican ala the 2010 Sharon Angle/Harry Reid race in Nevada.

Of course Todd is not the only republican politician who is a super awesome expert on woman's health issues. We also have Pennsylvania state Rep. Stephen Freind, the first legislator to make the argument that rape prevents pregnancy, arguing that the odds of a pregnancy resulting from rape were “one in millions and millions and millions.”
Because as we all know, the trauma of rape causes women to “secrete a certain secretion which has the tendency to kill sperm.”

There ya go.

Quote :

the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.

Read: ABORTION.

So, he's pro-choice now, right?

2012 Republican Platform To Advocate Abortion Ban Without Rape Exception

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Republican politicians have been falling over themselves to condemn from Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican Senate candidate in Missouri, who said Sunday that women who have experienced “legitimate rape” don’t get pregnant because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” The Romney-Ryan campaign called Akin’s comments “insulting, inexcusable and frankly wrong,” in spite of Ryan’s close working relationship with Akin on a number of radical anti-abortion and contraception bills. A Romney spokesperson added that the “Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.”

But embracing a rape exception for abortion rights would put the campaign at odds with the Republican Party’s longstanding platform, the newest iteration of which will be officially unveiled at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. In spite of the massive public outcry from the right over Akin’s comments, the official GOP platform committee drafted a provision Monday supporting a “human life amendment” that would outlaw abortion without specifying exemptions for rape or incest. The platform reads:

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Faithful to the ‘self-evident’ truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.

Heading the committee is Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA), best known for his “mandatory ultrasound” law requiring any woman getting an abortion to undergo an unnecessary ultrasound. McDonnell also revealed his regressive position on women’s rights in his college thesis, which slandered working women, contraception, and “fornicators.” It’s no surprise, then, that under his guidance, the Republican Party will reaffirm its support for a constitutional amendment that would outlaw abortion and likely many forms of contraception.

In saying they would not oppose a rape exception, Romney and Ryan are both changing their tune. Romney said in 2007 he would be “delighted” to sign a bill banning all abortions, and Ryan has been staunchly anti-abortion in all cases, even attempting to restrict abortion access to victims of “forcible rape” only.

Heretic wrote:

Quote :

the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.

Read: ABORTION.

So, he's pro-choice now, right?

Rape: The new birth control

Despite pressure to quit, deadline passes for Akin to drop out of race

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WASHINGTON - Despite calls to step out of the race for Missouri's U.S . Senate seat, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) reiterated his intentions on Tuesday to stay on the ballot. He had not announced plans to quit as of the 5 p.m. deadline.

If Akin chooses to leave the race now that the deadline has passed, it will require a court order to remove his name from the ballots and he would have to pay for the cost of reprinting them.

Please be sure to attend the Republican National Convention. Thank You

Another knuckle dragging moron...
Tom Smith, GOP Senate Candidate: Pregnancy From Rape Similar To 'Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock'

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Trying to distance himself from the "legitimate rape" comment that Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) made last week, Pennsylvania Senate candidate Tom Smith (R) stirred up further controversy by comparing a pregnancy caused by rape to "having a baby out of wedlock."

Smith said Monday at the Pennsylvania Press Club that although he condemns Akin's comment, he agrees with Akin that abortion should be banned without any exceptions, including for rape and incest victims. Pressed by a reporter on how he would handle a daughter or granddaughter becoming pregnant as a result of rape, Smith said he had already "lived something similar to that" in his family.

"She chose life, and I commend her for that," he said. "She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn't have to ... she chose the way I thought. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't rape."

When a reporter asked Smith to clarify what kind of situation was similar to becoming pregnant from rape, the candidate responded, "Having a baby out of wedlock."

He added, "Put yourself in a father's position. Yes, it is similar."

Leave it to Orly Taitz,Dentist/Lawyer,and world class nutcase to weigh in,defend Tod Akin,and explain to all of us that,yes,a woman does indeed have a super secret way to avoid pregnancy when raped.
It is time for Congressman Akin to sue for malicious misrepresentation of his speech and for vicious defamation of his character. He should start with Ann Coultier, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

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He never said that rape is legitimate, the words were taken out of context and twisted. He was talking about cases where there is legitimate evidence that a violent crime was committed, where there is legitimate evidence of rape, women rarely get pregnanat.

Is it true? Is it supported by scientific data? Yes it is true. I studied medicine. Indeed, when a violent crime is committed, a woman is in a state of stress. It is a fight or flight reflex, Adrenalin shoots through the roof, it causes hormonal inbalance, which makes it extremely difficult for a woman to get pregnanat and sustain pregnancy. Data shows that in reported cases of rape only 5% of women get pregnant. If you remove out of this total cases of false reports, the total percentage of pregnancies is much lower, than 5%.

So there you have it....a definitive explanation from a self proclaimed medical expert that can't even correctly spell the word "pregnant" nor properly operate a spell checker.

Group At Conservative Conference Urge Women To ‘Go Home And Put Some Clothes On’

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WASHINGTON, DC — Literature being handed out at the Values Voter Summit on Friday attacks women for being “immodest” and extolled them to “go home and put some clothes on!”

In flyers and brochures on display at Values Voters, the social conservative conference where Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan spoke, an organization called Modesty Matters criticized women for dressing “immodestly” at church, and blamed women for causing men to stare lustfully at them.

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Women must “embrace MODESTY in dress and behavior,” one of the handouts read. Women dressed immodestly in church are “an insult to a holy God,” another said.

Other excerpts:

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- From the “Modesty: It’s nothing to be ashamed of” pamphlet:“Since men are particularly visual, immodesty in church can trigger lustful thoughts.”

“My men’s bible study group talks frequently about controlling our lust, thoughts, and eyes. Yes the problem and responsibility are ours, but is it really reasonable for the women of the church to make it THIS difficult for us?”

- From the “True Woman Manifesto”: “All women, whether married of single, are to model femininity in their various relationships, by exhibiting a distinctive modesty, responsiveness, and gentleness of spirit.”

The Family Research Council provided Modesty Matters with a table at the conference to distribute these pamphlets.

Republicans have repeatedly voted to cut funding for contraception, outlaw abortions, and defund Planned Parenthood. Now another far-right groups are eyeing a new battleground: the wardrobe.

Exact same misogynist mindset that would blame a woman for her rape because she was wearing a skirt too short.