Yesterday, the ongoing battle in the war against women came to a swift halt when the Senate rejected an effort to expand conscious exemptions to the Obama administration's new birth control coverage rule. The Blunt amendment would have allowed religious groups (apart from churches) and any employer with moral objections to opt out of covering birth control or any health service covered in The Affordable Care Act.
Seems like the turn of events has triggered a HUGE sigh of relief 'round the country. After all, the majority of Americans -- 63 percent -- back federal rules requiring private insurers to cover birth control! (Perhaps that's because most Americans realize it should be regarded no differently from any other preventative medicine, like heart or allergy drugs?)
What's more, many of us have been thinking the argument is a distraction from bigger concerns like the economy. Silly electorate! Don't you know that distractions like this are Republicans' specialty?
That's right. Even the most tuned-out American knows the main issue in this year's election is the economy. But because since the Republicans don't have answers to those questions -- they just want to keep the Bush tax cuts for the rich in place and keep lining the pockets of Big Oil and bankster cronies -- they've switched the script. Zeroed in on Planned Parenthood and birth control as the must-discuss-and-decide topics of the day. For all intents and purposes, put the country in a flying DeLorean and set the time circuits to 1692.
Because let's be real -- are we really at risk for "religious persecution" here in the U.S. in 2012? Muslim-Americans are sure getting the short end of the stick in many communities, that's for sure, and gay Americans are still dealing with plenty o' discrimination. But those who are opposed to women having control over their bodies and their lives aren't exactly being victimized by the government. Even if they feel that way -- despite the accommodation recently announced by the Obama administration that says religiously affiliated organizations such as Catholic charities, schools, universities, or hospitals can refuse to provide contraceptive coverage through their insurance plans for employees -- sorry, but that's not really the biggest concern we've got on our hands in this country today.
Nonetheless, all the Republican candidates have made the birth control issue a key part of their stump speeches in the past few weeks. Not because they're truly enraged or feel that is the central issue we need to address right now, but because they know it gets conservatives riled up. They hope this one, fringe-y, socially conservative hot-button topic will distract GOP voters and drive them to the polls. Even if they have no real solutions for the actual problems Americans are facing today.
Sad but true. Seems like this contentious birth control battle has just been a lame attempt to play conservative voters for fools. The silver lining: Now that we've got the Blunt amendment out of the way, maybe we can get back to focusing on the real issues, eh?
Do you think the birth control battle is a major distraction?
Tie-Dye for the Fourth of July!
Kim and Kanye's Baby Name Predictions!
Moms Love Birthday Parties, Too!
Father Knows Best - Happy Father's Day!
Comments 28
I do not think it is a distraction. i think it is a very real issue. Once you start infringing on religous freedoms it becomes a snowball. Here's the deal....if you choose to work for a religious organization that does not provide birth control either pay for it yourself or go work somewhere else. 20 years ago when I was using birth control none of the insurance companies covered it. I either payed for it myself, went to the health department or abstained from sex!!! ( I know...unheard of). Not every person in the world is entitled to everything they may need or want.
It's like they are waving something shiny so people don't look at the real issues. What are they are going to do about unemployment, taxes, health insurance cost, access to health insurance and gas. As a woman stop telling me what is right and wrong for me. I need to make that decision for myself.
It's a total distraction effort on the part of the Right. Why do you think they tied the Blunt Amendment to a TRANSPORTATION bill? Because they knew that the only chance of it passing was to tie it to something else and hope no one would notice (didn't work - FAIL). The GOP is in a race with themselves to the bottom. They know that if they don't win this year, there's no chance for them in the future and they will have to restructure the party and rethink every one of their issues. They're scared....the fear and lies aren't working.
Yes, it's a distraction and you, the Left, obama and Democrats should stop flogging that dead horse.
Very clear that you're all running away as fast as you can from having to discuss the current Administration's abysmal failures, and that it has zero plans for the future except raising taxes and spending more taxpayer dollars.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ $15 Trillion and climbing and Democrats want to add to the national debt. $50K/per citizen today, $136K/per taxpayer, and climbing daily.
Democrats: "Let's get in a tizzy about birth control!"
obama: "Let's pretend it's about birth control when it's really an issue of Americans' religious freedom"
It scares me that some of you standing up and screaming about women's rights being violated because they may not be able to get FREE birth control (which is a fantasy anyway, you will pay for it, probably in your deductibles reaching $5,000-$10,000 per family) - while your religious freedom is quickly becoming a thing of the past..Get a flippin clue! BTW, the MAJORITY of Americans want Obamacare repealed and I have yet to hear the left recognize that.....it is always so convenient to use the American public when it fits the left's needs.
"
Tippi2112, you WENT TO A HEALTH DEPARTMENT? And, maybe, they gave you access to free or DISCOUNTED birth control?
Who woulda thunkit?
Distraction? Conservatives believe that every day is July 4th. Democrats believe that every day is April 15th.
It is purely a religious freedoms issue. Most of the people that need birth control aren't even the working population!