I know this subject has been touched on, but I was hoping to create a thread just for this issue happening right now in America surrounding abortion and contraception (which is being called abortion by some). Now I do not pretend to know what all of this is about, but I think it has something to do with Obama trying to have a mandate on birth control passed which would make it more accessible and covered by insurance. I think it would make abortions covered under insurance as well?

Here is a story on the subject.

Even the Girl Scouts of America is taking heat because of their support of women's rights and planned parenthood.

What are your thoughts on all of this?

I think its all one big facade to try to mobilize the conservative religious types to come out to vote against Obama this election year. The republican field sucks, and unless they can get people mobilized they're not going to win.

The church already offers contraceptives to their secular employees through private health insurance. They're already required to include contraceptives in their secular employees' health insurance in some states like New York. There is no story here.

Yet somehow, because Obamacare requires they do what they already do, it's gone too far and he has to be voted out of office?

I hate to give this any more attention than it deserves, but I had a "bwah?" moment at Rush Limbaugh's* comments when he called a college woman who wanted her contraception covered a whore. Because, you know, contraception= sex and married women never need to take birth control and nobody ever needs it for health reasons.

*Yes, I know not to take anything the guy says seriously because he's basically a live troll. And yes, I know he doesn't speak for other people that may not want contraception covered. The implication's still disturbing anyway.
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I've was also following a certain Prop that would define life as beginning with a cluster of cells. "Don't be ridiculous, this wouldn't ban contraception" seemed to be the official statement on the matter. I looked up the website for clarification and near as I could puzzle out the faq translated as "you don't need to worry about clarification and the implications of the bill. Everyone knows what life means." It seemed vaguely insulting.

Read more here.

Rush Limbaugh's knuckle-dragging, troglodytic stupidity is just facepalm phenomenal.

-- Nephele

Sorry, but I find that offensive to cave-dwellers.

One thing to remember; at least he's not in charge of public policy. Just a sideshow.

Ha! I was actually thinking of Broud in Clan of the Cave Bear.

-- Nephele

Rush Limbaugh practices the most effective kind of birth control there is.

He $*^&s himself.

I heard about what he said and it was very vulgar of him. It should never have been said and he should be ashamed of himself for that.

It makes me wonder how differently this entire thing would be viewed if it were men who had to take things such as birth control pills, etc...

In my opinion if a woman loves sex and wants contraception it tells me two things: she likes sex (and this does not qualify a person as a slut, no matter what that jackass said) and she's smart enough to know herself well enough to understand she doesn't want kids (at least not right now).

Condoms, in my opinion, aren't enough, not really. Other means of contraception should be just as easily available.

I also think Planned Parenthood is a good thing.

-Midi
Who is probably being a bit too vocal about this.

It just amazes me that the conservative/religious folk are okay with Viagra being supplied by their insurance companies, and no one ever suggests that a man who takes Viagra is a "slut."

-- Nephele

The only sluts I know of are the ones in office vying for a vote and fucking society in the process.

Ha! And also those braying over the radio airwaves (like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, etc.), vying for audiences, book deals, etc. and fucking society in the process.

-- Nephele

^^Amazing that Rush JUST NOW apologizes. Clearly he said all that for ratings. But he probably really feels that way, too.

I really think that not inviting women to the meeting about contraception (I believe that's what it was about, anyway) was a BIG mistake. I would honestly rather have a woman yelling at me about birth control than a man because, quite frankly, it's not his business, or his body.

His apology was abysmally insincere: "My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir." – Rush Limbaugh

Dear Rush, get it straight: Will Rogers was humorous. You are just hateful.



Actually, I believe the original congressional committee hearing (to which Sandra Fluke was denied access supposedly because her name was submitted too late) was about religious freedom vs. government over-reach.

Rush Limbaugh went batshit crazy when Nancy Pelosi invited Sandra Fluke a week later to speak at a Democratic committee meeting on women's health and contraception.

Click here for video of the Democratic leaders' meeting on women's health and contraception (Sandra Fluke's speech starts at about 15:25 on the video).

-- Nephele

I think Rush Limbaugh is disgusrting. That's for sure. But the sence of a health insurance is to finance medical measures against diseases. A child or a pregnancy is no disease.

I would disagree. For some women getting pregnancy is a fate worse than death and can be not only a physical liability, but a mental one as well. I think it would be better if birth control were covered on health insurance. It could save in welfare and help women keep their lives on track. Wanting to have sex shouldn't be hard on women.