Jul

9

Americans Broadly Support Abortion Coverage in Health Reform

Filed Under Democrats, Republicans, abortion, anti-choice extremism, assholes, class and economics, misogyny, patriarchy, politics, reproductive justice, social conservatives, women’s health | 2 Comments

You my have heard — or you may not, as it seems to be getting little mainstream media coverage — that health care reform is in trouble. With Republicans and blue-dog Democrats sensing that some sort of of government coverage is likely to be successfully created this time around, they’re shifting tactics somewhat from attempting to defeat mounting legislative efforts to attempting to gut them. And a big area where they’re focusing that gutting is reproductive health care:

Imagine our dismay to see the proposed amendments submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee this week by Republican Senators Michael Enzi, Orin Hatch and Tom Coburn:

  • Coverage for abortion would be banned;
  • Health providers and insurers would be protected against “discrimination” for refusing to provide health care requested by their patients including abortions, emergency contraception, aid-in-dying (such as in Oregon, Washington and Montana, where this is legal) or really just about any health service they find objectionable;
  • Federally-qualified health centers could not provide abortions and still get government grants;
  • Any independent medical board appointed to determine the benefits that would be included in national health reform coverage would have to include “professional ethicists…with specialty in rights of the life of the unborn.”

The really interesting thing is that while traditional wisdom suggests there is rather broad support for a ban on government subsidization of abortions, new research from the National Women’s Law Center suggests that it’s not actually true — not by a long shot:

  • Voters overwhelmingly support the broad outlines of reform and requiring coverage of women’s reproductive health services. Seven-in-ten (70%) favor a proposal that establishes a National Health Insurance Exchange with a public plan option. If the reform were adopted, voters overwhelmingly support requiring health plans to cover women’s reproductive health services (71% favor-21% oppose).
  • Absent coverage for women’s reproductive health services, majorities oppose reform. If reform eliminated current insurance coverage of reproductive health services such as birth control or abortion, nearly two-thirds (60%) would oppose the plan and nearly half (47%) would oppose it strongly.
  • Supporting coverage of comprehensive reproductive health services would benefit Members of Congress. A plurality (45%) would feel more favorably toward their Representative if they voted to cover reproductive services, while 24% would feel less favorably, and 32% said it would make no difference.
  • Voters would feel much less favorably about their Representative if they voted to cover services like Viagra for men, but excluded reproductive services for women. Voters overwhelmingly reported that they would feel less favorably toward their Member of Congress if they voted for reproductive services for men and not for women (71%), while only 9% would feel more favorably toward their Representative.

Read more

Jan

23

Senate Passes Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Filed Under Barack Obama, Democrats, class and economics, discrimination, legislation, patriarchy, politics, sexism, work | 1 Comment

Great news! Yesterday, the Senate passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

The new Democratic-led U.S. Senate flexed its expanded muscle on Thursday by overwhelmingly passing a bill to reverse a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it tougher to sue for pay discrimination.

Approved 61-36, the measure is similar to one that Senate Republicans blocked last year, complaining it would lead to an explosion of lawsuits and be a bonanza for trial lawyers.

Yes, you may do a little dance. I am.

From the Feminist Majority’s press release, sent out by email:

“President Obama and the Democratic Congress are keeping their pledge to women and all workers to reverse the Supreme Court decision that gutted the right of employees to fight wage discrimination,” said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority. “We’re on a roll to rebuilding women’s rights and civil rights taken away during the Bush era.”

The Senate Act, which has already passed the House in a version coupled with the Paycheck Fairness Act, will go back to the House as a single bill. The House is expected to pass the Senate bill on Tuesday. President Obama is expected to sign it into law shortly thereafter. In almost straight party line votes the Senate kept the pledge of President Obama to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act almost immediately after being sworn in.

Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s killer amendment was defeated 55-40 in a nearly straight party vote with Democrats voting against it – only Republican Olympia (ME) voted with Democrats. Several other debilitating Republican amendments also went down to defeat.

In other words, they passed it. As they promised. And they did so without the compromises that easily could have been made, but would have gutted the law.

When Barack Obama signs the bill into law (hopefully next week!), it will be a great moment for women indeed.

Jan

21

Change

Filed Under 2008 election, Barack Obama, Democrats, politics | 2 Comments

I have absolutely nothing to add to the abundant commentary that has been made so far about Barack Obama’s inauguration.  All that can be said has been. It was a hugely historic moment that I feel privileged to have seen.  But it’s not the end of our problems, economic, racial or otherwise.  And so on.

However, though I did let the day pass without a blog post (I was very busy watching abundant television coverage and updating my Twitter feed — inaugural tweets currently start back here), I couldn’t just let the moment go by entirely without any sort of acknowledgment.  Even a late one.

We have a new president.  He’s one who I have more faith in, limited and cautious though it may be, than I’ve ever had in a president in my lifetime.

And right now, for this moment.  That’s enough.

Jan

19

What is the Future of Abstinence-Only Sex Education?

Filed Under Barack Obama, Democrats, education and schools, politics, reproductive justice, sex and sexuality | 2 Comments

I’ve written quite a bit lately — either directly or more indirectly — about abstinence-only education and the dangerous, detrimental effects it has on youth and their ability to protect themselves from STDs and unplanned pregnancy.  Study after study shows that abstinence-only education doesn’t work.  Studies also show that countries that use an honest, comprehensive approach to sex education have lower teen pregnancy rates than the U.S., which uses ideological scare-tactics to push kids away from condom use.

But I haven’t tackled one big question.  What is going to happen to abstinence-only education once the Obama administration takes power?  The problem is that we still don’t quite know the answer.

Obama is considered an advocate of comprehensive sex education, which — unlike abstinence-only curriculum — includes advice to young people about using contraceptives if they do engage in sexual activity. However, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to elaborate on what the new president would propose in his own budget plan.

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of American, depicted the federal abstinence-only program as “an utter failure that has wasted more than $1.5 billion” over the past decade. Like other critics, she noted that several major studies — including a federally funded review — have found no evidence that the abstinence-only approach works in deterring teen sex.

“Talking with Obama, he totally understands the need for young people to have comprehensive sex education — they need information that protects their health,” Richards said. “I hope that will be the position of the administration, but when Congress gets involved, sometimes things get more complicated.”

That pretty much outlines to the two major problems.  The first is that while Obama has made his support for comprehensive sex education well-known, he has also made no promises, or really even much in the way of policy plans, concerning abstinence-only education and its funding future.

The second is that even though Congress is Democratic, there are plenty of anti-choice Democrats in the ranks.  As the above article notes, the Democrats have repeatedly voted to continue abstinence-only education.  Whether it’s because they didn’t have the needed votes to revoke the funding in Congress, or simply didn’t bother because they knew they didn’t have the votes to override the inevitable veto from Bush, is unclear.  And I guess it’s a question that we’re going to learn the answer to soon enough.

Personally?  I don’t think that we’re going to see an immediate revocation of funding.  There are two main issues at play here.  The first is that even though Americans do strongly support comprehensive sex education, convincing them that it’s a good idea to revoke the funding for abstinence-only education entirely might be a bit trickier — especially when you’ve got the really loud and and lying voices of anti-choice extremists claiming that comprehensive sex education equals teaching five-year-olds how to use condoms.  The second is simply convincing Congress that the statistics showing Americans support comprehensive sex education are accurate — again, especially with those really loud voices trying to convince them that the numbers are wrong.

It’s sad, and really pisses me off.  And I hope that I’m wrong, I really do.  But I also think that I’m being realistic here, and that unfortunately politics are going to be played while the lives and health of teenagers hang in the balance.

What do you think?

Nov

18

Condescending to Michelle Obama

Filed Under 2008 election, Democrats, assholes, media, politics, sexism, stereotypes, work | 17 Comments

The other night, Steve Kroft interviewed Barack and Michelle Obama on 60 minutes.  He asked the two of them about their “personal transition” to the White House. Right towards the very end of the segment, this question really jumped out at me as being particularly condescending:

Kroft: I know you’ve said that your first priority is to be mom in chief.

Michelle Obama: Yes.

Kroft:You’re a Harvard Law School grad yourself. And a Princeton grad. You were a high-powered executive. How long do you give her, knocking around that big house, before she starts to want to imprint on the job of being first lady?

What the hell is that?  First of all, don’t dare ask Michelle how long she thinks it will take before she decides that she wants to start acting officially in the office of First Lady.  Let’s ask Barack!  Secondly, how long do you give her?  Knocking around that big house?  If you watch the video (around 12:50), you’ll see that Kroft has this little grin on his face that says “women, eh? Oh, them and their opinions!” I have to say I’m annoyed that Barack laughs as well.  In contrast, Michelle kind of clenches her lips and lets out a stifled, forced laugh.   Third, why the suggestion — while simultaneously pointing out how smart she is — that Michelle is making a poor decision and doesn’t know what she wants?  If Michelle decides in the end that she’d prefer to focus her efforts on policy, then she’ll do that, and she doesn’t need Steve Kroft to tell her as much.

And no, I’m not willing to give Kroft the benefit of the doubt, seeing as how just a few minutes later, Barack had to call him out on comparing Michelle’s mother to the Obamas’ future dog.

The good news is that Michelle, in the beginning of her response to Kroft’s stupid question (to Barack!), got in a good dig at the nature of the inquiry:

Michelle Obama: Well, the thing we’ve learned, you know, as we’ve watched this campaign, is that people, women, are capable of doing more than one thing well at the same time.

Crazy concept, isn’t it?

Nov

14

Obama Is Funny

Filed Under 2008 election, Democrats, media, politics | 4 Comments

Newsweek has been running a “Secrets of the Campaign” series. The magazine was allowed extra access to the campaigns in exchange for the promise that they would not report on what they learned and witnessed until after the election. I’m fairly uncomfortable with the concept, even if a large majority of the information has thus far been inconsequential, because I really don’t like the idea of the media making this sort of “we promise not to report on things that might embarass you” deal with those in power.

That being said, a lot of the stuff that has come out is pretty amusing. Like this:

The debates unnerved both candidates. When he was preparing for them during the Democratic primaries, Obama was recorded saying, “I don’t consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, ‘You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.’ So when Brian Williams is asking me about what’s a personal thing that you’ve done [that's green], and I say, you know, ‘Well, I planted a bunch of trees.’ And he says, ‘I’m talking about personal.’ What I’m thinking in my head is, ‘Well, the truth is, Brian, we can’t solve global warming because I f—ing changed light bulbs in my house. It’s because of something collective’.”

It’s funny because it’s true.

h/t BFP

Nov

13

Vote Obama! (Or: What Do I Have to Live for Now?)

Filed Under 2008 election, Barack Obama, Democrats, fun, politics | 4 Comments

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are


h/t Sudy

Nov

10

Yoko Ono on Barack Obama

Filed Under 2008 election, Barack Obama, Democrats, Gratuitous Beatles Blogging, feminism, fun, politics | 4 Comments

This morning, Yoko Ono — who previously refused to take a stance on the election, saying that she preferred grassroots organizing — posted an open letter showing that she too has gotten caught up in the Obama craze.  She gets the catchphrase wrong, but I think the sentiment still holds true, certainly enough to get me crying with her.

Dear Friends

How I reacted the night Obama became president:

Just crying…like most people on the streets of N.Y, or in the world that night, from joy…and other complex emotions which had to do with the work we all did for the longest years trusting in miracles.

I had a strong urge for John to be here, physically, to give me a hug. I got over that urge a long time ago, since I knew that John was with me in spirit, and working with me all this time. But this night was different. I felt John and I needed to hug each other physically. I cried hardest when everybody started chanting WE CAN DO IT!

Then I retreated to a long, long silence – In the end I saw a little candle lit in my heart.

Yes.
We are not abandoned – if you even had the smallest doubt.
Miracles do happen.
It keeps on happening. Daily.
We are the miracle.
This time it was spelled out to us in a big way.
To even the dimmest, the most cynical – to all of us, to the world.
Yes.

Read the full letter here.

I too think that John would be very happy right now, don’t you?

Nov

7

Spitzer Will Not Be Charged

Filed Under Democrats, assholes, misogyny, patriarchy, politics, sex and sexuality, sex work | 17 Comments

Former Governor Eliot Spitzer will not be charged in connection with his involvement as a customer with a prostitution ring. I’m shocked.  Aren’t you shocked?

“After a thorough investigation, this office has uncovered no evidence of misuse of public or campaign funds,” U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement.

The attorney’s office also said it found no illicit activity related to Spitzer’s withdrawal of funds for, and his payments to, the Emperors Club VIP, which authorities have said was a prostitution ring.

“In light of the policy of the Department of Justice with respect to prostitution offenses and the longstanding practice of this office, as well as Mr. Spitzer’s acceptance of responsibility for his conduct, we have concluded that the public interest would not be further advanced by filing criminal charges in this matter,” Garcia said.

Right, because that’s how we often treat the women who work as prostitutes, isn’t it?  They accept “responsibility” and law enforcement decides to just let it go, because how does it serve the public interest to prosecute women and humiliate them openly in a society that condemns their work, especially when they’re very often only doing the job because they’re desperate for money, or have even been forced or coerced?

Read more

Nov

5

The Good, The Bad, and The Downright Ugly

Filed Under 2008 election, Democrats, LGBTQ, Republicans, abortion, anti-choice extremism, assholes, bigotry, discrimination, homophobia, human rights, legislation, politics, race and racism, reproductive justice, sex work, women’s health | 23 Comments

The Good

President Obama.  Of course.

The Democrats now have 56 seats in the Senate. Four seats are still undecided, according to CNN, but it looks like they’re all going to go Republican.  Our best shot to pick up one last seat is Al Franken in Minnesota — who, with supposedly 100% of the vote counted, is less than 600 votes behind.

The Democrats now have 252 seats in the House, which is a 16 seat gain.  Ten seats are still undecided.

Democrats have a majority in the NY State Senate for the first time since the New Deal. Wow.  Do you mean that we might actually get some shit done?

Kay Hagan got Elizabeth Dole out of office. Gotta love that.

The South Dakota abortion ban, Measure 11, was decisively knocked down by a 10 point margin. A huge congrats to all of my friends at SD Healthy Families!

Amendment 48, the so-called Human Life Amendment, was shot down by remarkable margins, with 73% voting No.

It looks like California has shot down Prop 4, the anti-abortion parental notification initiative, with 95% of the vote in and 52% voting No.

Michigan has voted to allow stem-cell research and possession of medical marijuana.

Anti-immigrant initiative Measure 58 was shot down in Oregon.

Read more

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