President Obama's decision to require private health insurance to cover contraception at no cost has prompted a predictable firestorm of criticism from the religious right. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a leading anti-abortion Democrat, has joined the fray ― against birth control.
“I have strongly supported efforts to provide greater access to contraception,” according to a statement from Sen. Casey. “I believe, just as strongly, that religiously affiliated organizations like hospitals and universities should not be compelled by our Federal government to purchase insurance policies that violate their religious and moral convictions.”
Sen. Casey joins fellow dudes in the Church hierarchy in condemning Obama's decision. Funny thing is that an overwhelming majority of Catholic women ― 98 percent! ― have used contraception, a point that Daily News political cartoonist Signe Wilkinson pokes very funny fun at in today's paper.
And a majority of Catholics support Obama's position.
So what's the point of contraception? Oh yeah, from the New York Times: “About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and about 4 of 10 of those end in abortion, according to the Institute of Medicine report, which was released in July.”
But whatever. This is about partisan ― and sexist ― politics, not intelligent policy.
Since Democrats tend to be on higher political ground than (the even-more) business-friendly Republicans when it comes to economic issues, the GOP relishes a fight over what the Times straightforwardly describes as “a powerful wedge issue that could unite what has been a fractured conference.” Looks like Sen. Casey gets to play a supporting role in this Washington tragicomedy. Way to govern, boys.
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