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A House Republican lawmaker likened the implementation of a new mandate that insurers offer coverage for contraceptive services to Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks against the United States.
Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly (R), an ardent opponent of abortion rights, said that today's date would live in infamy alongside those two other historic occasions. Wednesday marked the day on which a controversial new requirement by the Department of Health and Human Services, which requires health insurance companies to cover contraceptive services for women, goes into effect.
"I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that's Pearl Harbor day. The other is September 11th, and that's the day of the terrorist attack," Kelly said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. "I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates."
Republicans cried foul when the Obama administration first announced the new rule, reasoning that it would force employers with a religious affiliation to act in a way that contradicts their beliefs. The outcry included criticism from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and President Obama subsequently announced a compromise in which employers wouldn't be forced to offer insurance plans that cover contraception, but insurance companies would be required to offer coverage to women who wish to purchase it.
Republicans rejected the compromise, and subsequently attempted several times to advance legislation to reverse the mandate. The imbroglio contributed to Democratic charges of a GOP-led "war on women."
"This is a right that every American should be outraged, outraged about what this administration and Secretary Sibelius has set forth here on August the 1st," New York Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R) said at the same press conference as Kelly. "And as Mike said, August the 1st is a day that we as American will look at as the largest assault on our First Amendment rights."
*UPDATE* Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, a veteran of World War II, condemned Kelly's comments in a statement.
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And some of you look at other countries and mock them for their religious leaders making laws...our politicians are just as scary with some of their views...any politician who says that something like this is like Pearl Harbor or 9/11 should be escorted out of office, cause they have absolutely no common sense at all.
This guy needs to stay out of women's issues. I'm a bit tired of old men telling us what is good for women. He should have his hands full trying to find those ever elusive jobs Mr. Boehner and Mr. Romney keep talking about.
Nobody should be surprised. This is what you get when you elect Republicans.
Aren't we being a little bit dramatic, Rep. Mike Kelly? Pearl Harbor, 9/11, really? We're talking about birth control here, not a massive, deadly attack by foreign invaders. Wow! Talk about hyperbole. I wonder if Rep. Kelly is equally upset at the many insurance companies that cover Viagra? It's okay to pay to give men woodies, but not to prevent their wives from becoming pregnant when they don't want to be. Interesting priorities.
Unfortunately people will take this message to heart and they will vote.< /p>
Increased contraception lowers the abortion rate, decreases poverty, and decreases the burden on our public schools. We fought this war in the 1950's I cannot believe we are fighting it again. When the tea baggers said they wanted to take back the govt. who knew whey wanted to take us back to the 1800's. Will we women lose the vote next if these tea baggers keep at it. Rep Kelly is a woman hating idiot.
Free contraceptives have been around since the early 70 & girls can go to the county health department without their parents permission, all they need is to get of the lazy hind-ends. Sorry birth-control doesn't cost that much unless you go to the high price doctors. Wow & guess what, haven't seen much decrease in the areas of : abortion rates, poverty rates or decrease the burden of our public school or even child abuse & neglect. All I see here is a government re-enforcing the old belief that women are so weak & ignorant they can't do anything without male government guidance.
Welcome one & all to "The Untied Police States of America" where only your government knows best.
Let me see if I have this right...he opposes contraception and also opposes social services for the many unwanted kids born to unfit and financially strapped parents. Sounds solid counselor....maybe we should compare his religious fanaticism to the lunatics that drove the planes into the buildings??
Besides the Catholic who else is opposing contraception? People are saying buy your own. It is not the government or fellow Americans who are breeding unwanted kids. Don't want kids, can't afford birth control go without until you can. No one needs sex to live. I am not religious at all however I believe individuals should take responsibility not just for their action but for the life/lives they bring into this world. The people I hear saying the need other people to provide for them & their brood are also the ones who don't to have any problems purchasing, tobacco products, alcohol drinks, make-up, hair dyes, movies, drugs, tattoos & new tech devices, so why shouldn't they provide their contraceptives & doctor appointments.
A ha ha ha ha. Man, what an idiotic, insulting statement. Mike Kelly is clearly a buffoon.
Republicans are right, a Bush was reading children's books during 9/11 & Pearl Harbor - GOP are very smart, as @!$%#z.
Well another politician massively over reacts yet again.
It is hardly the end of the world.
Even amongst the religious community the majority of women have used birth control at some point in their lives.
You are right. I guess Rep. Kelly has never masturbated and let all those sperm go into the sock or towel or whatever....As ridiculous as Monty Python's "Every sperm is sacred"...the difference??? Monty Python are comedians....so is Rep. Kelly. Oh wait. HE IS SERIOUS. AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! gimme a break.
And look how frustrated he is! He definitely needs to rub one off.
Funny, I was just talking to a friend about my fathers experiences in World War II and the deaths and other horrors he saw while serving and how these images haunted him as he carried them silently until he was near death and felt he needed to tell someone to help relieve his pain he'd been carrying for almost 50 years. It was the first time I heard my father cry and the last time I could speak to him before the cancer took him. And now I hear members of the United States Congress comparing a health care regulation to Pearl Harbor. How dare you? HOW DARE YOU?!!!!!!!!
My condolences for your loss, my father was also a WWII veteran of the Pacific theatre
This type of hyberbole is an insult to "the greatest generation"
One more "free" thing for Americans and women. I'm a woman and we can't afford Obama/Biden 2012. Talk about pandering for votes.
No, you are wrong. What kind of woman are you that you don't think that women deserve to have free contraception? Not just for birth control, but for other female issues? Stupid or delusional?
No what we can't afford iswomen's rights being sent to the the early 20th century. You think that others should have a say in what women do with their bodies?
If you don't want birth control, then don't take it. TLC only have room for so-many large family reality shows.
BTW, you are no woman.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012! we got it straight in 08
Really??? I'm Delusional??? You think it's going to be free. lol
I was a single mom for six years and I didn't have to have any assistance of any kind. I used to have people like you say "I can't believe you work"...to this I would reply "I can't believe you don't think I have to." It's just a whole different mindset. I understand that you don't get that it's frankly not surprising.
Free vasectomies for all males!!!! and viagra too!!! Men are being discriminated against.
Very simple folks, if you don't believe in birth control, then don't take it. But don't think you will denie me or my daughter our right to control our own bodies.
Ladies, you may think you are not a feminist but if you want to remain in control of you vagina - YOU ARE A FEMINIST!
Republican must be stopped and voted out.
STOP THE WAR ON WOMEN!
FORWARD!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012! WE GOT IT STRAIGHT IN 08
It's Papapalooza!!!
He's a medieval moron. Comparing it to a military sneak attack and a terrorist attack? How do these extremists (on either side) get elected? Do they reflect their constituencies feelings or is this their own warped thinking? Just because these contraceptives are being made available does not mean that people that object to them have to take them. Its all about individual choice - not robotic response to one groups views. I would rather a few cents of my taxes to go to birth control to avoid an unwanted pregnancy or an abortion.
We had 8 years, 8 YEARS of George and Dick...I wondered the same thing myself. That was bad enough, but this is just down right frightening. VOTE THEM OUT!
This intolerant d bag makes me ashamed to be a a Pennsylvanian!
How is it that your state keeps electing these idiots? First Spamtorum and now this clown?!! Have all you Pennsylvanians started swallowing drano or something? Un-frickin-real!!!
Didn't vote for any of these clowns now in office - we have been known for our more moderate politicians on both sides - not any more.
Republitard "rational thinking" at its finest!!
Ladies - If the statement by this moron does not CLEARLY show you that the party that espouses "less government intrusion" is really a fox in sheep's clothing then nothing will. These religious zealots will stop at nothing to force their ideology on your bodies.
March this numb-nuts out of Congress, immediately..
A very typical Republican response. World is overpopulated now, yet any aid for those in need, they oppose. Their beliefs seem to be that the more people on the face of the earth, the lower the wages the big shots have to pay out.
Don't they know that contraceptives are part of MARRIED COUPLES family planning. Don't they know that some forms of contraceptives help MARRIED WOMEN with many gynecological problems other than preventing pregnancy. Work on jobs please!
What a friggin' D-bag!!! Sounds like my idiot (R) congress crook. Her only purpose seems to be providing double-X chromosome photo ops with Boehner.
Ronald Regean supported a Guatemalan dictator in brought him to the white house and treated him like a king. This dictator killed 200,000 mayans. Any outrage about that?? Republicans are such hypocrites.
"The civil war took a turn for the worse in the early 1980's, when the Guatemalan army, backed by the CIA, began a campaign of genocide against the Maya peoples."
I have now, officially, heard it all.
Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly (R) is one of the stupidest person when he compares the Contraceptive medications being made available to the women as equal to Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centers in NY. This provision gives the women who would like not to have children-PERSONAL FREEDOM and PERSONAL CHOICE of not having children if they so choose. No one is forcing them to use contraception. Insurance is a system to cover the risk. It is so pathetic to see such politicians making such nonsensical statements.