E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
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.
Leave a Comment:
Baseless, unconstitutional wars and the killing of innocent civilians are against my religion, yet I have to fund them with my tax dollars, too. The GOP is increasingly rendering themselves irrelevant with their myopic whining and complaining. They only want to protect life in the womb, and have little regard for it beyond that. They insist that women bring babies into the world, then refuse them any help.
You hit it - home run. I often feel like most of my tax dollars go for nothing. We have no business in Afghanistan, we should never have been in Iraq, why the hell do we give moneys to any other countries, I could go on and on. But put up something that American taxpayers do not have to pay for (insurance companies will) and the right wingnuts get their feelings hurt. Wasn't it the Republiclones who complained about health care for illegals, etc.? GIVE THEM CONTRACEPTION. As a matter of fact, we should offer any woman of child bearing age $2500 to get sterilized. There are too many people in this country, and way too many stupid. McDonalds should become a cyborg business.
As I understood it, the bill only provides women with additional options to afford contraception if they CHOOSE to use it. Representative Kelly is misrepresenting this as a REQUIREMENT for women. I really don't understand how someone with such a poor level of comprehension was able to make it into public office...
...he was a used car salesman (fact).
.I think there are many Republicans who fear for their jobs at this point and they will do anything to shore up their right wing religious base........no matter what they have to say.
Please dont lump all Republicans in with these narrow minded fools just because they are the loudest. Why shouldnt health insurance companies cover contraceptives if you choose to use it? Choice, that the most important part, whether its contraceptives or abortion. There are several issues I have with the GOP including this one and gay rights but I have more reasons to not to be a Democrat. I would register as an Independant but then it just means my vote does count!
Donna, the one Republican who we should care about is Mitt Romney, and what his position is on Abortion and Birth Control:
(Source: Obama and Romney: Where they stand on the issues, By CALVIN WOODWARD | Associated Press • Published August 01, 2012)
Those of you expressing confusion regarding the Republican positions on contraception and abortion (regarding how contraception of course reduces the number of abortions for unwanted pregnancy) must remember that the Republicans don't actually care one whit about fetuses, babies or children (if they did, their entire platform would be vastly different).
These pro-"life" hypocrites are not pro-life, that is merely their hypocritical political facade they use to fool voters into supporting them.
What they really care about is punishing women for having sex. Because sex is dirty and especially women having sex is evil.
When you look at the Republican positions from that perspective, everything because obvious and consistent.
amphiox,
Another inane, Far Left doorknob, post. Trying to convince us that the Democrat's are the saviors and the Republican's are the devil.
Every time you doorknobs try to make things fit in your little world, you ending up stinking up our Country a little bit more.
Welfare is the prime example. Democrats brag about how they created it and all the good it's done. In reality, you have ruined tens of millions of lives, creating deliberate, unnecessary dependency and then you have the audacity to say it's the Republicans fault. America is sick of you Far Lefties trying to engineer our lives. Try something new and productive for a change and mind your own business.
Dave, this is about contraceptives nothing more. Just as band-aids prevent infection contraceptives prevent conception. What's the difference?
The right wing is just flat wrong on this issue. They know it but they put up a fight to suit a political agenda.
They may not think it's obvious to most people but it is.
Mark,
This entire fiasco is about votes. I know it, you know it and the American people know it.
We'll see how it plays out in November.
On the republican side its about votes, otherwise he wouldn't be making such extreme, over the top analogies. He wanted maximum political coverage and he got it.
On the democrat side its about preventing pregnancies and treating contraception the same as any other health care issue, which of course it is.
Big difference.
Such fury from the Delusional Right side of the Republican Party. What kind of promise did this guy make to the Tea Party to make such an idiotic statement? What if they focus some of this concern on something significant, like gun control, a tax plan that doesn't rape the middle class or the sky high cost of college these days. Womens' health? Let us make our own decisions and keep your gnarly comments, political panderings and disingenuous concern to yourself. Shame on you for hijacking the truly sad national events of Pearl Harbor and 911 to use for your nonsense.
Attention Spartan,
Later today, Obama is announcing his latest mandate. Toilet paper, toothpaste and koolaid will will now be covered under his affordable health care act.
For his next, "freebies for votes" mandate, stay tuned.
Dave D-1046643...
Later today the Romney's will announce the purchase of another "dancing pony" in a continuing effort to help quell Ann's "medical" condition...again, AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE!
Trust me the Republicans don't care.
All their doing is keeping their corporate Daddy's from spending a buck more.
Simple as that....The religeous aspects are a smoke screen; problem is and this can be seen in other issue's they NEVER look at the big picture
Duh...Having kids cost more!
No one ever accused Republicans of being smart.
Good job GOP every day you force more to vote for President Obama.
Thank you.
Kevin,
You said one word in your post that I can connect you with. The word was "duh".
Dave
How does it feel showing that you are a consistent idiot? How will you feel when Obama is elected for another four years, not because he is a wonderful president (we all know he is not) but because the Republiclone party is directed by a core group of Puritans who are out of touch with mainstream America. Do you not hear the voices of women (who outnumber men in this country) seeing this election as an attack on their freedom? The only chance Mitt had was to show America how bad the Obama economy has become. Too many voters will no longer care about that thanks to these Limbaugh dittoheads. Deal with it!
Ok, now the Republicans are pushing back because it makes too much since. I am in total agreement with the compromise but it is more than a compromise. Think...why should a woman who is either beyond child-bearing years but still working, or a woman who can't children? The bigger picture is that it saves those consumers money on their healthcare which can be put back into the economy. This approach should be considered for all aspects of health insurance. If you can medically prove that you are not exposed to certain conditions, why should you have to pay for it?
Those pesky women. Next thing they will want is equal rights with men.
Terrible isn't it, give em the vote and before you know it they want to control their own lives...tsk, tsk, tsk......!
No thank you moron. I don't want another man deciding what happens to MY body. Yes birth control should be covered under every insurance company. Any insurance company that claims catholic affiliation should not be allowed to be affiliated with medicaid or any like it. I think it is also about time that religions like catholic and christian read up and learn exactly what birth control is used for. It's not only to control birth, but it used in many other forms, such as helping women who can't regulate their cycle, PCOS, and many other female reproductive issues. If i would have had access to birth control, i may not have the 5 kids that i have now. Now don't get me wrong, i wanted 5, but just not so close together. I love my babies with all my heart. Think about it this way, many women in the U.S are rapped each year, resulting in an extremely unwanted pregnancy. Now those pregnancies may not happen if every woman has access to birth control without having to pay outrageous prices for it. It's also a shame that my doctor had to lie to an insurance company in order to get my tubes tied. I had a major health scare, in which i was told the best option for me and my health was to do this, so that i can get the issue under control without interference. I am grateful for that doctor and the decision he made, but it should not have had to be made. Wake up congress and take a good look at what is going on before u compare birth control to 2 huge tragidy's. I dare anybody to sit here and tell me that it's ok for a man to decide what a woman can and cannot do to her body. Good luck on this election, it should be interesting to see just how many republicans make it into congress.
Just a normal person. First we have no rights, then we do (which makes us equals). With all do respect, men and women should be treated as equals, if not more. It is we women who carry u men into this world, then we nurture and protect until u move out of the house, and beyond that. Or are u forgetting that their are single mothers because men choose to walk out of those childrens lives. Then those single mothers fight tooth and nail to give those children everything they need, and sometimes that means going on welfare because there just are no jobs that will pay enough to support them. We sometimes have to lay our children to rest before their time, without those children every knowing their father. Everyone says if we can just get unwanted pregnancies under control, we might be able to start bouncing back in the economy, and having a lower number of people applying for it. And in order to do that, we need insurance companies to offer birth control. And to stop insurance companies from claiming religious affiliation in order to not have to comply. We are not in the dark ages, we have the right to say how many children we want. It's not really up to a man, although his input is most appreciated, but we know what our bodies can handle, and not every woman wants more than 10 kids. So before you go making lousy comments like then, think before you speak!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is called free choice, lots of religious men have this crazy idea that it is okay for them to decide how women will live....make no mistake, all their wives can fly off to Europe for their abortions.....
Yep. And many of those religious men have been caught with pros. But that is OK, they just repent and God forgives them.
Do you need any further evidence that Republicans are out of touch with reality?
Providing czncer screening and contraception coverage for American women is, to these (apparently ignorant) blow-hards, the same thing as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the Saudi attacks on the world trade Center and the Pentagon?
Really?
Can you believe these right-wing extremists are actually dumb enough to come up with this crap?
They seem to have NO capacity for embarressment.
They just aren't smart enough to be put in a position to be in charge of anything, and this is a fine example thereof...
I can't wait to hear his views on Fluoridation.
Wow--whether you are pro-choice or pro-life this is ridiculous. To compare contraception to such vividly horiffic historical events is absurd. That is a slap in the face to those people and really uncalled for.
I just rec'd an Amendment to Your Benefits Policy on my medical insurance that I pay a great deal of money for- out of my own pocket. It is telling me that where before I was not covered for contraceptives, my benefits now include coverage for contraceptive drugs and covered contraceptive drug delivery devices. Would like to know how this compares to Pearl Harbor and 911. By the way, my father served in World War II and my son has served in Iraq. Dont much care for the comparison.
The American Taliban is determined to impose it's Christian version of sharia law upon American women, face veils and floor length dresses are not far behind
Yep, like something out of "The Handmaids Tale"....
Why do these fat old male politicians seem to think that they have the right to dictate to women reproductive rights?
Any woman who doesn't vote Democrat in the general election is a disgrace to her gender. Come to think of it, the Republican Party is a disgrace to the nation.
Obama/Biden 2012
Okay, I've had a long time to think about it[and it sure was a tough choice!] and am hereby stating my official opinion that 911 was a little bit worse than providing contraceptive care. No more tough choices please, I need a break now...
"Republican likens contraceptive mandate to Pearl Harbor, 9/11"
A rather poor, to say the least, headline considering the content of the Article. There was no "likens". Go NBC, take it out of context and run it as a headline. I recall a similar. but even more outrageous thing when you deliberately cut the Zimmerman 911 tape to totally misrepresent its true content. You also failed to report on Holder's letter to the 5th circuit, never even mentioning that it existed, I suspect because it was embarrassing to Obama. Google - "Holder 5th Circuit letter" and you should find it.
I guess if you're stupid enough to think Zimmerpig is innocent, you're stupid enough to vote republican...
I commented that NBC doctored the tape which NBC has admitted. I made no comment on Zimmerman's guilt or innocence nor my party affiliation if any. Did you go to first grade? Can you read an intelligent paragraph?
Lol, your post made it crystal clear to me that you are a full-blown Zimmerdummie Gil, as well a a right wing nutjob Obama hater, and I'm guessing a birther too
Leroy brown: You are clearly bigoted. IF I said that I don't like Obama, you would say "that's because he is black".
My above comments only state that I do not like the news media to lie to the American people, withhold extremely news worthy events because airing them would embarrass the administration, and to falsifying evidence so as to sway public opinion and potentially deprive a person of a fair trial. If you have any problem with that move to Iran.
Republicans have a real knack for mellow-drama. Back in 1998 they compared Clinton lying about a hummer to D-Day.
NO MAN WOMAN OR CHILD WILL TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT DO WITH MY OWN BODY!!!! These teabaggers and repUbs are disgusting, scare mongerers and liars. You want 400 kids then have them - but leave me the f.... out of your religious fanatical beliefs. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU BELIVE IN and I don't want your outrageous beliefs forced on me - NOT NOW NOT EVER!!!! I am so absolutely disgusted and appauled that these people think they have the right to tell me what I can and can not do as a women - then try to take away my medicare and social security on top of it. PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE SURE PRESIDENT OBAMA IS RE-ELECTED. THIS WILL BE DISASTROUS FOR US ALL IF HE - GOD FORBID - DOESN'T GET RE ELECTED!!!! I am going to start volunteering for the democratic national committee and do anything i can to help.
NYC is busy doing that right now...be it soda or baby formula, the nanny state is taking over your body and your freedom. Might want to stop, open your eyes, engage your brain, and THINK.
American politicians have become the laughingstock of the world. Too bad they are also in control of the most powerful military on earth.
Yeah, America is kind of funny and scary at the same time. The big, strong, dim-witted bully of the world's countries.
Thankfully, Obama is in charge of the military for now. If Democrats can manage to get to the polls this November, he'll be in charge for the next 4 years also. He may be a politician but he's a million times better than GWB or god forbid, Romney.
Strange how the repugnutones reason this is a mandate that attacks religious freedom. It mandates the availability of contraceptives at no cost, not their use. Employers are not forced to offer contraceptives to women who don't want them, only to offer insurance plans that offer contraceptives. Does the employers' religious view on birth control trump the freedoms of all his employees? If so, doesn’t that sound a lot like that Shariah law the teabaggers have been so worried about. Comparing this issue to Pearl Harbor or 9-11, is disgusting and only serves to illustrate the total disconnect these zealots have with reality.