The Political Voices of Women

Today’s New York Times reports that a proposed rule circulation through the Department of Health and Human Services:

… defines abortion as follows: “any of the various procedures — including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.” [emphasis mine]

Remember, the right-wing religious zealots are not going to overturn Roe v. Wade because it is easier just restrict abortion (and birth control) until it is safe, legal, and never accessible.

We already know that John McCain doesn’t want women to have a choice when it comes to abortion, but it’s also clear that he doesn’t think giving women more access to birth control is very important. Since more access to birth control is clearly something that would reduce the need for women to have an abortion, it seems McCain is at best clueless, or at worst just doesn’t care about women.

From Pam’s House Blend…

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Cathleen Decker apparently did some homework, and put Sen. McCain on the spot for votes on regarding making birth control mandatory for health insurance coverage. Per a story in the Los Angeles Times, apparently McCain twice voted against measures that would have required insurance companies to cover birth control — in both 2003 and 2005.

Watch Sen. McCain get really uncomfortable as he’s pressed on the issue:

—
I think the telling line is that video is:

It’s…ah…something that I had not thought much about…

Not thinking about fairness between men’s and women’s healthcare coverage; not thinking about women’s issues and women’s healthcare…well!

And as has apparently happened frequently before, Sen. McCain can’t seem to remember much about issues he’s voted on that impact a voting demographic he allegedly wants to cut into…D’oh!

From The Huffington Post…

How damaging is this video, now spreading around the web, showing John McCain squirming, stumbling, and then claiming ignorance about his position on providing women with birth control?

Apparently, very damaging. A Democratic Party strategist familiar with internal polling said McCain’s two votes against requiring insurance companies to cover prescription birth control have been polled in battleground states and had tremendous resonance with women, including independents and Republicans.

From Planned Parenthood…

“Time after time, Sen. McCain has shown that he is out of touch when it comes to women’s health care,” said Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Action Fund president. “Birth control is basic health care for women. But yesterday, Sen. McCain ducked a straightforward question about whether he thinks insurance companies should cover birth control. Women in America are still waiting for his answer.”

In 2003, McCain voted NO on the Murray Amendment (S.Amdt 258 to S. 3, vote 45, 3/11/03), which would have improved the availability of contraceptives for women and required insurance coverage of prescription birth control.

Also See:

Is John McCain Pro-Choice?

Are Reproductive Rights Important To Women Voters?

What do you think? Does McCain Care about women’s issues? Are you a woman planning to vote for McCain?  How do you feel about his position of reproductive rights?  Let me know in comments.

Jane Fonda on the Problem of Teen Pregnancy

This is an excerpt from BlogHer Contributing Editor Suzanne Reisman’s post, on how women vote when it comes to reproductive rights.

Maybe people don’t prioritize reproductive rights as an issue in this election because they think neither candidate really opposes them. For example, Planned Parenthood produced a short (and entertaining) video about McCain’s track record on the issues vs. Bush’s, and most people were unaware that McCain is even more extreme than Bush in some instances. For example, he does not believe that insurance companies should be required to cover birth control. (And if you think that this won’t happen, the movement to ban the pill is well underway. Allowing insurance to deny prescription drug coverage to women for ideological purposes is only step one.)

When people learn what a candidate’s position on reproductive rights is, does that change their perception of the candidate? (If yes, I’m assuming this means that the reproductive rights issue is actually very important to voters, but they don’t realize it because they don’t think that the election will jeopardize them.) Arianna Huffington at The Huffington Post reports that:

Over half of all women in these states have no idea what McCain’s positions are on reproductive health. Forty-nine percent of women in battleground states who currently favor McCain are pro-choice. Twenty-three percent of them believe McCain agrees with them on choice.

Read Suzanne’s full post at BlogHer

Pro-Life group has a Pro-Choice site that is really Anti-Choice. What will they think of next?

From Jessica at Feministing…

Before today, I never visited prochoice.com. And I’m sincerely hoping others haven’t either. Because the site, rife with rhetoric about ‘choice’, is actually an anti-choice website that contains gems such as “[abortion is] the death of another less developed human being” and “the dirty little secret is that Abortion providers are interested in their bottom line YOUR MONEY.”

The bullshit goes on and on, in all of their sections on adoption, abortion and parenthood. The kicker? There’s a little “Under Development” icon of a waving (yes, waving) fetus.

Consider my day ruined.

Have you heard about this? What do you think?

Why Would Clinton Supporters Vote For McCain? – by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at BlogHer)

I think all the talk about women supporters of Hillary Clinton, voting for John McCain, is being overblown by the media. Shocking.

Yes, it has been a tough time to be a Hillary supporter. And yes, there are a lot of fresh wounds that will take time to heal. However, I do believe that most women who supported Hillary, did so because of her positions on the issues, and not just because she is a woman. For that reason, I have to believe that after careful consideration of the issues (especially women’s issues), Clinton supporters will see that a vote for McCain, would be a vote against women.

For the record, I admit…I’m still holding out hope for the dream ticket. But, no matter how this all shakes out, come November, I’m voting Democrat.

Here is some of what other bloggers are saying about this issue…

Will Pro-Choice Women Vote For McCain?

Following up on my post from yesterday on John McCain’s bid for Hillary Clinton’s female voters, I see my good friend Arianna Huffington has finally joined the ranks of pro-choice bloggers and writes about a promising poll by Planned Parenthood. The poll concludes that many of McCain’s supporters in swing states are pro-choice, and don’t realize what a reactionary barbarian he is when it comes to a woman’s right to control her own body.

From an Open Letter to Women Supporters of Hillary Clinton

I have family members who have strong ties to Bill and Hillary, one of whom campaigned with them during the primaries. I can’t tell you the love and admiration she has for the Clintons. However, she is going to set aside her personal feelings and work hard to ensure an Obama presidency. She is well-aware of the consequences if he is not elected.

You may choose to follow Hillary’s lead and switch your allegiance to Obama. You may also choose not to vote; or (as some of you have indicated) vote for John McCain The latter two options are one-in-the-same. Since record numbers of Democratic voters are expected to turn out for November’s elections vs. a lesser amount of Republican voters, a non-vote will essentially benefit McCain.

Should you choose to vote for McCain, you would be wise to study up on McCain’s positions regarding issues which are important to most women.

White Women To vote Against Reproductive Rights

Yeah, that’ll show him!

John McCain is in favor of forced pregnancy, but these women would rather vote for him than Obama.

John McCain’s healthcare plan is “let the market handle it” (like it has been handling it so far), but these women would rather vote for him than Obama.

John McCain is obsessed with fighting wars and extending the war of choice on Iraq, but these women would rather vote for him than Obama.

Why? Because they seem to feel that Hillary Clinton is somehow entitled to the nomination, despite the fact that she didn’t get the votes.

A Hidden Well: Obama in 08…

I just ordered an Obama in 08 bumper sticker from moveon.org. Hillary was my candidate of choice, for many reasons, but mainly because she has been a champion for women’s reproductive rights, justice, and health for thirty years. However, the reality is that Barack Obama, not Hillary Clinton, has been chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee. And sure, I experienced some initial disappointment over this. But it is what it is, as my friend Jayne would say. So now I’m ready to step up to the plate in support of Obama and do everything in my power to make sure that he is elected the next president of the United States.

Also See:

Where The Candidates Stand On Reproductive Rights

Linda Hansen: Little Women…a sad story of stereotypes.

Welcome to The Now: “What’s He Going to Do For Women”

Washington Wire – Abortion Rights Advocates Take Aim At McCain

Is John McCain a Pro-Choice Republican?

Women’s Vote Up For Grabs

Citizen Mom: What Would Alice Paul Do?

Are you a woman who was supporting Hillary Clinton? Will you now support Barack Obama? What are the chances you would vote for John McCain? Are you mad enough to risk another four years of Republicans in the White House?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan, also at catherine-morgan.com and Care2 Election Blog

This is from a post Morra Aarons has done for The Huffington Post – Thanks for the link Morra.

Pass It On: 75% of Pro-Choice Voters Need To Know The Truth – John McCain Does Not Support A Woman’s Right To Choose.

Among McCain’s pro-choice women supporters, 50% don’t know his positions and an additional 25% assume his views are in line with their own! McCain has stated (it’s on his website) he thinks Roe v. Wade should be overturned.**

McCain’s reputation on choice is a favorable grey area for him among women voters. In a post on BlogHer, Catherine Morgan asked: “Is John McCain a Pro-Choice Republican? Would you vote for him if he was? There seems to be a lot of confusion over whether or not John McCain is pro-choice or pro-life. Why is that”?

We need to work to end this confusion. If you are pro-choice it is your job to tell the truth about John McCain! McCain’s record is really, really anti-choice. Not only anti-choice, but anti-sex ed, anti-emergency contraception, and anti-women.

Catherine suggested we “put a call out to the other bloggers who read it, to post on their sites about ending this confusion”? So here’s a start. Help us end the confusion: Please click here to read the record and find a printable flyer to spread around.

READ FULL POST BY MORRA ON THE HUFFINGTON POST

You can also find Morra Aarons at BlogHer and Women and Work

This is from a post by Morra Aarons at BlogHer.

75% of pro-choice voters need to know the truth about McCain

Among McCain’s pro-choice women supporters, 50% don’t know his positions and an additional 25% assume his views are in line with their own! McCain has stated (it’s on his website) he thinks Roe v Wade should be overturned.

Catherine Morgan asked: “Is John McCain a Pro-Choice Republican? Would you vote for him if he was? There seems to be a lot of confusion over whether or not John McCain is pro-choice or pro-life. Why is that”? I agree, Catherine, but we need to work to end this confusion. If you are pro-choice it is your job to tell the truth about John McCain! McCain owes much of his success among independents and moderates because of glowing press coverage about his bi-partisanship and McCain’s success at creating a false sense of his principles. But on choice, McCain’s record is really, really anti-choice. Not only anti-choice: anti-sex ed, anti-emergency contraception, anti-women. Please click here to read the record and find a printable flyer to spread around.

A new poll from Planned Parenthood/Hart Research shows . . .

READ FULL POST AT BLOGHER

Is John McCain a Pro-Choice Republican? Would you vote for him if he was? – by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at BlogHer)

There seems to be a lot of confusion over whether or not John McCain is pro-choice or pro-life. Why is that? Up until a few hours ago, I would have said I thought he was pro-choice. Maybe it has something to do with Republicans For Choice supporting John McCain?

Our first choice, Rudy Giuliani, did not win. He ran a campaign with a risky strategy and it didn’t work. But our number two choice did win…John McCain. McCain came in second in a survey of our membership.

While he is personally “pro life” he has time and again reached out and worked with people across the spectrum. We know we can work with him to create common ground that will allow moderates and conservatives to come together to rebuild the GOP.

But apparently, there is quite a bit of evidence that he is pro-life. What do you think? Is John McCain a pro-choice Republican? Do Republicans just want Democrats to think McCain is pro-choice? Or, is he attempting to play both sides of the issue? Nooooo, politicians never do that. So then, why does there seem to be a perception that John McCain is pro-choice?

Let’s take a look at some of the evidence that supports the fact that John McCain is Pro-life, and why he would be bad for the pro-choice movement.

The REAL John McCain is not the “moderate maverick” the pundits like to swoon over. The REAL McCain has spent the last 25 years amassing one of the worst anti-choice voting records in Congress.

If elected president, he has pledged to be the anti-choice movement’s most faithful ally, carrying their water and enacting their dangerous agenda: “If I am fortunate enough to be elected as the next President of the United States, I pledge to you to be a loyal and unswerving friend of the right to life movement.” [Statement by Sen. McCain read by Sen. Sam Brownback at the March for Life in Washington, DC, January 22, 2008.]

On March 27, Elizabeth Shipp, Political Director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, answered member questions about John McCain.

See transcript from NARAL Pro Choice America Choice Chat

This is from a post by Emily Douglas at RealTime – Pro-Choice Group Endorses McCain…

Despite being a vocal opponent of legal abortion, McCain has never cosponsored or supported legislation that would lessen the need for abortion, like a bill expanding access to contraception. As NARAL Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan wrote on Bush v. Choice this morning, John McCain is not the “moderate maverick” the media makes him out to be. All the way back to 1987, McCain has never received higher than a 10 percent approval rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

“Most Americans don’t know that John McCain is extremely anti-choice,” Keenan wrote in a letter to supporters this morning. Indeed, McCain has bucked the party line on touchy issues like immigration and campaign finance reform. But on choice, he has been consistent — consistently opposed. A spokesperson for NARAL Pro-Choice America added, “We clearly categorize John McCain as anti-choice based on his 25 years of voting against women’s health and privacy. McCain has gone even further than Bush in calling for the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Describing McCain as anything but anti-choice is quite a stretch.”

So, what do you think? Is John McCain a pro-choice Republican? Or, is he a card-carrying pro-life conservative? If elected, would he be a threat to the pro-life movement? Or, would he be a threat to the pro-choice movement? Does his position on women’s reproductive rights affect whether or not your would vote for him?

Also See:

Why I’m Pro-Life by Shannon at BlogHer

and

Why I’m Pro-Choice by Marie Niles at BlogHer

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan CatherineBlogs, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

This is from a post at Rachel Joyce’s BlogSpot.

I’m getting really frustrated at the incorrect perceptions of Conservatism. I can explain it to individual people I meet (but I try not to ram politics down people’s throats). Politcians, the media and teachers have a long way to do to explain the difference between the political parties – I think people have had a fundamental misunderstanding since Thatcher and Major. Yes we are the party of free markets. People seem to get that. But most people seem to have no understanding of where we are or what we stand for, particularly in regard to society, poverty, education, healthcare and other social issues.

READ FULL POST AT Rachel Joyce’s BlogSpot