Republicans have been taking solid stands against women’s rights. Their misogyny extends well beyond opposition to abortion. They are trying to present denying birth control to women as religious freedom. This is largely motivated by their fear that whites will become a minority, so to hold that off they are doing their best to keep women barefoot and pregnant. Rachel Maddow appeared on Meet the Press yesterday, when this issue was discussed.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow countered conservative criticism of the White House requiring religious organizations to provide insurance for birth control Sunday morning.
Appearing on a panel discussion on Meet The Press, Maddow defended the Obama administration’s decision from Republican strategist Alex Castellanos’ and New York Times columnist David Brooks’ criticism.
“80 percent of people say that insurance — anybody providing health insurance should be required to cover contraception,” she said. “So there is a way you can try to make this into a religious freedom issue. But all of the Republican field has gone very, very far right specifically on the issue of contraception and they get a great response for it from the Republican primary audience. But campaigning against the availability of birth control in America is going to run into a 21st century ceiling.”
Castellanos and Brooks unsurprisingly didn’t share Maddow’s sentiment, feeling that the administration was impeding on religious freedom.
However, Maddow and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) countered Castellanos and Brooks’ argument, mentioning how the decision from the Department of Health and Human services in 2011 was not about religious freedom, but the requirements of a health insurance provider… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Raw Story>
Here’s the video of Rachel owning Republicans on this and other subjects.
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The argument here is quite simple. When a church is functioning as a church, they have the prerogative to exercise their religious beliefs and forbid birth control to their congregants, most of whom ignore them anyway. But when a church endeavors to provide a business service, they must operate under the same rules that govern everyone else providing that service.
Beyond that, the Republican war on human rights must be stopped, because they are assaulting workers’ rights, others’ religious rights and minority tights in addition to women’s rights.
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From Raw Story — “Mitt Romney is campaigning saying that he would like to end-all family support at the federal level and eliminate that,” he said. “And Rick Santorum says he would like to make contraception illegal. And the Republican party is waging a war on contraception, and that is where the discussion is at.”
I find it interesting that Santorum, who argues for freedom of religion, foists the beliefs of his own Roman Catholic religion against contraception on all people thereby denying others that same freedom of religion that he wants. I agree with Rachel when she says that “. . .campaigning against the availability of birth control in America is going to run into a 21st century ceiling.” And in my view, that ceiling is the right of every woman to have control over her own body. For a party that claims to want less government, the Republican/Teabaggers sure do think that interferring in a woman’s life is important.
I agree with you TC, when a church is functioning as a church, it has the right to exercise its religious beliefs and forbid birth control to their congregants. But when a church endeavors to provide a business service, it must operate under the same rules that govern everyone else providing that same service.
Lynn, when a Republican say’s “freedom of religion” they mean freedom for one religion only: Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christianity. They believe in no freedom for any others.
religion and rights don’t mix – just one of several reasons I’m an atheist
I have no conflict with faith and rights, but some atheists are just as evangelical as the most rabid pseudo-Christian.
I agree with you TC, when a church is functioning as a church, it has the right to exercise its religious beliefs and forbid birth control to their congregants. But when a church endeavors to provide a business service, it must operate under the same rules that govern everyone else providing that same service.– Lynn Squance
Could not say it more clearly– Personally- I am sick to my teeth with these old religious perverts obsession with womens bodies and our right to choose medical care!! I am way past needing birth control or abortions—but dammit it was my right to choose what met my needs and it is the right of women coming after me—-The Christian Taliban at work again—just have babies that can’t be provided for- and when they die it’s just another soul in heaven!!
BASTARDS
Phyllis, I agree except for one thing. There is no Christian Taliban. It’s a pseudo-Christian Taliban, because authentic Christians respect the rights of those with differing beliefs.
Yes, TomCat, but most republicans are not real Christians! Real Christians support the sick and poor! So the republicans today are so far removed from the true concept of their beliefs they the Taliban to me too! I don’t understand what happened???
Well Sam, since the real Jesus support care for those in need, love for others, and truthfulness, Republicans had to invent their own Supply-side Jesus to justify their false gospel of greed, hate and lies.
I am not Christian, but I know the Bible warns against worshiping a false God and using God’s name in vain! That is the whole republican agenda! God is not racist! God loves everyone! I wish more people would wake up!!!!
That’s exactly my point.
If the Catholic church or any other denomination does not want to provide insurance coverng birth control, they should get out of the business of selling insurance.
True!
I just came across some thoughts from Kevin Drum at Mother Jones that speak eloquently on this issue that I hope you’ll agree are worth sharing:
Exactly!