The Shrub is at it again

[helwen]

If you're for Bush doing this, feel free to ignore this post and please, don't bother commenting to me that you're against contraception. If you're against the Bush administration redefining contraception as abortion, then read on:

Can you imagine living in a place where birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception?

It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive freedom and protect rape victims. And this proposed "rule change" doesn't need congressional approval.

I just signed a message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change, telling him: "Contraception is NOT abortion." Can you add your voice to this cause? Click here to sign the message: http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/?r_by=-3009325-t7yTcfx&rc=paste

Comments

[nq3x.livejournal.com]

Saw this rear its ugly head before Pennsic here on LJ. It's dangerously insidious, and must be stopped.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Let's hope we can...

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Still looking for the text of the proposed amendment-- the NYT at one point linked to part of it-- but I happened across a blog that actually gave me a reason to get upset, though I'm still pissed by the blatant twisting of the original story. ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/washington/15rule.html?_r=1&oref=slogin ) It's certainly possible that all the writers of these articles have also seen the proposed regulation and are not sharing, but I'm skeptical.

After all, the regulation, if put in place, *would* deny federal moneys to agencies who would not hire anti-abortion/contraception staff. I.E. Planned Parenthood and other organizations like them. And that's worth getting worried about.

[harpnfiddle.livejournal.com]

I don't see why government has to legislate stuff like this - yes it is government money, but why get so nit-picky about who can have the money. Most of the birth-control that they want to lump in with "abortion" doesn't even work that way. It's only because _rarely_ it could cause the expulsion of a fertilized egg, that they want it classified this way. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Agreed, stupid. sigh

[baavgai.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm just waiting the fascist pretender out at this point and hoping he can't do too much more damage before then. Obviously, he's intent on leaving a scar as deep and ugly as possible.

Just keep thinking Jan-20, maybe get a clock (http://www.backwardsbush.com/). ;)

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it would appear this is something the admin can do before Jan 20. Always harder to un-do things than to prevent them from happening...

[baavgai.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I suspect it will take at least a couple of administrations, if not three or four, to completely undo the vivisection of the Constitution that this one had done. Even then, it won't be quite the same.

Amazingly, this pretender hasn't really been the worst in terms of liberty stomping. We should expect a reasonably fully recovery, some day.

Given the pendulum nature of public opinion there is a possibility of outcry over the Christian Fundamentalist agenda in the future. Eventually. I hope.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Given the pendulum nature of public opinion there is a possibility of outcry over the Christian Fundamentalist agenda in the future. Eventually. I hope.

I hope so too!

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

and health insurers won't cover it

well....they didn't pay for it until rather recently - when Viagra came out.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Didn't pay for contraception? Any insurance coverage I've had has always covered it. Not that I need it anymore, but I was on birth control pills off and on for some years.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

Many people didn't: http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91538

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Interesting, thanks. I didn't even know that MA didn't have coverage - I had coverage (with a co-pay of course) since '82, and that was initially through UMass as a student.