What We're Reading This Morning -- April 12
Spread the word
|
|
It’s another busy day in the political world, as Mitt Romney continues to fumble on women’s issues. Yesterday, his campaign stumbled when asked whether Romney supported equal pay for women. Really? And even though Rick Santorum has exited the political race, his ideas live on in his anti-women’s health cohort, Mitt Romney. This morning, we released a new Web ad showing just how similar Mitt Romney is to Rick. Make sure to watch!
Here’s what we’re reading this morning….
Obama campaign manager sends out an e-mail on the top five things you should know about Mitt Romney. We couldn’t agree more with the first two reasons. “Obama campaign: Five things you should know about Mitt Romney” – “Hoping to energize the base and define Mitt Romney for the general electorate, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina emails supporters five things about Mitt Romney: 1. Romney's positions are the most radically anti-women of any candidate in a generation: He supports banning all abortions, backed a so-called "personhood" amendment that could make certain forms of birth control illegal, and says he would "get rid of" federal funding for Planned Parenthood that provides preventive services like cancer screenings for millions of women. 2. Romney would repeal Obamacare. Insurance companies would once again be allowed to run up premiums, unjustifiably deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, drop patients when they get sick, discriminate against women by charging them more for coverage than men, and spend more of your premium dollars on CEO profits and bonuses instead of your actual health care.”
The fight for comprehensive women’s health care in Texas continues. “Planned Parenthood sues Texas over exclusion” – “AUSTIN, Texas — Eight Planned Parenthood organizations sued Texas on Wednesday for excluding them from participating in a program that provides contraception and check-ups to women, saying the new rule violates their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and association. The groups, none of which provide abortions, contend in the federal lawsuit that a new state law banning organizations affiliated with abortion providers from participating in the Women's Health Program has nothing to do with providing medical care and is simply intended to silence individuals or groups who support abortion rights. Texas law already requires that groups receiving federal or state funding be legally and financially separate from clinics that perform abortions. ‘The government cannot condition your participation in the health services on giving up your free speech,’ said Pete Shenkken, the plaintiffs' attorney, citing past U.S. Supreme Court rulings.”
A bad bill in Mississippi would threaten the health of the mother. “Mississippi Considers Banning Abortions 6 Weeks After Gestation, Even In Cases Where Women’s Health Is At Risk” – “Lawmakers in Mississippi have resurrected the so-called ‘heartbeat’ bill, a measure which ‘equates abortion of a fetus with a detectable heartbeat to child homicide.’ A physician who performs an abortion where a fetal heartbeat is present ‘could face the maximum 30 years’ and some women would be required to undergo ‘a transvaginal ultrasound to determine whether a fetal heartbeat is present.’ Under the measure, pregnancies that result from “rape or incest or that would endanger the life of the mother” are exempt from the requirement, but those that would pose health risks are not… ‘It makes reference to the life of the mother, but it has no exception for the health of the mother – both physical and mental health,’ Blackmon said.”
Melinda Gates stands up for women — believes we need to protect access to birth control across the globe because it’s about basic health care. It shouldn’t be controversial. “Melinda Gates Wants Birth Control to Be a Global Priority” – “In a TED Talk this month, Melinda Gates explained, ‘All men and women should be free to decide whether they do or do not want to conceive a child.’ While much of the debate on birth control concerns issues of abortion and immorality, Gates explained that contraceptives is not about promiscuity, but about women’s right to control over her own body and choice over her own life. ‘It is not code for abortion,’ she explained.”
