I can't say I am surprised- however, every time a 40-60 something year old white male politician gets science-y on women's reproductive health system a part of my soul dies. Or at least my uterus's soul.
What is it this time? State representative candidate Joe Walsh said this referring to an abortion exception for saving a women's life:
“with modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance” of a woman dying from childbirth. Walsh claimed pro-choice advocates simply used the prospect of maternal death “to make us look unreasonable.”
You can't find one instance? You aren't unreasonable?
Well, let's consult the facts shall we?
As a Global Studies major I get a great sense of satisfaction on researching things like a country's GPD, birth rates, age structure etc...
My favorite website for this is the CIA World Factbook.
Amnesty International has great resources for this type of research as well.
The CIA World Factbook states that as of 2010 the Maternal Mortality rate in the Unites States is 21 per 100,000 live births. The MMR is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes).
This brings the number to around 600 deaths each year caused by childbirth. The statement? ZERO the facts SIX HUNDRED.
The facts? Since Walsh made his statement he has tried to backtrack by saying that outside of "very rare circumstances ... an invasive and traumatic procedure like abortion is often, thankfully, not necessary to save the life of a mother."
Now what tends to happen after these gaffes is that the opponent will capitalize on the abortion issue and the moron who uttered the inaccuracies to begin with will start saying things like "Now all my opponent wants to talk about is abortion- I want to talk about the issues."
Here is what these gentlemen don't understand. When you say things that are blatantly untrue about the bodies, minds and rights of over half the population, you're going to realize that they care a lot about things like science, or personal experiences. Ask a women who has lost a child in order to save her own life what it feels like to have a rookie tea-party candidate say that she in fact doesn't exist.
It's kind of a big deal.
So Todd Akin, Roger Rivard and now Joe Walsh- why don't you consult women and the intelligent before laying down absolutes to show how despicable and out of touch you are with women and reality in general.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Binders Full of Women
Mitt Romney needed to recruit and collect women for his cabinet as Governor of Massachusetts...so what did he do?
He called for the BINDERS.
He called for the BINDERS.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Girls "rape easy"
Todd Akin believes women can stop themselves from getting pregnant should they encounter a "legitimate rape" but state representative Rep. Roger Rivard has a different spin on sexual assault.
In an award winning display of male ignorance Rivard (R, Wisconsin) told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that, “some girls just rape easy” in an interview Wednesday.
Though the Milwaukee Journal only reported in the interview yesterday, Rivard actually made his controversial remark in December, when he talked to The Chetek Alert newspaper about the case of a 17-year-old high school student who was charged with sexual assault after having sex with an underage girl in the band room. The legal age of consent is 16 in Wisconsin.
What's worse and super awkward is the way he later stated that the remark was "taken kind of out context."
So what did he mean?
Well apparently his father was offering the Rep. some advice on the case and he meant to convey that if "you do (have premarital sex), just remember, consensual sex can turn into rape in an awful hurry."
"Because all of a sudden a young lady gets pregnant and the parents are madder than a wet hen and she's not going to say, 'Oh, yeah, I was part of the program.' All that she has to say or the parents have to say is it was rape because she's underage. And he just said, 'Remember, Roger, if you go down that road, some girls,' he said, 'they rape so easy,'" Rivard said.
Great advice Dad- on the up side we can hope that this spells the end of this politicians career as Republicans are jumping in line to withdraw support.
Some men...insert funny comment about the mighty falling so easily.
In an award winning display of male ignorance Rivard (R, Wisconsin) told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that, “some girls just rape easy” in an interview Wednesday.
Though the Milwaukee Journal only reported in the interview yesterday, Rivard actually made his controversial remark in December, when he talked to The Chetek Alert newspaper about the case of a 17-year-old high school student who was charged with sexual assault after having sex with an underage girl in the band room. The legal age of consent is 16 in Wisconsin.
What's worse and super awkward is the way he later stated that the remark was "taken kind of out context."
So what did he mean?
Well apparently his father was offering the Rep. some advice on the case and he meant to convey that if "you do (have premarital sex), just remember, consensual sex can turn into rape in an awful hurry."
"Because all of a sudden a young lady gets pregnant and the parents are madder than a wet hen and she's not going to say, 'Oh, yeah, I was part of the program.' All that she has to say or the parents have to say is it was rape because she's underage. And he just said, 'Remember, Roger, if you go down that road, some girls,' he said, 'they rape so easy,'" Rivard said.
Great advice Dad- on the up side we can hope that this spells the end of this politicians career as Republicans are jumping in line to withdraw support.
Some men...insert funny comment about the mighty falling so easily.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Suprise! Free Contraception=Fewer Abortion
The Associated Press published an article this morning with the results of a large study on the relationship between free contraception and abortions. The results? Free birth control led to dramatically lower rates of abortions and teen births. What a surprise....
You can read the full article here.
But don't think that this study has swayed the opinions of the naysayers- here's a taste of the rhetoric from conservative Jeanne Monahan of the Family Research Council-
She suggested contraceptive use can encourage riskier sexual behavior.
"Additionally, one might conclude that the Obama administration's contraception mandate may ultimately cause more unplanned pregnancies since it mandates that all health plans cover contraceptives, including those that the study's authors claim are less effective,"
Good grief.
You can read the full article here.
But don't think that this study has swayed the opinions of the naysayers- here's a taste of the rhetoric from conservative Jeanne Monahan of the Family Research Council-
She suggested contraceptive use can encourage riskier sexual behavior.
"Additionally, one might conclude that the Obama administration's contraception mandate may ultimately cause more unplanned pregnancies since it mandates that all health plans cover contraceptives, including those that the study's authors claim are less effective,"
Good grief.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Happy World Contraception Day!
World Contraception Day is a holiday that I can get behind.
Family Planning makes sense- fiscally and environmentally. The best place to be is one where you can decide when to have children and achieve a better life for them when you do.
Family Planning makes sense- fiscally and environmentally. The best place to be is one where you can decide when to have children and achieve a better life for them when you do.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Endorse this
I want to point out how the issue of abortion is being talked about within the context of the Democratic convention.
Anatomically speaking, the Democratic party has a much higher batting average than there Republican counterparts.
Nancy Keenan kicked serious ass in her talk about women not being able to trust Mitt Romney. She mentioned Sandra Fluke and the fact that Obama supported her and spoke out about Rush Limbaugh's insane incorrect tirade. She pointed out that the affordable care act offered women no-cost birth control and crucial reproductive services to all women.
Reproductive right's are a main artery for the Democratic convention in part because it's a vote getter and in part because the Republican party passed an anti-abortion bill to the extent of a ban EVEN in the case of rape.
I predict this continues for the remainder of the speeches and that Barack himself gets a slam dunk- fist pumping "Hell yes" from me when he nails this in his acceptance speech.
Anatomically speaking, the Democratic party has a much higher batting average than there Republican counterparts.
Nancy Keenan kicked serious ass in her talk about women not being able to trust Mitt Romney. She mentioned Sandra Fluke and the fact that Obama supported her and spoke out about Rush Limbaugh's insane incorrect tirade. She pointed out that the affordable care act offered women no-cost birth control and crucial reproductive services to all women.
Reproductive right's are a main artery for the Democratic convention in part because it's a vote getter and in part because the Republican party passed an anti-abortion bill to the extent of a ban EVEN in the case of rape.
I predict this continues for the remainder of the speeches and that Barack himself gets a slam dunk- fist pumping "Hell yes" from me when he nails this in his acceptance speech.
Monday, August 27, 2012
What RAPE? Methods of Conception don't change Paul Ryan
According to Paul Ryan abortion is never an acceptable option. But what about in the case of Rape?
Even the most pro-life of opinions will often make an exception for the instance of forced sex. Sure, women who get pregnant by someone other than a Rapist can lie in the bed they made themselves (umm...). Those women are sluts who can only blame themselves for their wanton behavior.
But Rapists are evil, horrible, disgusting half people and if a women becomes pregnant by a rapist the rhetoric quickly changes, right?
Well, enter Mr. VP Nominee himself, Paul Ryan. He says "I'm really proud of my pro-life record and um I've always adopted the position that the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life.
Method of conception...hmmmm. So he's saying that rape is a "method of conception." First of all we should alert Todd Akin who is of the mindset that women's bodies have super anti-pregnant sparkles that rain through their vaginas when being raped. Second of all we should ask Mr. Ryan to perhaps think before he says something so insensitive and offensive. Of course unless he can say first hand that he has been methoded of conceptioned?
Ryan does go on to point out that it is the President who makes policy and he is not the one on the Romney/Ryan ticket that is going for that particular gig.
Romney- out of state with his party members who aline their thinking with Akin and Ryan- would create policy that did allow the exception of rape victims from abortion bans.
Even the most pro-life of opinions will often make an exception for the instance of forced sex. Sure, women who get pregnant by someone other than a Rapist can lie in the bed they made themselves (umm...). Those women are sluts who can only blame themselves for their wanton behavior.
But Rapists are evil, horrible, disgusting half people and if a women becomes pregnant by a rapist the rhetoric quickly changes, right?
Well, enter Mr. VP Nominee himself, Paul Ryan. He says "I'm really proud of my pro-life record and um I've always adopted the position that the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life.
Method of conception...hmmmm. So he's saying that rape is a "method of conception." First of all we should alert Todd Akin who is of the mindset that women's bodies have super anti-pregnant sparkles that rain through their vaginas when being raped. Second of all we should ask Mr. Ryan to perhaps think before he says something so insensitive and offensive. Of course unless he can say first hand that he has been methoded of conceptioned?
Ryan does go on to point out that it is the President who makes policy and he is not the one on the Romney/Ryan ticket that is going for that particular gig.
Romney- out of state with his party members who aline their thinking with Akin and Ryan- would create policy that did allow the exception of rape victims from abortion bans.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Todd Akin- "Oh wait, that's Duck's"
The backlash against Missouri Republican senatorial candidate Todd Akin continues to grow after Akin made the senseless remark that women could prevent themselves from getting pregnant in the instance of being raped.
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had his spokesperson report that in the case of a Romney/Ryan presidency the pair would not try to limit abortion access for rape victims. Which is a tremendous relief right? Not really, though it does serve the purpose of distancing themselves from Akin's asinine statement.
One of the most interesting articles that I've come across about the situation is from the website rawstory.
I didn't know this- but apparently female ducks have developed genitalia that can actually prevent sperm from forced penetrations from reaching the egg.
The scientist reporting stated:
“It shows that females are not passive in averting exploitation by males with large phalluses."
Another fact I did not know:
Waterfowl are among only three percent of birds with phalluses large enough to penetrate their female counterparts with or without consent.
Seriously though this article is a must read- go click the link above. I chose not to view the video of a duck penis at the end but if you do please feel free to comment.
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had his spokesperson report that in the case of a Romney/Ryan presidency the pair would not try to limit abortion access for rape victims. Which is a tremendous relief right? Not really, though it does serve the purpose of distancing themselves from Akin's asinine statement.
One of the most interesting articles that I've come across about the situation is from the website rawstory.
I didn't know this- but apparently female ducks have developed genitalia that can actually prevent sperm from forced penetrations from reaching the egg.
The scientist reporting stated:
“It shows that females are not passive in averting exploitation by males with large phalluses."
Another fact I did not know:
Waterfowl are among only three percent of birds with phalluses large enough to penetrate their female counterparts with or without consent.
Seriously though this article is a must read- go click the link above. I chose not to view the video of a duck penis at the end but if you do please feel free to comment.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Todd Akin thinks Rapes don't make Ladies Pregnant
In an utterly disgusting display of ignorance and "fake speak", Republican Todd Akin of Missouri had this to say when asked about abortions in the instance of rape:
"It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare,” Akin said, referring to conception following a rape. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child."
What the &^%*!
I'd like him to further explain the term "legitimate rape" for one and secondly I would LOVE to know what he knows about the female body and the reproductive system in general.
This type of rhetoric is anachronistic and dangerous. There are people who will listen to what this man has said and think that maybe we shouldn't allow rape victims to get abortions because after all if it was a legitimate rape they wouldn't have let their body become pregnant.
I'm pretty sure they used that argument in mid evil Europe to defend rapists.
I'm also sure that rape victims who have gotten pregnant due to being raped would have an interesting perspective to offer this clueless man.
"It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare,” Akin said, referring to conception following a rape. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child."
What the &^%*!
I'd like him to further explain the term "legitimate rape" for one and secondly I would LOVE to know what he knows about the female body and the reproductive system in general.
This type of rhetoric is anachronistic and dangerous. There are people who will listen to what this man has said and think that maybe we shouldn't allow rape victims to get abortions because after all if it was a legitimate rape they wouldn't have let their body become pregnant.
I'm pretty sure they used that argument in mid evil Europe to defend rapists.
I'm also sure that rape victims who have gotten pregnant due to being raped would have an interesting perspective to offer this clueless man.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)