In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

“Planned Parenthood: we’re going to get rid of that.” – Mitt Romney

Jill

Sure, he’s a totally moderate Republican who’s just a good businessman, right?

I actually don’t think Romney actually gives a fuck about Planned Parenthood. One year he loves ’em, the next year he hates ’em, whatever — homeboy will do or say whatever he needs to do or say to get elected. What’s scary is that if he is elected, he’ll be beholden to the party that got him there. And the GOP “base” are some scary folks — including people who are actively hostile to women’s basic health care needs, and would like to “get rid of” Planned Parenthood for that very reason.

What happens if you get rid of Planned Parenthood? You have a whole bunch of women, especially low-income women, who no longer have access to reproductive health care. The rate of birth control usage goes down. The abortion rate goes up. Complications from STIs increase. Fewer women have abnormal cervical cells or breast lumps caught early, and so rates of cancer increase. Literally not one good thing will happen if Planned Parenthood is destroyed.

I realize many people on the left are disenchanted with Obama. I am too! But between Romney and O, there are enormous differences. This is an important one.

15 thoughts on “Planned Parenthood: we’re going to get rid of that.” – Mitt Romney

  1. Literally not one good thing will happen if Planned Parenthood is destroyed.

    This is an abridgment of Freedom of Religion, Jill! You’re oppressing Real True Christians* by telling them their view of reality isn’t correct! (Also, that makes you a Bad Feminist! You’re intolerant of their intolerance!)

    All that matters is that they believe that destroying Planned Parenthood will magically end abortion. If only they get rid of Planned Parenthood, people will stop having premarital sex, no more babies will be born out of wedlock, God will cease causing life-threating pregnancy complications and fetal defects incompatible with life, and the Cubs will win the World Series.

    *Does not include mainline protestants, Catholics and Mormons except when it’s politically convenient, Baptists who have premarital sex, Evangelicals who think the Left Behind books suck, and Jimmy Carter.

  2. It’s important to point out, repeatedly, that the terrain does not match the GOP-map. That is, reality does not work the way they claim it “should”.

    Better access to reproductive healthcare services does not, in the real world make teenagers more promiscuous. Nor does it lower the average age of sexual debut. (not that that by itself is nessecarily always a bad thing)

    USA has 5 times the teenage-pregnancies of Scandinavia (pro capita), and much of this is down to poorer access to contraceptives. Planned Parenthood and suchlike are part of that, but it is really about the entire society. How does it influence the odds that a 16-year-old will get and use contraceptive pills if her family would be extremely upset and angry if they found out ? How much less likely are you to routinely carry condoms if you know your parents would totally flip out if they discovered ?

  4. Yep. Because subsidized contraceptives, Pap smears, and condoms are making America broke. The deficit has no relation to the US government’s habit of occupying & meddling in other people’s countries at all.

  5. “We’re gonna start drilling in the Gulf again”

    Yeah, because that totally didn’t fuck shit up in the past.

  6. All right, this makes me absolutely livid. There really isn’t a single redeeming quality about Romney.

    If Obama doesn’t win this election, this country is doomed. I lament the future of America when I see news like this.

  7. All I can say is that I’m strongly advocating for people to vote this year. I’m practically screaming it from the rooftops. Especially to the people that are saying “Well that’s just stupid, no one is going to vote for that” Because let’s face it, we’ve proven that stupid things get voted for.

    Down the the GOP, kneecap them at the ballots.

  8. Was anyone else’s weirded out by the uncomfortably long period of silence at end of the clip with mittens just sitting there looking awkward?

  9. Literally not one good thing will happen if Planned Parenthood is destroyed.

    You’re still thinking from a progressive/harm reduction point of view, and thats your problem. Getting rid of Planned Parenthood will, as far as American Christendom is concern, create one very real good: sin will become more difficult. Abortion isn’t bad because it kills babies, thats just the line used to obfuscate the religious underpinnings; abortion is bad because it allows women to contraviene the will of God. He decides if you get pregnant, not you. The same is true for contraception, contraception is bad because it presumes to put the needs of human beings before the will of God (which is always bad because we’re sinful and evil and shitty while God is Good). Marriage ain’t got nothing to do with anything other than selling the idea to parents who want their kids to stay children forever. What this is really about is that, since at least the enlightenment, human beings have challenged the hegemony of God and that just won’t due. Life is supposed to be hard, sin is supposed to cause suffering, anything which alleviates those two basic truths of human existence directly challenges the will of the almighty and is thus a tool of Satan. Complications from STDs? He gave you the herpes and you should be fucking thankful you got off so easily. Cancer in your lady parts? Probably caused by HPV, should have crossed your legs. Breast cancer? Everyone has their time to be called back home, who are you to question it? Besides, if you want more time here on Earth you must be afraid of judgement and theres no point in forestalling your fate.

    These are not reasonable people. Christianity is not about love or forgiveness. These are monsters trying to dress up sadism.

    Also, in advance, I don’t give a shit if someone is a progressive Christian and their church is somewhat less repellent and I don’t want to hear the whining that these people don’t represent you. Either take control of the discussion or find a better faith. “Good Christians” are like good cops, and after this many years of business-as-usual I can’t help but think you’ve made your choice about what you support.

  10. I hope he goes into how, exactly, he plans to get rid of Planned Parenthood. How does one, in government, go about dissolving a private/non-profit organization? it could be that Romney is, surprise surprise, talking out of both sides of his mouth. or, it could be more Freudian, like his statement about not being very concerned about the very poor, and he believes in Italian fascist-style corporatism and the government can therefore wield great power over corporations.

  12. William, I always love your comments. You are right, take away the “natural consequences” of sin, and then the argument “God forbids things that are bad for you” fails. And it becomes, “God forbids it because….hmm.” Or sin becomes anything pleasurable.

  13. By getting rid of Planned Parenthood, poor people will no longer have access to abortion services in many areas, and others will loose their access to contraceptive services entirely. According to the Religious Right, this is a good thing because then those slutty sluts will have to turn to crisis pregnancy centers who can bully them into giving up their babies to good Christian homes, and the glorious institution of the shotgun wedding will make a return.

    As I learned in my abstinence-only sex-education class, nothing makes people not have sex more than the fear of pregnancy and untreated STIs!

  14. Attaboy, William. It actually goes like this: He has illnesses, then God gave him doctors, meds, and government interventions so his numbered days are in God’s hands. She has illnesses, then “If it’s your time to go, God will take you, whether or not you go to that expensive doctor”. Boss man ran that rant, despite the fact that I pay my own medical expenses and his neoconservative a** has Medicare.

  15. Planned parenthood is the most viable health resource for women in our country. It provides millions of men, women, and adolescents each year with all kinds of services: HIV and STD testing and treatments for those who are positive and their partners, cancer screenings , anemia testing, cholesterol and diabetes screening, flu vaccines, help with smoking cessation, gynecological and breast exams, and thats doesn’t even cover half of their services.
    In this country where insurance companies provide full coverage or viagra for men but can refuse to cover birth control for women, we can be sure that there is a trend in sexually discriminatory practices in the health care industry. private insurance companies use a process called gender rating that allows them to charge more for women because of the fact that more women go to doctors and follow up visits than men. They also charge higher premiums to people with pre-existing conditions. Pregnancy is categorized as a preexisting condition… Planned parenthood offers women and opportunity to take control of their reproductive health when insurance companies deny them.
    contraception is prevention; it should not be denied to those who can’t afford it, and ESPECIALLY NOT BECAUSE SOME IGNORANT RELIGIOUS MAN THINKS THAT GOD’S WILL IS BEING JEOPARDIZED. When you can prove that God exists and science doesn’t maybe then you can come up with a reasonable argument. Until then keep your ridiculous beliefs out of the government. What kind of “free country” allows others to decide what choices are available to women.

Comments are currently closed.