Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Joe Walsh: Birth Control Debate 'Not About Women'


Opponents of U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh fired back at the conservative Illinois congressmen over the weekend after he said the national debate over birth control coverage is "not about women."

During a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing last week, Walsh told the all-male panel that President Barack Obama's plan to eliminate co-pays for birth control was an attack on religious freedom.

"This is not about women. This is not about contraceptives. We know, you've said it, we've said it up here. This is about religious freedom. This is about religious liberties," Walsh told the panel.

Since Obama announced the plan, the always outspoken Walsh has made his opinion on the matter very well known. Last week he sat down with "conservative watchdog group" Accuracy in Media and said the president "stabbed [clergy] in the back," with the contraceptive requirement.

One of Walsh's opponent's in Illinois' 8th District, however, believes her GOP rival's positions are out of step with his constituents. Iraq war veteran and Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth released a statement blasting Walsh for his stance on birth control coverage.

"Contraception is a basic part of women's health care and I am saddened to see yet another important issue become a pawn in the political minefield in Washington," Duckworth said. "... To claim that a discussion regarding access to birth control isn't about women is yet another example of how out of touch he is."

EMILY's List, a national pro-choice organization, is endorsing Duckworth in the 8th District race, and released a television ad blasting the all-male contraception panel this week. (Watch it below)

"Women are saying: enough," Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List, said in a statement. “That picture told women everything they need to know about the radical, right-wing anti-women conservatives in Washington who are using their power to set women back decades."

Duckworth, who faces fellow Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi in a March primary, told HuffPost Chicago 8th District voters have "buyer's remorse" when it comes to Walsh, who she says is more concerned with being a "poster child for the Tea Party" than representing the people of Illinois.

"The people of the 8th District want someone in Congress who will work to protect their privacy and their health, not someone who will trade the best interests of women and their families for cheap political gains," Duckworth said.

Original Article
Source: Huff
Author: Jen Sabella

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