WomenCo.

Has any one else seen this?

It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this=2 0could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive freedom and protect rape victims.¹ Access to basic health care for millions of women would be jeopardized. And it's being pushed as a "rule change"—meaning, it doesn't need congressional approval.

 

Does anyone know where to find more information about this?  This is part from moveon.org

I am not believing that I am reading this! I am looking to read more about this......

I just read this thread. I am so upset by another biased Bushism. Who is he to tell every female that birth control=abortion? I am old enough to remember the women who had back street abortions with unsterile equipment because contraception was not available.

As a teenager I saw a movie about a married, Catholic woman who had life-threatening complications before delivery. I cannot remember the title, but this image is seared in my brain: The priest asked her husband to make a choice between a saving his wife or saving his child. The man chose his child, and his wife bled to death during childbirth. A few years ago, some private, Christian hospitals in NE refused to give rape victims the morning after pill. The federal government intervened and was ready to withhold funding to the hospitals, but the faith based hospitals changed their mandate. 

Birth control is an individual decision as is abortion. I would hope informed females would only opt for abortion in extreme situations, but it is not my choice; it is theirs.

It's not the outrage over abortion -- if it really was an issue of respecting LIFE why aren't there better programs to support the children already here.  It has always felt to me an effort to control what I can choose in my life -- so, there's a draft bill attempting to include birth control under that umbrella?  A few weeks ago my husband asked me if I was aware that insurance covers the cost of viagra but not birth control -- I said, "oh yeah".  It seems to me if you have such a high regard for life then you should move mountains to help the children already here who are hungry, without healthcare, perhaps without parents.  But that's not the focus -- the focus instead,  is on making sure they have a say in what I can choose --  Doesn't that feel a bit hostile? 

kellebelle27 says ...

 Right on McKaren. Its ludicris that this all falls under the "Respect Life" banner when life is clearly not being respected in all ways. The treatment of these issues is manipulative and its unfortunate. We should be working toward improving people's lives - not getting our way by confusing people with semantics. I wish that government was about public service and the common good. Who benefits from these things?

I was born to a mother of 16 and a father who was 17. There was so much unnecessary suffering. There's a book called "Mother Nature" which describes how women through the centuries have killed and abandoned their children because there simply weren't enough resources for both of them to survive. I'm 30 and love children- but I have none and there is a good reason for that. I will never have a child if I cannot be a proper mother, meaning that I have the money and time to devote to raising another human. I adore children, but have no desire for my own. 

Babies born to unprepared mothers suffer deeply as do the mothers themselves. Lets help those babies who have already been born who are in need. I would rather there never be an abortion performed in this country, but i am 100% pro choice. None of us are pro abortion. No one wants that to be an option. but lets help people so that it doesn't have to be, not make it illegal. Changing laws does not change the problem. A personal aside, I feel that Bush is truly a moron and it is unfortunate that our great country has had to endure his presidency. 

Right on, both of you! Reproductive choices should NOT be made for women by the government. It is a matter of personal conscience. I can't wrap my mind around the idea of anyone calling themself "pro life" when the ONLY life they value is in the womb. What ABOUT women and children living in poverty? What about the homeless and the elderly? What about the soldiers and civilians dying in this ridiculous war? Bush is not the only "moron" in government, but his presidency has done more to damage this country than any in my lifetime, and I was alive when Harry Truman was president!

HERE IS THE LINK FROM THE ACLU:

https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=OnScreenThanks&id=999

And here's the link where you can let Secretary Leavitt (a dude! gasp!) know how you feel:

http://secretarysblog.hhs.gov/my_weblog/2008/08/physician-consc.html

If you believe, like I do that life begins at conception than some forms of birth control is equivelant to an abortion.  Any from that allows the egg to be fertilized (conception) but interferes with that egg from attaching to the uterus would fall into this category.  With birth control pills the eggs are not released, no fertilzation, no conception, no abortion. 

Here's a link about the Viagra vs. Birth Control issue...

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51391 

Rediculous!! I don't get it at all. I'm lucky that my employer insurance covered the mirena (insert that lasts for 5yrs) and that I am eligable (medically/physically) to have it. If insurance hadn't covered it, I'd have never been able to afford it, but it's still less expensive and more convenient in comparison with bc pills, patch, etc. Plus, I don't have the nauseating side-effects. I'm curious, does anyone know how many bc methods are out there which are (besides the day after pills and other forms of abortion):

a from that allows the egg to be fertilized (conception) but interferes with that egg from attaching to the uterus ...With birth control pills the eggs are not released, no fertilzation, no conception, no abortion. ~ SenderofCards

I think you're right Maddie -- we are numb -- and some of the assaults are so insidiuous we don't know why it gives us a sick feeling -- because we can't see it, it just crawls under our skin and assaults our very being.  Please --are we going to suggest that having sex has only one purpose? to procreate? what happened to recreation?  I'm lucky in way -- I had a thyroid condition that threw me into early menopause (was 33) and I haven't had to worry about bc for a long time.  I've been married for over 30 years and it isn't that I would go out and do this --  But -- I remember distinctly how I felt when my doctor told me there was no possibility of getting pregnant again -- I was jubilant - and I felt equal to any guy wanting to have sex any time - any where - no restrictions-- It was thrilling.  

mzbrown says ...

The men are horny from Viagra, but the woman can’t protect herself against unwanted babies after screwing his horny behind! That’s insane!!!

LOLlolol, it's NOT funny, but yeah, it is when you put it that way, you have such a FUNNY and so true way of saying things....

It still disappoints me that more women aren't responing to this. This is a very serious issue. It bothers me to no end, that some people value the life of an unborn child more than another. I am speaking specifically about war!  How can you be pro- life and pro-war or support a war.  It seems like there are people that don't value life unless there is a pollitical agenda. I am so disappointed in the press for not making this issue more in the fore front.  Would women still vote for Palin knowing that her party has this as a part of their agenda.  Maybe we should ask a Catholic if the rythum method works for them. It is time to be responsible for over population of the world!

Maybe we should concentrate on teaching our children how to think and be responsibly. 

I wonder what Mrs. Palin has taught her daughter about sex. Obviously abstinence has worked for her.  It's time to be smarter than this ladies! We must arm our children with knowledge!

MissV says ...

I can't believe that wholel mess about contraceptives being illegal??

I choose not to take birth control because I don't think its right that women have to manipulate their bodies in order to survive in a society that is still run by man.

Im not a crazy feminist, but I just get annoyed that women keep getting bombarded with images and facts about how we need to control ourselves, and how we need to take these pills in order for us to have a future. Guys don't have to worry about it. I think trojan are the only commercials that gear towards guys....it is not our sole responsibility, men need to stand up and take care of their own genitals too. Why can't they make a pill to decrease sperm?

Why is it that as women we have to abuse our bodies for the "better" of society? Abstinence is great if you can hold on to your own truths, but honestly...how many men choose to be that way? Why can't we start directing attention to men being more concious about their sexual choices?

As women I feel like we are still caught up in the idea of competition for jobs, men, materials, who raises the better child...if we just relax and quit feeling so threatened by one another we could accomplish a lot. We could start educating our daughters and sisters and mothers about sex and the consequences (which i wish there were a better word than consequence...that has such a negatvie connotation and sex isnt negative, its natural) in order to raise awareness of how the government is trying to control us.

I would really like to hear more info about this topic, I think its really important for women to know.

**Warning!  Strong Opinion To Follow, If You Are Squeemish And Only Want To See Rainbows In This Group, Skip This Post **

In the end it is because women have the womb.  The only thing I have control of is myself and that includes whether I get pregnant or not.  I don't rely on a man to follow my wants and needs in that area.  It is my choice so it is my responsibility to use birth control or not.

The fact is I don't want to give him that control or that responsibility.  That will be stepping back not forward.

Let's get something straight as well, women don't have to manipulate their bodies in order to survive in society.  Who is holding a gun to your head demanding you take the pill?  In fact the government has a plan all set up to support you.

I would rather see people rally against the women in this world who have babies just to get more money from the government then worry about those who are taking control of their lives by choosing not to have a child.

Tax the families that earn less than $20,000 but have their fourth child that they can't feed instead of giving them more money and taxing the hard working people who feed and clothe their children.

I know that will be unpopular here but I'm tired of the people who play the system and my taxes keep going up.  I'm paying for their children to survive while making the choice not to have a child for exactly that reason and considering being a foster parent down the road to some of those children whose parents are now in prison or abandoned them.  Procreation is a wonderful thing unless you are having children you can't feed.

This is a very scary topic.  And I'm shocked that we do not hear about it more in the media.  There has to be some way to get it out there more. 

WARNING PAGAN TALKING MIGHT OFFEND OTHERS ON THIS BUT HEY LIFE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ALL ROSES!

I saw this, I had a fit!  But hey remember church says its wrong; any form of contraception is a no no....since you know that church and state are SEPARATE and all we must naturally follow what the church says.....I mean state.....who is pushing whoms religious views down peoples throats?  *So angry right now she can not speak because she might offend the sheeple that follow these stupid and idiotic views*

Sheeple = people + sheep:  A group of people that follow one person because such and so told them all must follow me because I know what is right and they do this blindly and willingly without a thought in their little head. 

Breeding stock: commonly called  'women', if religion had their way we would be nothing but breeding stock incapable of thought or reason because that is not why we were 'put on this earth'.  This banning of birth control only proves this ideal, when it comes down to it, and if Bush/Cheney McCain/Palin have their way we will be back in that kitchen barefoot and pregnant where we belong before you know it afterall that is our reason for being 'put on this earth'.

Thanks for sharing that link brandy. What I am wondering - are we going to get into situations like this w/ McCain as president? I have been trying to find instances where he talks about specifically birth control/contraception, but I'm only getting blogs - not reliable.

Okay, I did a little more digging - tried Google, but not much luck. So I went back to the Care2 site. Here's 2 articles on the subject, one has quotes from McCain on the subject, which are rather vague...If anyone has any info where McCain speaks more in-depth on this, please let me know.

McCain Asked Abouth His Opposition to Insurance-Provided BC

McCain/Palin on BC (Sponsored by: NARAL Pro-Choice America)