Rep. Chris Smith Wants to Criminalize the Birth Control Pill (Seriously...)

I'm Josh Zeitz, the Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's Fourth District. I want to talk to you about my strong support for reproductive rights, but first I want to tell you about the person I'm running against.

My opponent, Rep. Chris Smith, is the longtime chairman of the House Anti-Choice Caucus.

On twenty-two separate occasions, Chris Smith has introduced legislation to criminalize the common, everyday birth control pill and IUD. He wants to put millions of American women in jail for using the pill. We have to say no to this kind of extremism.

My campaign has produced a video outlining Smith's attempt to criminalize the birth control pill, and you can view it below.



I believe that access to basic birth control and family planning services is a fundamental right. By attempting to criminalize the pill, Chris Smith's policies increase the number of unintended pregnancies.

There is much on which pro-choice and pro-life advocates differ. But if we agree to disagree civilly, there are many issues on which we can cooperate. Contraception is one of those issues. By providing women with a full range of information and health care options, we can help them make informed decisions about their lives and bodies. We can drive down the number of unintended pregnancies in America, and thereby reduce the number of abortions.

I know how important reproductive rights are to all of you, and I want to thank you for taking time to learn more about this important congressional race.

Please visit my campaign website at www.joshzeitz.com to learn more about our efforts in Central Jersey.

Comments

[noamjunior]

Proof once again that the self titled pro-life movement is a fascist organization bent on making women 2nd class citizens

[PatriciaB]

If life begins at conception then why aren't there laws requiring burial l etc of miscarried or aborted embryos/fetuses? Neither church or government have rules regarding this.

Even scripture does not condemn abortion:

http://www.wordwiz72.com/chscript.html

[gigi09]

There are a lot of idiots out there, people that vote with hatred, condemnation, self-righteous judgement are making this possible. The Democratic Party is being held hostage by a few SILLY people,threatening to vote for these idiots. At 60 years old I did not realize that people my age are still consumed by hatred and a warped sense of judgement, and most of Obama problems have been with baby-boomers, both black and white. The same people that have fought for equal rights for all Americans to have the opportunity for these same people to rise to the top and break the "glass ceiling." What we did not decide at the time we were marching with dogs biting us a*s, sprayed with fire hose, etc. Guess we did not decide that the first MINORITY to get there must be a white woman. A house devided will not stand, I am ashame of the Democratic party and the racists that control the votes. I am considering going Independent once this election is over, I encourage African Americans to join me. We are the base of the Democratic Party and they are taking us for granted, it's only " Hill's 18 million blue collar-hard working white people" that controls the party. Sounds like another form of slavery to me. Obama 08!

[Pavane]

If birth control ever becomes criminalized, women will have to rise up as one and deny every man sex until it is overturned. In the meantime, any unwanted baby should be left on the Supreme Court steps for Roberts and Scalia with a note that says: You wanted them, you take care of them. Ps. Don't forget to pay for their college education too.

[LeftRight]

I don't know about the first point (some couples are trying to get pregnant) but that second one sounds like a plan. Course, we should have the women who are CARRYING those babies show up on the steps and insist that the justices provide for them WHILE they're pregnant! Add in the steps of Congress and the homes of Republican Congressmen!

[4real]

These so called religious people are funny. What is going to happen when all these children are born that people don't want or have the means to take care of?

They seem more interested in the biology of the womb but don't care enough about the children that come from them.

Millions of children live in poverty around the world. How about these people do more to help those children instead of worrying about a woman's potential child.

[ChangeNow]

Just think - with a McCain presidency, he might just pull it off. If Obama doesn't get off his a**, we are going to lose to the conservative scumbags again - but this time they will have the opportunity to swimg the SCOTUS so far to the right that our daughters will be denied the right to chose anything to do with reproduction.

[schatsie]

When are they going to criminalize VIAGRA and VASECTOMIES???? Makes Alito and Roberts just cringe thinking about it....

[HNC]

Ugh I wish the pill was invented back when so his mother could have taken it.

[hanna08]

ouch! nice one.

[LeftRight]

WHAT!!!! Didn't you know that logic is not allowed in politics??????

[Justaminute]

Is Rep. Smith married? How many children does he have? If he just has one or two then he must be practising some form of birth control. May he abstains from sex.

[SamiNJ]

Ugh my old congressman. Such an embarassment. Awful.