In Pelosi's House, 64 Democrats Sell Women Out

The first female Speaker of the House makes history by passing a health care bill that not only doesn't have a robust public option, but also sells out women's civil rights. The Republicans acted reprehensibly today, heckling women lawmakers like the chamber was a frat house. Think Progress has that story. But in the end the Stupak amendment passed, 240 yeas, 194 nays, 1 present, with the names of Dems who voted for it totaling 64; the health care bill passing 220 yeas, 215 nays. Now it's up to the Senate and the conference, because if the Stupak amendment is in the final bill it will be a setback of monumental proportions for women.

But let's be honest. It was Pres. Obama who opened the door to sell us out when he decided to put the Hyde Amendment in the budget, something Bill Clinton never did. But Mr. Obama didn't stop there. During the stimulus fight, at the first sign of displeasure, our president personally asked that contraceptives be taken out. Now the president seems ready to finish the job, with Democrats in the House helping him do it.

This means that any woman opting to join the exchanges would not have access to full women's health care and abortion coverage. Segue to Ezra Klein:

Because of the limits placed on the exchanges, most of the participants will have some form of premium credit or affordable subsidy. That means most will be ineligible for abortion coverage. The idea that people are going to go out and purchase separate "abortion plans" is both cruel and laughable. If this amendment passes, it will mean that virtually all women with insurance through the exchange who find themselves in the unwanted and unexpected position of needing to terminate a pregnancy will not have coverage for the procedure. Abortion coverage will not be outlawed in this country. It will simply be tiered, reserved for those rich enough to afford insurance themselves or lucky enough to receive from their employers.

Of course, this discussion on health care doesn't impact wealthier women or women with access and means. Something I never forget.

... It was back in the late 1970s and I was living on the New Jersey coast, just outside New York, before I hit Broadway. My boyfriend and I were very careful about sex, never forgetting to use contraception. In fact, we both protected ourselves so we wouldn't become one of the small minority where protection doesn't work. It happened anyway. It's a very personal story, but lets just say what I went through never leaves my consciousness.

After what I experienced so long ago, to this day I think of poor women who don't have the support or means to take care of themselves. What might have happened if my boyfriend hadn't supported my decision, but also helped me pull it off. The desperation women must feel when they have so system on which they can rely, so they're forced to endure a pregnancy and a child they cannot handle. I put myself in their place and I shudder at what might have been for me.

There is no health care bill worth supporting that sells out women's civil rights.

Right now every woman who values her civil rights should understand how the gay community feels. Democrats just sold us out too.

Progressives in the House should have killed the bill.

Civil rights begin with autonomy over our own body. If we don't have that we have nothing. So, to hear Rep. Clyburn talk about "privacy rights" after passing the House bill was laughable.

But at least Mr. Obama and Speaker Pelosi's Democratic House got us closer to an "historic health care win." That they did it on the backs of women's civil rights isn't mentioned, though some of us will never forget.

It's up to the Senate now and the conference to strip Stupak out, with help from Pres. Obama, of course. He will help, right?

Taylor Marsh, with podcasts available on iTunes.

 

Follow Taylor Marsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylormarsh

Comments

[MediaMentions]

Now that you've mentioned womens' position, I can't help but recall this article here: http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=MCRB0DH88X07&preview=article&linkid=290a0ca0-172e-4f20-bfdb-ba623810de54&pdaffid=ZVFwBG5jk4Kvl9OaBJc5%2bg%3d%3d. It's just one of those things you really don't hear everyday, isn't it?

Sincerely,
MediaMentions

[scottsdalebubbe]

And still, the bill did not receive one Rethug vote. The Dims are being played by the Rethugs and the faux Dems in their own party and they don't even get it. They are being thrown under the bus so the left will be pissed at them and unsupportive. Gawd, they are stupid!

A "big tent" is one thing. A supposed Dem majority House with a bunch of double-agents is another.

[lily]

Gays under the bus, civil rights under the bus, women under the bus...who's next???

[Artemis34]

The upside for women and families:

" * gender-based pricing in health insurance is barred, ending the practice of charging women more;

* financial assistance would be available to members of a group that includes a higher proportion of women: those with incomes too high to be eligible for Medicaid but not sufficient to afford market-priced insurance;

* all insurance companies would be banned from denying coverage of pre-existing conditions including pregnancy, breast cancer and intimate-partner abuse;

* preventive care such as Pap smears and mammograms would be required, benefiting numerous women who might otherwise skip such screenings;

* a national insurance exchange will be created where small businesses can buy insurance at lower cost and where no higher prices to cover female employees will be permitted, a provision that helps women because most small employers are women with female employees."

http://www.womensenews.org/

[Artemis34]

Well, these DINOs have to go.

[Artemis34]

When half of congress if female, we'll have a shot at a representative government.

[Artemis34]

You "choose" to let your tax dollars go to pay for medical care in prisons, jails and GITMO.

But you have to punish women more than prisoners because they've committed the bigger crime of being women who want to control their own reproductive destiny.

Just open the doors of all the prisons, jails and GITMO if you don't want to spend any tax money on people with whom you disagree!

Many prisoners have violated most if not all the commandments and other passages of the bible, so you can mix your religion in there too! Don't give any money to support those sinners in prison, let them out.

Don't give 'em health care, don't even pay to imprison them!

[Artemis34]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/05/brazil-girl-9-has-abortio_n_172273.html
Girl, 9, Has Abortion Despite Church's Objections

This is the kind of person you don't want to help people. A 9 year old girl pregnant with twins, the pregnancy threatens her life. The father, her father.

Abortion is a desperate measure taken by someone in desperate circumstances. Think about it and have a little compassion.

Some of Dr. Tiller's patients were girls like this one.

[WarriorLemming]

The far-rightwing, militant Christian groups don't have compassion, Artiemis34, which is why you and I and everyone of voting age should make sure they get to the voting booth each election and vote the wingnuts back to the pumpkin patch. The alternative is a, "Christian Taliban" right here in the good 'ol USA. That should put the "fear of God" in you to vote in every election including your own local ones because people like this try to infiltrate the school boards too (with their creationism).

These groups have one thing that Democrats sadly lack and that is loyalty and voting lock-step to basic issues like abortion, taxes and guns which they deem more important than pocketbook issues so although their numbers may be slightly fewer in some cases it's that cohesiveness that can turn elections in their favor. It came close to happening last year when Hillary refused to graciously pull out of the election even when it was clear she was "a loser" almost throwing the prize to the likes of Palin.

[sue4hil]

Well it appears as if my most recent comment was not approved-

Basically this bill has continued to morph and bloat over the course of 6 months- Anyone who had blinders on during the primary and really thought hope and change come in an empty suit deserve what they get

The democratic "leaders" of last year made a concerted decision to nudge out a middle-age middle of the road competent candidate who was not trying to impress by her star j power but her diligent work- for an untested, inexperienced hologram who looks cool in a suit and can read off a teleprompter like nobody's business.

Elections have consequences and all of the people who voted for hopey-changey can now sit back and watch the same old same old-

Just remember- thiings could have been different had you not all run like lemmings- enjoy the free-fall

[Artemis34]

Since we're just voting on everyone's rights these days, if the amendment is still in the final bil, we can just have a vote on it.

Most Americans are pro-choice and pro-business. They'd let the woman choose and let the private insurance plans operate as they see fit.

And most Americans would not want conservatives putting a bureaucrat between doctor and patient.

[sinpareil]

That's right, they can go with what they have now! An insurance agent who's paid to deny you service is between you and your doctor.

[h0tr0d]

Your right most americans are pro-choice (51%)...but a majority of americans also support more restrictions (55%). http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm

[Rogan]

That's a really good example, of how and why "polling," generally speaking, is deeply flawed... in a poll, any and every question becomes a "leading" question...

[JulieinVT]

OK, so my earlier comment was screened out. Taylor, what say you about Hllary's comments re: the house bill?

"For the first time in American history the House is poised to pass comprehensive health care reform," Clinton said. Alluding to her own struggles in passing health care legislation during President Bill Clinton's administration, Clinton added, "As someone who has fought this battle for so many years, I cannot tell you how proud I am."

[sinpareil]

I believe that is what you would call generalizing.

[JulieinVT]

OH, OK! It's fine to excuse Hillary's comments, but you don't challenge Taylor's assertions w/ regard to Obama? To include, I might add, misleading rhetoric. Or do you?

[JimR]

I am pro-choice and will fight to protect a women's right to have an abortion!

But I don't see why I should have to pay for it.

[Imago]

I am a broken record! For the nine hundredth time:

Please read the amendment. You already don't have to with federal dollars. (Rightly or wrongly -- I don't want my tax dollars sending anyone to war, either, and I don't get a vote about that.)

But -- here's the point. And it's a really important one.

This amendment precludes commercial insurance companies that want to participate in the exchange from offering abortion services. So a woman who is purchasing her own private insurance with her own money through the exchange will NOT be able to be covered for this.

[Artemis34]

And some commercial insurance programs do cover it today.

So, current state is the woman's premium money going to fund her own reproductive care in a private plan.

Gee, conservatives want to put a government bureaucrat between you and your doctor!

[itmaybetoolate]

Really? How do you feel about paying for the uninsured folks who go to the ER with heart attacks, diabetes related disorders, etc. brought on by poor life/food choices? You are paying for them with the present system. Are you okay with that?

I support...but... usually = I don't really support.

[Liberal Angel]

The same reason I love my country, but don't support war for any reason other than actually being attacked. My money is going to fund an ilegal war in Iraq, and a war in Afghanistan I no longer support. My money also goes to murder prisoners, even though I'm against State sanctioned murder. My money also goes to fund abstinance-only sex non-education, even though I know there needs to be real world sex ed.

[espressobeans]

Women are second class citizens. We would do well to remember this, and those responsible for it, when we vote. We got a black president before we got a female one. We won't be free until we have meaningful reproductive freedom.

[Artemis34]

You got right to the real reason they oppose reproductive freedoms for the masses, it is about domination, control and exploitation for the conservatives and entities like the Catholic Church.

You are right. Women won't be free without reproductive freedom.

[nana4g]

This is what it takes to get simple healthcare reform passed. So be it. It is not the first time women need to sublimate needs for the greater good. Someday, this exclusion will be challenged in the courts of law. There will be the victory. This Amendment is a perfect example of "government intrusion, government legislating morality, and government discriminating against a segment of society, based on the moral, philosophical, ideological, and religious beliefs of some". Abortion is and has always been a medically sound surgical procedure, except when performed in the back alleys. It is also a legal procedure. This exclusion can be challenged in court: there is a mandate for every person to provide healthcare coverage for themselves; it is discrimination against those without financial means to purchase the service out of pocket; it excludes a medically sound and legal procedure. I do not know how this Amendment can be reconciled with Freedom of choice and self determination. I look forward to the first test case in the courts of law.

[OhTheHumanities]

Everybody explain to me one more time why "Kucinich for President" was so friggin hilarious......oh yope dee dope dee doh, with the Democrats in power we'll finally see that progressive agenda in action....