As the politics of 2011 unfold, the Republican Party elected to focus on building jobs and growing the economy has, like stage magician waving their wand to distract the audience, instead focused on attacking women’s rights. Clearly, this is not a new agenda for socially conservative advocates but why this intensity? Why now when our economic recovery is fragile and unemployment is still very high? Then it struck me–18,000,000 cracks.
In the days leading to the November mid-term elections, the highly charged issues were government intervention in health care (ObamaCare), the soaring fiscal debt and the lack of jobs. Republicans promised that their first priorities were jobs, jobs and jobs. Next they would tackle health care by introducing a better plan for Americans. In the time that they have been in office, the only decisive action is —- against women.
The countdown for the 112th Congress to convene is 3 days away. In listening to the rhetoric on the airwaves, it appears the country is poised to become a conservative orderly society for the wealthy, the business community and the anti-choice forces. The Republicans are threatening to enforce their mandate, which they proclaim is to roll back “Obama Care,” cut spending and read the Constitution on the first day in session.
In Sunday’s New York Times, buried on page 34A, Robert Pear outlines what we can expect with Representative Joe Pitts as chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Pitts’ path is a straight line to denying women their fundamental rights. He wants to get rid of a woman’s right to make her own determinations about her health and reproductive life.
