Free Birth Control Reduces Abortion Rate

[_Bob Loblaw]

So why do you conservatives think that the republican party opposes free birth control?

The party doesn't and never has. What the party opposes is forcing religious institutions to provide healthcare benefits that would violate the institution's religious beliefs. Hence, Catholic universities don't want to provide birth control through insurance, but the new rules say they have to provide it. I would imagine that if you are going to a Catholic university or work for a Catholic charity--like Sandra Fluke at Georgetown--you shouldn't expect them to pay for your birth control, and if you work for BYU, you shouldn't expect DMBA to pay for an elective abortion. Seems reasonable to me, but it's been demagogued to death by the left, as if Republicans not only want to take away "free" contraception but want to criminalize it as well.

[_cinepro]

So why do you conservatives think that the republican party opposes free birth control?

Can you explain what you mean? Are you saying that if someone bought a box of condoms, and then discretely shared them with some other adults, the Republican party would object? Or if a philanthropist wanted to set up a "Free Birth Control Clinic" and provided various forms of birth control to the community at no charge, Republicans would have a problem with it?

I wasn't aware this was in the platform, or even a political issue.

[_Bob Loblaw]

Can you explain what you mean? Are you saying that if someone bought a box of condoms, and then discretely shared them with some other adults, the Republican party would object? Or if a philanthropist wanted to set up a "Free Birth Control Clinic" and provided various forms of birth control to the community at no charge, Republicans would have a problem with it?

I wasn't aware this was in the platform, or even a political issue.

It's a little frightening to think that people who are generally informed think that eliminating free contraception is a plank of the GOP platform. Since when?

[Tator]

So what was all the uproar after the Sandra Fluke incident? You know, Rush Limbaugh calling her a slut for wanting free birth control.

(sorry, posted this before seeing Bob's response, which still doesn't address the fact that the right seemed intent on portraying women who wanted their health care provider to provide free birth control as rampant sluts)

[_beastie]

Mitt Romney's response to a woman in the crowd who said she wanted free birth control:

"If you're looking for free stuff you don't have to pay for, vote for the other guy. That's what he's all about. That's not what I'm about."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf8fVJM185k

[_beastie]

In one of his most controversial acts as governor, Romney actually vetoed a law to make Plan B readily available over the counter and to rape victims treated at area hospitals. But his veto was quickly overturned by the Massachusetts legislature, and the bill became law. (A more cynical take is that Romney took no position on the bill and then only vetoed it when he knew his veto would be overridden.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fac ... _blog.html

[_Bob Loblaw]

So what was all the uproar after the Sandra Fluke incident? You know, Rush Limbaugh calling her a slut for wanting free birth control.

(sorry, posted this before seeing Bob's response, which still doesn't address the fact that the right seemed intent on portraying women who wanted their health care provider to provide free birth control as rampant sluts)

No, the douchebag Rush Limbaugh did that.

[_Bob Loblaw]

Mitt Romney's response to a woman in the crowd who said she wanted free birth control:

"If you're looking for free stuff you don't have to pay for, vote for the other guy. That's what he's all about. That's not what I'm about."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf8fVJM185k

So, an offhand remark is now the platform?

[_Ceeboo]

the fact that the right seemed intent on portraying women who wanted their health care provider to provide free birth control as rampant sluts)

Me thinks brush too wide!

Me thinks author is left of left plus 3 additional steps .............to the left!

Me say preposterous, again!

Peace,
Ceeboo

[Guest]

So what was all the uproar after the Sandra Fluke incident? You know, Rush Limbaugh calling her a slut for wanting free birth control.

(sorry, posted this before seeing Bob's response, which still doesn't address the fact that the right seemed intent on portraying women who wanted their health care provider to provide free birth control as rampant sluts)

Here's how Wikipedia summarizes Sandra Fluke's arguments to the House Committee:

Fluke put forward reasons that her school, Georgetown, should be compelled to offer contraceptive drugs without co-pay, in spite of the Catholic University's moral opposition to artificial birth control.[19] She said that during the time spent as a law student, birth control could cost $3,000 or more. She also stated that 40% of Georgetown Law School's female population suffered financial hardship as a result of birth control not being covered by the student health insurance plan, and that the lack of contraception coverage in the university insurance plans would induce many low-income students to go without contraceptives. She then shared the stories of friends affected by such policies, citing a friend with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fluke said this friend needed contraceptive hormones costing over $100 per month to treat this disease, and that while PcOS was "covered by Georgetown insurance", the insurance company repeatedly denied contraceptives because they suspected the purpose of the medication was contraception.[25][26][27]

You can get 100 condoms for about $25, so if she is insisting on the "$3,000" option, I don't blame her for wanting someone else to pay for it.

But we really should get back on topic. We were discussing "free birth control", not "really expensive birth control that I make my college buy for me". If Georgetown has to start buying its co-eds $3,000 worth of birth control so they can enjoy sex without babies or financial inconvenience, that money will have to come from somewhere. So, where?