Plan B decision draws strong and mixed reaction

[alp227]

Source: Wash. Post

President Obama on Thursday defended his administration’s decision to block unrestricted sales of the morning-after pill as a “common-sense” parenting choice, even as women’s right advocates condemned it as a cynical move that could provoke a damaging political backlash for the president next year.

The administration, according to several Democratic allies, took a calculated risk in making the decision to overrule the Food and Drug Administration, which had concluded that the contraceptive should be made available to people of all ages directly off drugstore and supermarket shelves without a prescription.

Although the decision, announced Wednesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, angered women’s groups, some of the president’s allies said that allowing the FDA ruling to stand could potentially have been more politically damaging for Obama if he was portrayed as giving teenage girls unfettered access to the morning-after pill.

Obama, appearing in a briefing room at the White House, said he was not involved in the decision to require a prescription for girls 16 and younger before it was announced, leaving it up to Sebelius.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/plan-b-decision-draws-strong-and-mixed-reaction/2011/12/08/gIQA2UjagO_singlePage.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I am rabidly pro-choice but I agree with this decision

We're talking about kids here. As a parent, I agree with this.

And politically, it's a smart decision.

[alp227]

2. "anti-choice" err, typo?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. LOL! Oops!

Thanks for the catch.

[PSPS]

4. Yes, what we need are more pregnant 16-year-olds. Right?

Your attitude amounts to making pregnancy "the punishment" for a girl having sex. That's not very enlightened.

Obama made the wrong decision here. I don't want the president "overriding" scientists.

[alp227]

5. LibKansan had a Freeper typo moment actually.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. No, my attitude recognizes she is a minor.

And this decision should be made by her parents.

[uppityperson]

12. The decision of whether or not to make sure she doesn't get pregnant should be made by her

parents? Seriously? Do you also believe in mandatory parental permission before an abortion also?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Yes I do.

If it was my daughter I'd want to know she was undergoing a not so minor medical procedure. Schools can't give kids aspirin without parent permission. Why are we willing to allow them to have abortions without parental permission? Or take the morning after pill?

Of course I'm basing my opinion on the fact that I'm a reasonable parent who would rationally discuss this issue with my child and if she really wanted the pill or an abortion, I would help her get it. I know - not all parents are like this. But they have the right as a parent to know.

I also know this is a hot issue. Hell, I live in Kansas. They murder doctors here. And this decision is probably the safest one politically for Sebelius to make.

[uppityperson]

18. And if you decided that she should or shouldn't stay pg, against her wishes, then what?

"Schools can't give kids aspirin without parent permission." Plan B, however, is not given by schools, so it is a false comparison. Besides, it is much easier to OD on aspirin, to hurt yourself, than on Plan B. OD on Plan B and you've vomit it up as it causes bad nausea. OD on aspirin, easily available in a grocery store, and you hurt your stomach, perhaps kidneys and liver

"Why are we willing to allow them to have abortions without parental permission? Or take the morning after pill? " Because of the control factor for one. "not all parents are like this", helping. That is a good reason to NOT have the decision in the parent's hands.

Yes, I know it is scary to have your child be able to make medical decisions without you knowing or agreeing. But is it necessary.

[Humanist_Activist]

25. I really want to know why this poster wants their child to be legally forced into revealing their...

choices in this matter. If they are a good parent, their child will go to them for advice and counseling anyways, so why the need for the government to force the issue?

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. Because they are still children under the law - that's why

And you could have just asked me. :)

[uppityperson]

31. I asked you and you didn't answer me. If you decided that she should or shouldn't stay pg, against

[uppityperson]

34. My minor child got some health care without my permission or knowledge

When I got the insurance notice, I called the doctor's office to find out what it was and was told that under the law, minor child had the right to get health care without my permission or notification.

It took me aback, but then I realized that said minor child was taking responsibility for an issue and that made me glad. Giving up control can be difficult, but, "under the law", they do have rights to do things without parental knowledge or permission.

And that "schools can't" issue you keep bringing up is to protect the school, not the child. Aside from it not being comparable since schools aren't giving out Plan B, it is not to protect the minor, but to protect the school. This is why they cannot give anything to any student, even a 19 yr old, without signed permission from parent or guardian. For the school's liability.

[Humanist_Activist]

35. They can be treated as individuals under the law when warranted...

and especially when their best interests do not coincide with their parents'.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. So you think schools shouldn't give aspirin or Tylenol without notifying the parent

but a drug ceasing a pregnancy is okay to administer without parental knowledge?

Do you see how crazy that sounds?

[uppityperson]

32. "Schools can't give kids aspirin without parent permission." Plan B, however, is not given by school

so it is a false comparison.

10 yr olds can buy bottles of aspirin or tylenol in the grocery store and self administer without parental knowledge even though they can easily overdose and cause serious issues. You are fine with this, but not with a 15 yr old taking something to KEEP HER FROM BEING PREGNANT.

Plan B does not "cease a pregnancy" but prevents it.

[Humanist_Activist]

24. "But they have the right, as a parent, to know" Why? n/t

[thucythucy]

38. "They have a right as a parent to know." No they don't--

especially if, as you acknowledge, not all parents are "reasonable" and "rational." Why an unreasonable, irresponsible, irrational and perhaps abusive parent should have "the right" to compromise his or her child's health and safety--by forcing her to carry and deliver a child against her will--is something you really need to explain and justify.

I'm glad you're a reasonable and responsible parent, in which case your child will most likely feel comfortable talking with you about her sexuality before she becomes sexually active. In fact, the time to begin such a discussion is BEFORE, long before, you think your child MIGHT be sexually active. That's what responsible, reasonable, rational parents do--parents of both girls AND boys.

But what this decision does is condemn many girls whose parents aren't as reasonable as you to yet more agony and abuse. And all because, instead of following the science, our leaders feel a need to make a decision that is, as you say, "probably the safest one politically."

How sad, how tragic, and how utterly disappointing that this administration evidently choses its own political "safety" over the health and safety of so many girls.

I am disgusted.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. We are talking about pregnant 'kids'. Not just kids.

And the parent of a pregnant child must be in part accountable for that fact if they have some say and control in the aftermath, correct? So 'we're talking about kids here' strikes me as rhetoric more than a presentation of the facts.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Aren't we talking about the morning after pill?

Does a woman know she's pregnant the next day?

[Odin2005]

9. The point of allowing teens to get the morning-after pill is because of anti-choice parents...

who would not let her get it.

[uppityperson]

13. ++++++++

[alp227]

20. The teenager's health overrides the parent's rights?

What "health" and "parental rights" mean seem debatable. Some would say that there are teens who would repeatedly take this pill after unprotected sex and thus pose a risk to their health.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Exactly

[Humanist_Activist]

37. And it would be the pharmacist's responsibility to refuse to give it out...

if they find teens doing this, just like they would for adults, because of safety issues.

[thucythucy]

39. And some would say

there are parents who would physically and emotionally abuse their children if they knew their kids were having sex.

Some would also say that a teen "who would repeatedly take this pill after unprotected sex" is probably not the best candidate for parenthood.

[uppityperson]

11. Should they then have aspirin and tylenol behind the counter since you can easily

hurt yourself with them, esp a kid can buy a bottle with enough in it to give themselves bleeding ulcers or kill their liver? After all, that would be a smart decision also, right? If a 15 yr old can't be trusted to take one or 2 Plan B pills correctly, why should they be trusted with tylenol?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Because Tylenol and aspirin are exactly the same thing!

:sarcasm:

[uppityperson]

19. No, tylenol and aspirin are different meds. Easily buyable, causing liver failure and death

Yes, kids OD on them. Yet they are so easily accessible. Why?

[ZombieHorde]

22. Plan-B has been deemed safe by the FDA. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I would hope if it wasn't it wouldn't even be on the market.

[thucythucy]

40. I don't know why you're being sarcastic,

since you're the one, further up this thread, who brought up schools not being allowed to hand out aspirin and tylenol without parental notification.

If you think it's bogus analogy, worthy of sarcasm, why did you make it in the first place?

[wordpix]

16. "we're talking about kids here" but we're also talking about parents

Some of whom are very poor at parenting and decision making, some of whom are drunks, druggies, suicidal, homicidal, and engage in criminal acts. Bringing up more children in these homes where the children have children, is not a good idea.

[Mojorabbit]

21. A fifteen or sixteen year old

that is sexually active should have this option. There is no age limit for boys to buy condoms. This decision sucks big time. Nothing will sugar coat it.

[Humanist_Activist]

23. So you are a control freak then? n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. No I'm not

I'm a parent. I take my parenting responsibilities seriously. And if my minor child wants to take medication that halts a pregnancy, I believe I have the right to know about it.

[uppityperson]

33. But you are ok with your minor child buying tylenol at the cornermart and taking it, even though

might destroy their liver?

You think you have a right to know about your minor's reproductive issues, but are fine with them taking potentially lifethreatening OTC meds that don't prevent pregnancy?

Do you feel you have a right to know if your minor child has sex? Uses condoms? Uses OCs? Has an STD or HIV check?

[Humanist_Activist]

36. Again, I ask why, and no saying "I'm a parent" isn't an answer...

in this situation, you are a third party, not directly involved, what give you the right to know about it?

[Grassy Knoll]

6. You Just Know Fox Noise Had the Script in hand.......

ready to bash Obama for promoting under age sex, The Political ads
would have been worse . What the repigs are pissed about is they didn't
get to read their pre written smear that ended up in Roger Ailes Dumpster.

[Jakes Progress]

14. Every decision from the WH

seems to be run through a political expedience filter. Screw good and bad, ignore principle and greed. Just tell my how it will help or hurt me.

[Occupy_2012]

41. It makes me angry when parents assume every kid's parents are exactly like them.

I can tell you, if I had gotten pregnant at a young age, I probably would have been thrown in the street with nowhere to go. Other girls would be beaten. The idea that President Obama is a good father, and therefore all parents in America are just as good parents as he is, is deeply offensive to me and anyone who had abusive parents.

During most of my pre-teen and teen years I had to get return deposits on Coke bottles to buy food and clothing. My dad had a girlfriend who told him buying food for me was a "waste," and if I got hungry enough, I'd go live with my extremely poor mother, who was living in one roach and rat infested room.

Eventually I did go visit her for a couple days, he moved all my belongings out of my room, moved his girlfriend's daughter into it, let her go through my belongings and take whatever she wanted, and called me to come get the rest as "he was taking it all to the Goodwill tomorrow." I did have to go live in that one room apartment, with no working stove or fridge, and a broken toilet, with my mentally ill mother. Do you really think I needed to have a kid just then?

Plan B is to prevent conception, not abort a fetus. There is no fetus during the time Plan B works. It's to prevent a woman from having to find the money and access to an abortion. The FDA specifically said it was not dangerous, that is exactly why this is coming up. There is no, "It might have some dangerous side effects" here, that's exactly why it is proposed as an OTC medicine. This is one pill in one box, not 20. It essentially brings on a girl's period early. I've read tons of comments everywhere calling it an abortion pill and saying that the poster believes life begins at conception. Then you should support Plan B, because there will be no conception if you take it. It only works the first 72 hours at best, the best result is at 24 hours. Find a 13 year old who can make a doctor's appointment, get to a doctor without being able to drive, pay for the appointment, then pay for Plan B, all within 24 hours, and I will show you a kid with money and resources. This whole issue is not about that kid. It's about the girls that are not that kid.

There is no option for girls being molested or raped by the very person who would have to give approval, no time for a court appointment, or way for a 10-16 year old to know how to get a court appointment, or a lawyer, in that period of time. Many states have no abortion facilities available for hundreds of miles, if at all. A 12 year old can't travel out of state without parental permission to get an abortion. Plan B is it for them.

Please think of somebody besides your own well-fed, well-loved family. I wish President Obama had.

[Occupy_2012]

42. double post nt