Democrats Shy Away From Emergency Contraception [for military women]

[tbyg52]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3221/democrats_shy_away_from_emergency_contraception/

By Beccah Golubock Watson

On Wednesday, May 16, advocates were optimistic that legislation requiring emergency contraception to be stocked on all military bases would pass in the House. “We had the votes on Wednesday night. Things were looking good,” says Monica Castellanos, press secretary for Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine), one of the lead co-sponsors of the amendment that was scheduled for a vote the next day. But then, something mysterious happened.

For reasons that remain unclear, Michaud withdrew the legislation the next morning. According to Castellanos, it was purely a logistical snafu: “Key supporters had to be in their districts.” But sources close to the issue tell a different story: The legislation, an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, with bipartisan support, was dropped by a Democratic leadership unwilling to go to bat for pro-choice issues. Despite Michaud’s confidence that the votes were there, Democratic leadership wasn’t so sure, and they didn’t want to hang around long enough to find out. The legislation might not have sunk, but they jumped ship anyway.

[peacebird]

1. cowards.

[Phredicles]

2. Again with the Vichy Democrats.

Are those Harry Reid's fingerprints I see?:grr::grr::grr:

[noamnety]

3. kicking and recommending

so these democratic cockroaches who think that women serving their country who are raped by their fellow soldiers should be forced to give birth can be exposed in the light of day.

[katty]

4. again-COWARDS

[Sonicmedusa]

5. I'll kick it too

I want to know more.

[benld74]

6. WHAT if the F are they doing?

[Warpy]

7. If it was the latter reason, the Democrats are going to lose big

in 2008. Until and unless they stand up and start to act like Democrats, they're just confirming what all the sneering press says they are: liars and weaklings.

Dammit, people, FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!

[Demeter]

8. Fourth Rec. Infamous!

If she's old enough and licensed to shoot a man, she's old enough and citizen enough for contraception, dammit!

[femrap]

9. These incumbent Democrats are

ruining our party. If they don't have women voters, they won't have a Dem pres. PERIOD.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. The contrast here between reality and cheerleading is stunning.

K&R

[MNDemNY]

11. Are there military RXs that do not stock this??

[MH1]

12. "Sources"??? That sounds reliable.

:eyes:

It's not like anyone has any interest in demoralizing the base of the Democratic Party, huh?

[tbyg52]

14. I see you r point

Now that I go back and reread the article closely.

Still, this should be *publicly* on their front burner until it gets done, and it shouldn't get an "oh, well" even if *this* removal *was* the result of some kind of snafu (which I don't necessarily believe--I'm just not rejecting the possibility).

As the article states:

“If you are a military woman in Iraq, and you are raped, it is this country’s obligation to make sure you have access to emergency contraception.”

Apparently, the Department of Defense agrees. In April 2002, it added emergency contraception to its Basic Care Formulary, a list of 214 medications required to be stocked at all military treatment facilities. (The list includes Levitra, a medication that treats erectile dysfuction.) But one month later, the medication was quietly removed in direct response to pressure from the Bush administration.

[FloridaJudy]

13. Oh for crying out loud, get a backbone, Dems!

This should be a no-brainer. We're not even talking about abortion here, this is just back-up contraception. Sheesh.

[marmar]

15. I'm getting so f..king tired of spineless ass Democrats....

Why do they run and hide, even on issues everyone supports? :argh: