A Webinar on the War on Women!

For all of you out there who are undesided on reproductive freedom for women, consider this. If a woman can lose the right to control what is going on in her own body, what freedom we all enjoy can be truely secure?

Bill Farrell

This is a good way to fight back. An assault on one woman is an assault on all women. What they propose will not prevent abortion, it will put it back into the back alleys from where it came and where women died. I really liked the webanair, thanks for doing it.

In light of the recent barrage of bills and the obvious assault on women's reproductive rights and the consequences of the cuts in the Rethugnuts plans to dismantle government and enrich the wealthy budget plan falling on mostly women in a devastatingly unfair blow which, unfortunately the Democrats have signed on to to prevent a government shutdown.

One positive note is that the TpartyRethugnuts dropped the riders like, defunding Planned Parenthood, taking away EPA abilities to regulate greenhouse gases and other things, and defunding NPR. Some say it was a good deal, but the EPA will lose 15% of its budget, and $100 million dollars from Planned Parenthood. I do not think it was a good deal. There should have been no spending cuts. We do not have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. The US is not broke, the US military just fired 110 missiles at Libya costing 10's of millions of dollars......each. Social Security is not in a financial crisis and can pay full benefits until 2037, and can pay 80% from 2037 until 2084.

Based on John Kyl's statement of 90%(in reality it is just 3%) of Planned Parenthood's budget going to abortion and then having his office say that what he said was not intended to be a factual statement really shows the face of the Rethugnuts and their narrative, which is that what they say is not factual and cannot be believed. Of course, I have never believed them.
I wrote most of this a few days ago, but I have just learned that the Congressional record can ve changed to exclude embarrassing things said on the floor. The rule was for editing bills and for possible bad wordings of bills, but it looks like the rules have been manipulated so that John Kyl can leave out the 90% figure from his speech about Planned Parenthood, we will have the video stay the same, hopefully.

Thought it sometimes seems people do not vote for issues that are in their best interests, best example is that 59% of the elderly voted for the TPartyRethugnuts in the 2010 midterms, most times they do not vote against themselves, maybe.

But back to the subject line in that though women have the vote, do they have representation and would it be better representation for women if there was a requirement that the Congress be made up of 50% men and 50% women? It could not hurt, as it stands women are dependent on a man for voting for women's issues, there are more men in the Congress. And most bills introduced on reproductive rights for women especially in the House were done by men, who cannot under any circumstances get pregnant and therefore will never have to make such a decision as abortion, but these "men" seem to think they should have the final word in a decision that only women can make. Damn that pisses me off, and I am a man!!!

In the founding of this government Abigail Adams told her husband to "remember the ladies" and women have been engaged in politics of the early government, slavery issues and the like, but they were not able to vote federally until 1920. Thought some states like NJ gave the vote to women and free black men in the late 1800's, they lost it to white land owners just a few years later. And working men got the vote in 1867. African Americans got the vote in 1870 much to the chagrin of women who were not included. Even when women spouses husbands died they could not necessarily depend on claiming the land they left behind. It was up to a male arbitrator who sometimes would claim the property for themselves. It is 2011 and women are being assaulted economically by the fraudulent budget cuts voted on today, for it is women who will lose jobs and the programs they need won't have the funds for these much needed programs that women and children be mostly impacted by these cuts. Can't we try to make the Congress equal by making it 50% men and 50% women? After all women make up more than 50% of the total population. I was just reading a book about the Constitution by Linda R Monk, and there is a reference to the point I am trying to make and hope to start a movement over, a real issue to change the make up of the United States Congress, I sent this email to emily's list, but have not heard back but I hope to get people's attention about this issue. Anyway, the first woman in the House of Representatives, a Republican, from Montana who was a representative in 1916 and 1940, and who was a dedicated pacificist who voted no on WWI and WWII. Her name was Rep Jeanette Rankin. And she was quoted as saying as a woman, "We're half the people, we should be half the Congress." I could not have said it better and in fact even though her words preceded mine, the point is the same today as it was when she said it.

The TpartyRethugnuts are hard at it trying to take women back to the 18th and 19th centuries where the use of women were strictly limited to having babies and doing housework. Women today usually, if they have kids and a husband are most likely to be the chief cook and have the responsibility to raise the kids, as well as take care of an aging mother, or father. And these jobs carry no pay for the labor intensive efforts involved. It is really not fair.

Raymond Nash
nash984954@aol.com

I'm 51 so these changes will not directly affect me but I do fear for younger women and girls who are gradually losing the access, if not the right,to reproductive choices. We can support their efforts but they really need to voice their opposition to what so many state legislatures have done, and are attempting to do. Whose uterus is it, women?!

Many men neede women to teach them a lesson about freedom and independence, and any male member of Congress married to a woman who opposes her right to choose, should tell him to find a place on the couch to spend his future nights. If he divorces her, she'll be free of the sexual bully, who thinks he is never wrong. They are usually wrong most of the time, and too stupid to recognize it.

One can respect those who are anti-choice, but they do not have any right to intrude on those who disagree with them. Those of you who are anti-choice do not realize how nineteenth century you are. I know of three women who had abortions. Two of them would have been unfairly denied their need to have an abortion by you who are anti-choice. (1)A woman was trying to escape from the Nazis in Austria when she discovered she was pregnant. She was with her husband and her little girl. They had to move fast. Because her pregnancy would have slowed their attempts to escape she had an abortion, which was the smartest thing to do. They escaped the Nazis. The second woman was forced to have an abortion by her husband when abortion was illegal. The doctor botched the job and my woman friend was unable to have children. The third woman's husband left her with 4 children, 2 of whom were mentally ill. She discovered she was pregnant. She had an abortion which was legal and the right thing to do.

The war on women in America has reared it mean spirit, by the GOP in the house, some Democratic members, as well as Corporate America. It is bad news for all women and it is also bad news for unions, LGBT community, poor minorities alike.

We need to stand with NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and make sure the voters across every state in America, go out to vote out all Right Wingers in the Conservative, extreme GOP, their lobbyists and their tea party crowd.

The Pro-choice women of America are not the only ones in danger of losing reproducive rights, federal funding, but the GOP want to make safe, legal abortions, illegal AGAIN in America!!

All women in the developing countries are looking for the leadership in the Progressive women and men in office; and voters must remove or never vote in the politicians that attack the sanity, safety, security, rights, funding of all middleclass, poor working people that need these vital reproductive services, today more than ever.

It's tough. Attending a town hall meeting in Texas this past Tuesday~(my non HofR representative is a rebublican)~ the mike was removed from my hand when I used the word "uterus"

Just as many women have been brainwashed to believe that viable human "life" begins at conception. Almost all the legislators in my area of Kansas who are anti-abortion are women.

Few of these folks think past the "ooh-I've-got-to-protect-that-baby-to-be" scenario to consider the consequences for women of legislation that declares a zygote a human being.

The problem in Kansas is that the "conservative" factions tend to be Catholic or Southern Baptist, and they work the guilt factor (like the ads aimed at African Americans) in their clear goal to remove all choice from women, including the use of birth control pills.

It's too bad the women (and more men) cannot see that the real goal is to return this country to Victorian ways of thinking about women's roles: barefoot (poor), pregnant, and in the kitchen.

As for Kansas, the Pope and the Catholic Church apparently control our governor's thinking processes. What's more, he's never been shy about admitting that his religion dictates his policy!

Another issue being legislated lately is a woman's right to reproductive counseling and birth control -- which means a woman can be FORCED to create and bear children. Our global population stands at an amount that our planet can bearly hold right now. We don't need to increase our population; we need to reduce it!

Another issue being legislated lately is a woman's right to reproductive counseling and access to birth control, which means a woman can be FORCED to create and bear children. Our population is at an amount our planet can bearly hold right now. We don't need to increase our population; we need to reduce it!

Why can't we live and let live? It is up to each individual to choose how and with whom they live.

If anti-abortion people and politicians want to go back to the time when desperate pregnant women were killing themselves attempting an abortion, they should also give up their computers, their cell phones, anti-biotics and other facets of modern medicine and modern surgery.

Gilbert and Sullivan already wrote about this long ago...."And this is most alarming, she practiced baby farming..."

I think that even farm animals are treated bettter in breeding practices than women, although apparently cows get a championship stud service.

Are we women now less than cows? NO. Perhaps strange Congressional people, you would be better off dealing with cloning yourselves, as you seem to have taken such an interest in reproduction. Clone yourselves and leave us alone.

Oh, and don't forget, you might have to start funding a lot of those orphanages like they had in Romania. Parents that could not feed nor care for the babies at least had a place to take them after they were born. How much of this after care have you factored into the budget?

You know in California, new babies that cannot be cared for can be left at the local fire station. With so many women without health insurance, it would probably be easier for you to mandate this in all states.

When the woman is ready to deliver, and if she has had no prenatal care, at least she could go to the fire station and have the EMTs deliver the baby right there. I'm sure that would save a ton of money..a one stop drop and deliver service too. The baby could be delivered at the fire station and then dropped off at your local congressional office on the way to the next fire.

You might need to hire 24/7 office personnel though, because babies are often born when they are ready, and not when you, the Congress person is ready. This sounds insane and ridiculous, doesn't it? Yes, but so does treating women like breeder cattle.

Although a very good presentation I think some really important information has been left out.

Right now in America thousands of people are literally starving to death. Children hungry in schools receive poor grades and cannot learn as they do not have any energy to fuel their brains and bodies. Countless number of children are alone without families as seen by our foster child system and orphanages. Why not focus on feeding, housing and educating these children? How about employing Americans who can also help these children? Do Anti-choice people really care about children? If so why aren't we enacting bills to take care of the existing children first?

Shouldn't we think about our existing children before forcefully bringing in thousands of unwanted pregnancies a year? Many of these unwanted children have addictions, diseases, irreversible genetic conditions many of which will cause them pain and suffering throughout their lives. Are these children desirable to parents who want to adopt? Many of these unwanted children will be born perfectly healthy but will end up in poverty, enduring malnutrition causing poor health and will grow up to be uneducated and often will be abused due to their social economic status and the stress of the people around them are under. Is this really a life you want for these children? Is it really in their best interest? How do these children affect our society? The Republicans and Tea Party have chosen to cut many programs to help these children so the problem will be compounded substantially.

I personally believe America is headed toward a third world status if Republicans and Tea Party members stick with their agenda. What do you think of when you hear the term "third world country"? Terms that come to my mind are: over populated, starving, unemployed, uneducated, unhealthy, poverty, polluted, lack of infrastructure .... The Republicans and Tea Party Members want to remove practically all regulations and strip funds from all social programs including Planned Parenthood, the EPA, and alternative energy and give tax breaks to the rich and invest in Charcoal and Oil, something we all know deep down is the wrong path. Their plan will fast track America to become a third world country.

The Republican and Tea Party attacks on families, women, children and our future is just so wrong. We do not want to become a third world country and it is time to invest in our existing children, our environment, our infrastructure, our technology, our future to make America great and strong.

Time to say goodby GOP (Grand Ostrich Party)needs to get it`s head out of sand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am tired of republicans men telling women what to do with their bodies. They do not want us to get abortions but they are cutting programs for kids. We as women need to stand togther as one and get our uncles, brothers, grandfathers, husband, boyfriend and friends to be with us. This is not the 1800s

This attack is personal on many levels. I am 55 and fight for these rights all my life. I owe my life to PP. I live in small area who worship Jon Kyle, our Senators, and our Gov?! One to all of these ppl are wined and dined monthly by our radio, paper and elected officials. They print only what they wish and our local forums or radio calls are censoreds for favorable only. I lost everything due to a physical assault and no one from law enforcement or any local person would help as my attackers family business was more important than I. Further shame in states trying to pass bills to make miscarriage accountable?? What has happened, I used to know my neighbor? Now I live in fear and disbelief in a community, state and country where no one cares. This is worse than the dark ages, and I cry for my grandaugter.

Sad to say I live in Indiana, which wants to take the lead in making Indiana the most anti-choice state in the union. Although most legislators participate in abortion...social program abortion...when they cut and decrease funding that provides financial assistance to parents and their children. So my question is who is acting more responsibly...a parent who assesses her circumstance and decides her personal capacity and that of society is not adequate for the safety, nurturance and support necessary for a pregnancy...or the lawmakers who are content to make laws that favor the wealthy with tax breaks, make budgetary cuts that hurt the poor and middle class, and convince themselves that they are acting on behalf of its voting citizens?

The decision to parent is a personal, private and a moral one each person has the right to make. Different religions acknowledge life beginning at different times of fetal development but Indiana legislators want to determine it to begin at conception. So Catholicism has become the state religion which influences decision-making.

It's time women of Indiana and around the country begin a Lysistrata Movement. It's time to follow in the footsteps of the women in the Greek play who withheld sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers to end the Peloponnesian War. We too have a war. A war on women that escalates daily and will not go away. The anti-choice policymakers should be ecstatic because the Lysistrata Movement would end abortion, which they have taken on as their business.

Sad to say I live in Indiana, which wants to take the lead in making Indiana the most anti-choice state in the union. Although most legislators participate in abortion...social program abortion...when they cut and decrease funding that provides financial assistance to parents and their children. So my question is who is acting more responsibly...a parent who assesses her circumstance and decides her personal capacity and that of society is not adequate for the safety, nurturance and support necessary for a pregnancy...or the lawmakers who are content to make laws that favor the wealthy with tax breaks, make budgetary cuts that hurt the poor and middle class, and convince themselves that they are acting on behalf of its voting citizens?

The decision to parent is a personal, private and a moral one each person has the right to make. Different religions acknowledge life beginning at different times of fetal development but Indiana legislators want to determine it to begin at conception. So Catholicism has become the state religion which influences decision-making.

It's time women of Indiana and around the country begin a Lysistrata Movement. It's time to follow in the footsteps of the women in the Greek play who withheld sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers to end the Peloponnesian War. We too have a war. A war on women that escalates daily and will not go away. The anti-choice policymakers should be ecstatic because the Lysistrata Movement would end abortion, which policymakers have taken on as their business.

The GOP screams freedom at the mere mention of Obama health care and yet feel it is perfectly acceptable to put laws / restrictions all over a woman's body. Can you say double standard? Please demand they explain this logic!

I lived in the 60's when abortion was illegal. My friend had a back alley one, and died. I had one from a caring and compassionate doctor, lived, and thank him today. In TX we have more alcohol related deaths, alcohol is legal, and I don't find any of these women/men/tparty/republicans at liquor store taking liquor away from the folks buying it and drinking it on the way home; probably, because they would encounter bubba with a shotgun. But women, as with wages, working conditions, pregnancy leave are vulnerable and still placed 2nd in the minds of our legislators. If women of all ages do not take to the streets and protest this assault, I fear this generation and the ones to follow will find back alley abortions the least of their worries. We seem to be a country just shrugging our shoulders and saying, "well what can we do" and then doing nothing today, unlike what women and men did back in the 60's to affect change. Women are 52% of the voting population, and yet they are treated as if they are less than 10%. Not sure what it will take for women to declare the assault on their wages, benefits, medical procedures are off limits to these folks, but I fear if women do not react sooner rather than later, they will find themselves further down on the food chain when they wake up tomorrow.

We cannot legislate ethics! We do not want our Congress to control a womans' right to choice.
Especially since men outnumber the elected women in Congress.

I dont know *why* but for some reason the Republicans and the Teabaggers are trying to strip us of our reproductive freedoms and scare us into turning women into glorified baby factories! I really believe that they must want us to breed ourselves out of food, energy, and other resources with no thought to the consequences... just so long as their lip-service moral obligations to decry abortion or choice as sinister is met in all it's terrible glory!
I think it's time to step up, speak out, get a little more serious and take back our government! I want my PERSONAL freedoms to stay PERSONAL! I dont need some high-and-mighty government imposition on what is and is not allowable action with my own body! It is positively unthinkable that in this day and age we really have to still fight, tooth and nail, for the same RIGHTS we had acknolwedged back in the 70's! Let's work on fixing the economy, not trying to break women!

CJUS2473, I agree with you and I commented earlier about what I think a good plan would be to eventually stop these attacks on women and to give women the real representation they deserve. As it is, women have to rely on a gracious man to vote yes on her issues in Congress. Sure, women have the vote but true representation would be for a requirement that congress be made up of a 50-50% split of women to men. Only then can one say that women are truly represented fairly in Congress. And as you said, 52% of the population is made up of women, it stands to reason that the Congress be filled with almost the same percentage of women.
My first post was the second one in this series.

So much has been said and so well by all who have written here. I am angry when the laws are all against women. Where are the laws targeting men's role in the pregnancy? Where is the sex education permission? Where is the support after the birth? I might at least have some little (very little) respect for the antis if there was any concern for the woman or, after birth, her baby. One last thought--I am 87 and I cannot understand the voting records of many of us seniors. We should know better than to swallow the Tea Party's rantings.

Tne sad thing is that they are playing to the very conservative base, instead of dealing with the important issues other than abortion or birth control. They want to control all women so we will stay compliant and not be "uppity" and independent! We have to remain strong and vocal!
And continue to call them out for what they really are, controllers and anti-woman!

It is very sad that a group of ignorant conservatives be they men or woman (shame on YOU if you are a women! )should tell women how to run their lives. Abortion is not an easy route to take family planning is...... get real, get on with your lives, get on with what is important...oh! and by the way, what do you call shooting a person who helps women with the terribly sad decision to have an abortion, probably brought about by incest or violent rape! Probably by the very far right christian men who tell women how they should live their lives!!!!!!!

How wonderful it must be to so self righteous and so pure of heart and actions!!!!!!

Why is it always about "women"? I am "pro-choice" because I care about innocent children. Having a child only because you were not able to have an abortion is child abuse. Every child deserves to be welcomed into the world by a family that loves it and can take care of it. What about adoption, you ask? Being torn away from your newborn is traumatic for both the mother and the child and no one should have to go thru that. There are, unfortunately, a lot of infertile couples who only care about getting a baby and they don't care who gets hurt in the process.

Pro-lifers care about imaginary babies, tiny zygotes that feel nothing. They are sick in the head. I think that most people just don't realize how dangerous they are.

I ran for Congress, Libertarian Party. My platform included the following:

12. Abortion
Individuals own their own bodies and have a natural and Constitutional right to privacy. Ownership implies a right to control what happens within one’s body. A fetus only has rights when it reaches viability. A woman’s rights take priority over the rights of a fetus up to the time of viability. Therefore, freedom wins over mandatory pregnancy

Creo que siempre hay una posibilidad.
http://www.frgporn.com/

corona