The Republican War On Women - Bible Banger Edition

Today's installment of the Republican War on Women is brought to us by white male (and "Christian" minister) Republican Rep. "Tiny" Tim Walberg (Talibangelist-MI), courtesy of Dana Milbank:

Michigan Republican Tim Walberg was a Christian minister before winning election to Congress in 2010 — and he hasn’t entirely changed jobs.

In a rare Tuesday-night committee meeting at which House Republicans advanced a bill curtailing reproductive rights, Walberg took the even rarer step of lecturing his colleagues on Scripture.

“It is clearly taught by Jesus the Christ himself,” Walberg preached to members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, “for those of us who believe in him — and I understand and I accept the fact that there are those who don’t — but he said render unto Caesar what’s Caesar’s and God what’s God’s, and I think that’s an important consideration for us on this committee tonight.”

The bill referred to would strike down the District of Columbia's Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act, which would keep employers (but not religious and political groups) in D.C. from discriminating against workers based on their reproductive decisions (for example, prohibiting a business from firing a woman who has an abortion, uses birth control, or has fertility treatments).  As Milbank reports, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) responded by reproaching Walberg for claiming to represent the teachings of Jesus:

“I studied for the Roman Catholic ministry,” he responded. “But I certainly don’t think that it is my job to propound the dogma of my church as a member of Congress.”

The bill, which passed the Republican-led committee, has no chance of being enacted.  As Milbank notes:

The main thing Republicans are achieving is inviting Democrats to revive their “war on women” allegations.

Done!

The Republican War On Women - Bad Biology Edition

This entry could actually be seen as a hybrid of the on-going Republican War on Women and the Republican War on Science.  It comes from the land of potatoes - Idaho - where apparently one was elected to the legislature:

An Idaho lawmaker received a brief lesson on female anatomy after asking if a woman can swallow a small camera for doctors to conduct a remote gynecological exam. 

The question Monday from Republican state Rep. Vito Barbieri came as the House State Affairs Committee heard nearly three hours of testimony on a bill that would ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medication through telemedicine. 

Barbieri later said that the question was rhetorical and intended to make a point. [Ed. note: we think the point it made was not what Barbieri intended.] 

Dr. Julie Madsen, a physician who said she has provided various telemedicine services in Idaho, was testifying in opposition to the bill. She said some colonoscopy patients may swallow a small device to give doctors a closer look at parts of their colon. 

"Can this same procedure then be done in a pregnancy? Swallowing a camera and helping the doctor determine what the situation is?" Barbieri asked. 

Madsen replied that would be impossible because swallowed pills do not end up in the vagina. 

"Fascinating. That makes sense," Barbieri said, amid the crowd's laughter. [our emphasis]

First, let us say we sympathize deeply with Mrs. Barbieri (her name is Joy);  we're thinking their love life might not be very Joy-ful ("No, no, Vito.  I keep telling you that's not where it goes.").

This ignorant dullard is also a supporter of the "Oathkeepers," the gun fondlers seditionist group, and A.L.E.C., the ultra-right plutocrats' legislative cut- and- paste operation.  Surprise.

(h/t No More Mr. Nice Blog)

Father Knows Best Republicanism

(click to enlarge)

(Tony Auth, via gocomics.com)

With Rethuglican-controlled legislatures and governors mansions across the nation rushing to regulate women's reproductive health (while in Texas, for example, eschewing regulation of dangerous fertilizer plants), the stage is being set for court challenges leading to the Supreme Court's review of Roe v. Wade.  That's been the goal of the ALEC-sponsored unconstitutional nuttery finding its way into state laws:

The measures are part of a wave of abortion limits passed this year by conservative lawmakers and governors, who have approved more than 40 restrictions in statehouses around the country, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks the issue.

The push has been aided by the expanded control of state governments by Republicans, who now hold a majority of governerships and legislatures and who enjoy veto-proof majorities in twice as many states as Democrats.

Rethuglicans never equate a defeat at the polls for a defeat of their agenda, and neither should progressives.  The gains made by Rethugs in 2010's low-turnout off-year elections -- following their losses in 2006 and 2008 -- have led directly to this outcome in state after state.  Progressives need to make sure they're organized and energized in 2014 (or 2013 in Virginia!) to begin to reverse the tide of reactionary, father knows best Republicanism.

Oink

It's hard to be shocked anymore at the garbage that comes out of the mouth of hate radio king and Rethuglican philosopher Rush "Pills" Limpballs. But over the past few days, the porcine pill-popper descended to a new low when he attacked Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke for her Congressional testimony in support of womens' reproductive health. Referring to her as a "slut" and "prostitute," the Pig Man said:

"If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it, and I'll tell you what it is. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

Watching videos of a young woman having sex would no doubt please the Pig Man, who is famous for returning from a Dominican Republic sex tour a few years ago with lots of Viagra not prescribed to him. He's on, what, his fourth wife? And no children? Maybe his multiple wives have taken one look at him in the buff (mfff, sorry, threw up in my mouth) and decided to hold an aspirin between their knees. No other contraception needed.

It's hard to imagine this sick f*ck going lower, but he keeps shoveling in the sewer so there's no telling how far down he'll go.

UPDATE: The advertisers are starting to leave the Pig Man's radio show; also, President Obama, to his great credit, called Sandra Fluke today to thank her for speaking up and to say her parents should be proud of her. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, speaking for the President, called Limpballs' remarks "reprehensible" and "crude."