GOP War on Women Heats Up
It never really ended, but the GOP’s war on women is definitely back and more misogynistic than ever. Let’s go through a few things that have happened just in the past week:
- House of Representatives to consider unconstitutional abortion ban: Today the House Judiciary Committee, whose 23 Republican members are all men, approved an unconstitutional ban on abortion after 20 weeks. The measure, championed by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), is similar to one enacted in his home state of Arizona that was recently found unconstitutional by a federal appeals court. Franks’ present effort would apply nationwide, which is more aggressive than previous years when he only sought to force a 20-week ban on the women of the District of Columbia. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has promised that the full House will vote on it next week.
- Congressman revives Akin-like rape talk: During today’s markup of the aforementioned abortion ban, Rep. Trent Franks made comments echoing Todd Akin’s infamous “legitimate rape” remarks. Franks, who defended Akin at the time he made those remarks, explained today that the incidence of pregnancy from rape is “very low.” There are approximately 30,000 pregnancies resulting from rape every year in the United States.
- GOP governor revives forced ultrasounds: Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) became the latest Republican governor to embrace forced transvaginal probes for women seeking to exercise their constitutionally-protected right to have an abortion. In addition to forced ultrasounds, the legislation Walker has promised to sign would also close abortion clinics across the Badger State.
- Senators suggest offensive explanations for military sexual assault crisis: Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) blamed the growing problem of military sexual assault on “the hormone level created by nature.” His colleague, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), instead suggested that perhaps pornography is to blame.
- GOP governor attacks working mothers: Gov. Phil Bryant (R-MS) was asked to explain why the American education system “so mediocre.” Bryant responded that working mothers were to blame. This came just days after several Fox News commentatorslost their minds over the record number of women who are the primary breadwinners in their household.
BOTTOM LINE: Republicans didn’t learn a single lesson from their string of outrageous attacks on women last year and instead appear to be doubling down on their extreme views and offensive legislative proposals.
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