Middle-Aged Mutant Numbnut Turtle.
Not satisfied with President Obama’s new religious accommodation, Republicans will move forward with legislation by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) that permits any employer to deny birth control coverage in their health insurance plans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Sunday.
“If we end up having to try to overcome the President’s opposition by legislation, of course I’d be happy to support it, and intend to support it,” McConnell said. “We’ll be voting on that in the Senate and you can anticipate that that would happen as soon as possible.”
The Blunt amendment he was specifically referring to would “ensure that health care stakeholders retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions” under the Affordable Care Act.
My employer pays into my health insurance as part of my compensation for my work...
So now if you're an employer, you get to impose your religious convictions -- Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, Scientologist, Mormon, Satanist, atheist, Squirrel-Fuckerist -- upon all your employees' healthcare decisions.
In other words, if you need an appendectomy, and your nutty Squirrel-Fuckerist employer has a problem with that because of some shit having to do with acorns: die. Or if your employer is a Scientologist and you need mental health care, go nuts. Or if your employer is a Christian Scientist and you need a transfusion, ha ha die, have an acorn.
So, thus, the GOP is all about Individual Freedom.
For your crazy-ass boss. For your right to decide how you want to fuck, not so much.
If this is where they want to fight...
Fine by me.
MAS. Damn dirty ape Mark Steyn with a lot of whiny crap (Obama is violating the separation of Church and State! No, really, he says that), but it's worth isolating this bit because it's become Wingnut Dogma:
Is there anyone who needs contraception who can’t get it? Taxpayers give half a billion dollars to Planned Parenthood, who shovel out IUDs like aspirin. Colleges hand out free condoms, and the Washington Post quotes middle-aged student “T Squalls, 30” approving his university’s decision to upgrade to the Trojan “super-size Magnum.”
This is about the pill. Which is not cheap.
And the Right is trying as damn hard as they can to put Planned Parenthood out of business.
There's a lot that could be said here, but this line of argument is pretty entertaining, once one considers where it would end up:
WOMAN IN COMMITTED LONG-TERM MONOGAMOUS HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP: Honey...?
MAN IN COMMITTED LONG-TERM MONOGAMOUS HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP: Yes, darling?
WiCL-TMHR: The Republican Party has just taken a brave step forward in defense of religious liberty!
MiCL-TMHR: Wonderful news, my sweet!
WiCL-TMHR: Yes, my love!
MiCL-TMHR: Praise be to the Pope! And Mitch McConnell!
WiCL-TMHR: Only one thing, angel mine.
MiCL-TMHR: Anything, dearest!
WiCL-TMHR: From now on, luvvy-pudding, when we fuck you have to start wearing a condom.
MiCL-TMHR: (Blinks) Beg pardon...?
WiCL-TMHR: It is but the smallest sacrifice, my sun-and-stars. After all, we must put the consciences of the American Catholic Bishops first, before our more intimate, carnal desires -- is that not right, sugar lumpkins?
MiCL-TMHR: SON OF A BITCH. SHIT.
So, yeah. I kind of think we win on this one.
(There's nothing wrong with condoms, of course. Use them! But my point stands. As it were.)
