Republicans have a dream; and it’s not Martin Luther King’s prayer for freedom and equality for all Americans. It’s just the opposite. They want all women to return to being June Cleaver. They want them in the home, cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. They don’t want them to have careers, but if they do, they should not be paid the same as a man; he is the ‘bread winner,’ and deserves more money. They want to have control over their women’s bodies. Sex on demand is mandatory, and if she gets pregnant, it’s her fault, and she must have the child and care for it; even if it is seriously ill or has a crippling birth defect.
Nothing could offer more proof than the GOP’s attacks against Planned Parenthood. This organization has assisted low-income and poor women for decades, offering healthcare for reproductive problems. It has not received federal funding for abortions since 1976, but that hasn’t stopped Republicans claiming that killing a fetus is its prime directive.
Several red states, or states ruled by Republican governors, have attempted to defund Planned Parenthood. There is no logic in their efforts. Removing Planned Parenthood would deprive thousands of low-income and poor women much needed healthcare; healthcare they cannot afford. The sole purpose; the truth about their efforts; is related to votes for reelection. If they failed to support the extremist group, the Christian religious right, this large bloc of Republican voters would no longer support their candidacy.
The Christian religious right is composed of a group of prevaricators and fake-Christians. They have manipulated words in the Bible to make the claim that Jesus Christ damned abortion, and homosexuality.
Fortunately, the court system is mostly favorable to the support of Planned Parenthood and the women they serve. Recently the Governor of Ohio, and former Republican presidential candidate, John Kasich, received just such a defeat in his state. A federal judge sided with women and denied the male-dominated Republican Party another success in its war against women.
“The defunding law in Ohio would have stopped Planned Parenthood from providing HIV tests, cancer screenings, and assistance for poor mothers with newborn infants,” said Kellie Copeland, president of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, in a statement.
When the campaign season began with TEA Party leader, and Planned Parenthood hater, Ted Cruz announcing his candidacy early in 2015, who believed that the clown car would be occupied with 17 passengers? Did anyone consider the fact that ultimately the driver of that car would become Donald Trump.?
Kasich was a passenger in the back seat, who attempted to convince Republican voters that he was the sane one. We eventually learned that he was just as crazy as the others; he just hid it better. His distaste for women is obvious. He wants to “keep them in their place.”
The Republican Party has vocalized its claim that it is not waging a war on women; but the facts speak for themselves. They failed to support any legislation which would have required businesses to guarantee equal pay and equal treatment in the work place. The GOP even voted against the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act. In support of an extremist Christian group, it seeks denial of a woman to have control over her own body. In Congress, Republican women in the House and Senate are outnumbered by Democratic women by three to one. Although many single mothers are forced to attempt to support their families on a federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, Republicans oppose an increase; favoring the profits of their wealthy friends.
President Obama was rejected by the Republican base for one reason; he was a black man. There is no denying the truth if we look at the facts of the last eight years. Now they are attacking Hillary Clinton because she is a woman. How dare a woman attempt to change the last 240 years? Women must remain second-class citizens; that’s the Republican way.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Follow me on Twitter: @jamesturnagenov
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