AP – Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum on Friday backed prominent conservative James Dobson’s claim that President Barack Obama’s administration would block medical treatment for stroke patients over age 70. Professional medical groups have called such statements bogus.
The bruising Republican primary has given President Obama and his campaign an opportunity to craft his message for the general election, especially as it relates to winning over independents.
For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has enabled millions of women to make the most basic and critical decisions about their bodies and their lives.
I am one of those millions of women. And that’s why I will always stand with Planned Parenthood and against any person or organization who stands in its way.
I could give you the facts. I could quote studies, recite statistics. You want links? Research? Proof? I could give you that. There is plenty of that.
But I’m just going to tell you what I know.
For most of the women in this country, Planned Parenthood is the easiest, cheapest, safest—and sometimes only way—to see a doctor. For even the most basic of medical care, like breast exams and pap smears, Planned Parenthood is our best—and sometimes only—option.
Not all women need Planned Parenthood. Those with money and/or really good health insurance that doesn’t pick and choose what sorts of medical care women “should” have don’t need to depend on the sliding scale. Many more women have, at some point in their lives, sought care at Planned Parenthood. Even the protesters and the zealots—yes, even they have turned to Planned Parenthood in their time of need.
Women’s standard of living is best improved when they control their reproduction. Education, career, financial stability, health and happiness—all of these things are more easily attained when women determine the direction of their own lives, when their choices and their bodies are not subject to the whim and will of others.
We all know the arguments, the slogans, the bumper stickers. We know what we are supposed to imagine nine months later, once a woman’s body has ceased to serve its purpose as incubator and grower of life, as property of the state or church, as property belonging to something or someone other than herself. Now there is a separate swaddled being, and if she will not or cannot provide care, we are supposed to imagine all the other rose-colored-glass-half-full possibilities to assure ourselves that it will all work out for the best for mother and child and society.
But that is a lie. When a woman’s body is not her own property, when she is deprived of the right to make those most basic decisions for herself, it rarely works out for anyone.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has in advance of a meeting with the Milwaukee County district attorney, whose office is conducting investigation into members of Walker’s staff.
Charges have already been made against four Walker staffers and appointees as part of this investigation. Two former aides were with using public resources for Republican political campaigns, while the others are accused of, as Giles goat Boy :
A Walker appointee, a Walker campaign aide, and a child molester embezzled money that was intended for disabled veterans.
Walker the upcoming meeting with prosecutors is voluntary. He better hope these chitchats stay that way.
AP – The stronger the economy gets, the more the presidential race comes down to what voters believe: Are things actually getting better? Or is it all still a mess?
AP – In Nevada, people could once buy homes and feed their families with money earned from free-spending tourists who flocked to Sin City for relaxed gambling and liquor laws.
AP – Mitt Romney talks about his love for America almost every day. Twice now, the Republican presidential front-runner has even broken into song.
Newt Gingrich had no comment about January’s jobs figures at an event late Friday morning in Nevada because, the former House speaker explained, he hadn’t seen them yet.
AP – President Barack Obama has spent time with around 25 wealthy donors who paid $35,800 each to talk with him behind closed doors at a Washington hotel.
Mitt Romney likes to say on the campaign trail that President Obama’s policies made the recession worse, but most statistics don’t bear that out.