Little Man, Big Douche

Saturday saw a historic vote in the House of Representatives for health care reform. The Democrats were successfully able to pass a comprehensive bill that covers over 30 million more Americans and fight costs for all. No other President and Congress has taken a massive health care bill so far since Medicare was passed. Yesterday was an excellent day for America.

Unfortunately, there was a down side.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), our first Douche of the Day, decided that lowering health care costs and expanding coverage takes a back seat to his pet issue – pro-life extremism. The Stupak Amendment marks one of the most severe set backs for choice in decades. Stupak’s amendment forbids health plans, both public and private, from providing abortion coverage for those participating in the Health Exchange. He argued that no federal money, even if the plan is bought with private co-pays and premiums, must never go to paying for abortion.

This was a full frontal assault on the constitutional rights of women across the United States. Specifically, this negatively affects low-incomes females, since the Health Exchange is only available to low to middle income Americans, from having access to proper family planning. These women are arguably those in the most need of these services., thus perpetuating the poverty cycle in low-income families. Bart Stupak stripped the right of choice from millions of women when he ushered this amendment through the House yesterday. When he introduced this amendment he brought along scores of pro-life Democrats ready to back him in his crusade. His crusade against the rights of women.

As a man I will never know the fear of being held captive by an unwanted pregnancy. What I do know is that forcing women to be “supplemental” abortion insurance is bad logic. Like an unwanted pregnancy, a person never foresees the need to combat cancer, yet we cover cancer under the Health Exchange. We would never force a cancer patient to buy supplemental cancer insurance. This is just bad policy meant to make a extremist political statement.

What added insult to Stupak’s betrayal were the despicable actions of several House Republicans during the debate on the amendment. When pro-choice Democratic WOMEN were presenting their argument Rep. Price (R-GA), amongst others, repeatedly shouted down the speakers.  This disrespectful showcase of misogyny should have been a wake up call to Stupak. This was the type of man he allied himself with when he led yesterday’s attack on women.