My friend Ann went down to join this yesterday and so did the daughter of regular BJ commenter “Botsplainer’:
With her two-week-old son in hand, Cleveland gynecologist Lisa Perriera told demonstrators at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday that new laws limiting access to abortions and other women’s health care are creating unnecessary hurdles for her patients.
Perriera said that because of the laws she recently had to require a couple forced to end a pregnancy for medical reasons to listen to the fetal heartbeat and undergo an ultrasound to determine the pregnancy’s viability before sending them out of state for a legal late-term abortion.
“I’m here today to speak in opposition to the continuous assault on comprehensive reproductive health care by our state elected officials and to demand that Ohio politicians get out of my exam room,” Perriera told the crowd of several hundred at the “We Won’t Go Back” rally.
Participants from more than 50 women’s groups, labor unions and elsewhere hoped the rally would draw the attention of Republican Gov. John Kasich and GOP lawmakers who control both chambers of the Legislature and favor restriction abortion.
Demonstrators waved signs attacking Kasich and other male leaders for effectively de-funding Planned Parenthood and passing abortion-related restrictions on Ohio’s publicly funded hospitals and on counselors at taxpayer-funded rape crisis centers.
The president of Ohio Right to Life predicted the event would do little to sway opinions on abortion. “It’s a political stunt. It’s nothing more than a charade,” Mike Gonidakis said. “It won’t move the needle at all in the state.”
Completely dismisses those pesky females because after all, what do they know? Stop with the charades, ladies. Mr. Gonidakis is on to your wily ways.
The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik
My fear, Kay, is that Mr. Gonidakis might be right, if hardly for the reasons he thinks he is. Depends on how much pols in the state actually, you know, listen, which is something I’ve essentially lost faith in when it comes to these kinds of Politics of Spite.
Villago Delenda Est
Then Gonidakis said under his breath, but it was caught by the open mike “fuck these fucking sluts”.
Shakezula
So unlike the very sincere concern for women and children shown by the Forced Pregnancy crowd.
scav
Has kindly, benevolent, omniscient and paternal Mr. Gonidakis delivered the same angelic pronouncement concerning the futility and political stuntness of such demonstrations to the screamers outside clinics by any chance?
Kay
@The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik:
Oh, I’m sure he’s a politically savvy operator. I’m always amused by conservatives who believe their political actions are holy and sacrosanct and their opponents are pulling “stunts” and playing “charades”.
These are the people who filled the Ohio statehouse with pink balloons for a “Heartbeat Bill” rally and talk about women’s health like they’re reading from a Hallmark card. Tell me about “charades”. Women’s health shouldn’t be turned into a romance novel. I think I’m going with the physician rather than the paid political hack.
Zifnab
/ insert Gandhi quote here /
Seriously, though, when all you’ve got to say is “Lala, no one is listening,” you’re not really helping your case. “I don’t have to explain my position, because everyone agrees with me” indicates that you don’t have a lot of confidence in your own message.
rk
Talking about putting women in place. The exchange between this congressman and a female park ranger just made me so angry. He actually blames the park ranger for the shutdown and tries to shame her! I’m actually at a loss for words!
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-congressman-confronts-park-ranger
Gopher2b
Is this an open thread? Sorry if it’s not. But this incredible: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-congressman-confronts-park-ranger
GOP representative goes down to WWII memorial to berate Park Ranger for doing her job. He’s an asshole, she’s completely professional. He’s being paid, she’s not. He’s not doing his job (abstractly, obvious but specifically why is he even at the memorial) and she is.
Remarkable.
Punchy
There’s an “elections have consequences” truism in there somewheres….
Botsplainer
My daughter was thrilled to be there to add to the multitude of Ohio women who oppose Kasich and his radicals (she was up there with the UC Feminists). I supplied the poster stock for much of her group, they supplied the art.
peach flavored shampoo
The easiest way to get Republicans to support abortion rights is to have the Democrats suddenly declare themselves pro-life, then watch as Cleek’s Law takes over overnight.
Kay
@Gopher2b:
I don’t know how they’re getting away with the outrage over the shutdown they caused.
The hatred directed at public employees is now just part of the conservative belief system, so that doesn’t surprise me. I guess the objective is to redirect the anger away from their cowardly asses towards people who are actually doing their jobs.
Nothing conservatives like better than demeaning and berating a worker!
OzarkHillbilly
Remember, these are the same people who cut funds for SNAP. Next time they try to tell you they are saving children’s lives? Ask them “So you can starve them later?”
Kay
Also, it should be noted that Harry Reid just does not give a shit anymore:
I think it’s great. He should appear once an hour with an email or a revelation about what they say behind closed doors.
OzarkHillbilly
@Kay:
Why isn’t she at home in the kitchen?!
Gopher2b
@Kay:
I’m a federal employee in DC (currently, like many others,working for free) and the place is about to explode. People are trying to be professional; we’ve dealt with sequester furloughs, no raises, constant threat of shutdowns, etc. But being berated by Congressman for doing our jobs while we’re not bring paid and they are!!! This could be the straw.
peach flavored shampoo
@Kay: This is brilliant, given the Chuck Toddler’s non-curiosity in fact-checking anything. I think tomorrow Reid “reveals” that Boehner told him that he really likes to fornicate with fowl. On Saturday, Reid drops the bombshell that Boehner cant stay sober long enough to bang his intern.
Now, for the first time, both sides actually use the MSM laziness to their advantage.
Kay
@OzarkHillbilly:
Oh, it’s unconscionable. There is something wrong with us that they are allowed to use these poor people like this. They are ginning up anger at people who had absolutely nothing to do with their cowardly stunt. They’re pathetic. The flop sweat is just dripping off them, and yet they’re allowed to continue this rampage of crazed re-direction. Sniveling, panicking cowards.
SuperHrefna
@Botsplainer: I’m so glad she is perking up and taking an interest in the world. Good on her for going to protest, every person counts.
Mnemosyne
@Gopher2b:
I still don’t understand how Congresscritters have managed to decide that, although they receive a government paycheck and benefits, they’re not really government employees, so they can sit and bitch about “the government” and do their level best to fuck up the government while being paid by the goddamned government!
MomSense
@Botsplainer:
Congratulations to Botsplainer daughter and to you!
Kay
@Gopher2b:
Well, I’m sorry and I’m sorry that everyone has decided that whatever behavior conservatives indulge in is A-OK as long as it saves their political hides. It’s really not. It’s no way to treat people. I blame poor parenting, myself :)
Higgs Boson's Mate
I’d suggest that they change their name to the Misogynist Party, but the stupid bastards can’t spell “misogynist.”
dmsilev
@Kay: It’s hilarious to watch. It was reported the other day that there’s a deep personal loathing between Reid and Boehner, and I guess Reid figures that this is the perfect time to just unload on Boehner.
OzarkHillbilly
@Kay:
C’mon Kay, quit beating around the Bush and tell us how you really feel. ;-)
scav
@Kay: The other thing is, what employee hasn’t witnessed underlings getting called to the carpet for the mistakes of management? Pulling stunts like these, personal attacks rather than abstract ones from the podium bubble might jolt those memories into play. I’d call it iffy as a PR technique.
Roger Moore
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
Maybe the Misanthrope Party would be better, since their dislike extends far beyond women. Or perhaps the Xenophobe Party. Unfortunately, the most accurate [ETA: and easier to spell] name, The Know-Nothing Party, has already been used.
Higgs Boson's Mate
Monty Python already said it for me:
‘WE WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY IN WHICH POLITICIANS ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS PROGRAMME. IT WAS NEVER OUR INTENTION TO IMPLY THAT POLITICIANS ARE WEAK-KNEED, POLITICAL TIME-SERVERS WHO ARE CONCERNED MORE WITH THEIR PERSONAL VENDETTAS AND PRIVATE POWER STRUGGLES THAN THE PROBLEMS OF GOVERNMENT, NOR TO SUGGEST AT ANY POINT THAT THEY SACRIFICE THEIR CREDIBILITY BY DENYING FREE DEBATE ON VITAL MATTERS IN THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT PARTY UNITY COMES BEFORE THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENT NOR TO IMPLY AT ANY STAGE THAT THEY ARE SQUABBLING LITTLE TOADIES WITHOUT AN OUNCE OF CONCERN FOR THE VITAL SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF TODAY. NOR INDEED DO WE INTEND THAT VIEWERS SHOULD CONSIDER THEM AS CRABBY ULCEROUS LITTLE SELF-SEEKING VERMIN WITH FURRY LEGS AND AN EXCESSIVE ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL AND CERTAIN EXPLICIT SEXUAL PRACTICES WHICH SOME PEOPLE MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE. WE ARE SORRY IF THIS IMPRESSION HAS COME ACROSS.”
Elizabelle
@Gopher2b:
The congresscritter is Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX).
Too bad the audio is so poor.
Neugebauer is walking around with a small American flag in his pocket — no mere flag pin for him.
What a patriot.
? Martin
[facepalm]
Just had an argument with a liberal who was hoping the Tea Party wins this fight so that after Obamacare is repealed we can implement single-payer.
I didn’t even know where to begin…
dmsilev
@Kay:
Speaking of sniveling, check out the memo that Eric Cantor sent to House GOP members and was leaked to National Review:
Villago Delenda Est
@dmsilev:
Respected only by his fellow vile parasites of the Village. Outside the beltway, he’s loathed.
Shows just how entrenched in the bubble the dipshit Cantor is.
Cassidy
OT- It has been confirmed. I thought it was a fluke. I am now neither old enough or young enough to be flirted with by the cute bartender. Two for one Yuengling though, so it’s not a total loss.
Face
So now they’re big pimpin’ the Clenis? This just reaks of “holy shit, our strategy backfired. What the fuck do we do now?”
piratedan
@? Martin: beatings seems like a good place to start or you could hand them a shovel and send them to the stables and tell them to go find their pony
beltane
@dmsilev:
Funny, I remember the solution that was found had Newt Gingrich eating crow. Eric Cantor’s memory must be different than mine.
scav
Oh dear, the party of lockstep has reached the leaky stage. Higher ups jigging for an escape or staff tired of having their benefits used as political footballs by their well- and currently-paid bosses . . . mmmmmm.
dmsilev
@Villago Delenda Est: Do enough people know who Bob Woodward is (beyond “that guy from Watergate forty years ago”, if that) to give two shits one way or the other?
dmsilev
@Face: What, exactly, is Obama supposed to negotiate with with the current batch? All they want is unconditional surrender.
catclub
@dmsilev: Conveniently neglecting the fact that in 1995, House and Senate were both held by GOP. So the president was only one on the other side.
Now, whatever the House passes (as if), has to get through the Senate as well.
scav
@dmsilev: It gives the appearence of having reputable backing friends, much as random footnotes to imaginary books give a veneer of scholarship to last-minute sophomore papers.
beltane
@dmsilev: The only people who know who Bob Woodward is are other old people who hear the name and say “He’s still alive? I thought he passed a few years ago.”
coin operated
@? Martin: Hope you were wearing protective gear. That’s some weapons-grade stupidity there.
Seanly
@Gopher2b:
I like the American flags the douchecanoe & some others were sporting. I look forward to all the Republican congressmen wearing sashimonos to exemplify how their patriotism is better than my patriotism. A flag lapel pin is too small – Obama, Reid & Pelosi must hate America if that is all they’ll wear!
I like how the courageous congressman wanders away from the Park Ranger (and then the furloughed federal worker) without finishing his argument.
Roger Moore
@beltane:
I’m pretty sure that Eric Cantor’s memory involves the Republicans winning the showdown, which should demonstrate how crazy he is.
Kay
@dmsilev:
It means they have horrible polling so they have to pretend Bob Woodward matters to voters.
The NIH thing is a problem for them, though. I saw the beginning of both Chicago and Toledo news last night and even I thought it was over the top.
They basically said we’ve stopped curing dread diseases, and people will die. Then they went right to how people will be poisoned by un-inspected meat.
It’s the sort of thing local news loves: “you’re going to DIE!”
scav
@Kay: And now they’ve got the You’re Going to Die weather angle with Karen. Hurricane Hunters and FEMA workers working with no guaranteed pay and what happens if it actually hits?
ruemara
@? Martin: Begin with “fucktarded” and work your way up from there.
beltane
There are reports of a shooting in front of the Capitol: https://twitter.com/TheFix/status/385832973171720193
JustRuss
@Mnemosyne:
Simple really. For far too many congresscritters, that paycheck is just pocket change, they don’t need to actually live off it. Of course, they’re still happy to bitch about how government workers who make a quarter of their salary are overpaid.
Stella B
@OzarkHillbilly: I love to ask them that. An unbelievable number of anti-choice/”love the baby” people are opposed to subsidizing pre-natal care and food for infants and children. Not to mention health care, paid parental leave, paid sick leave, public education, etc. They think the beyotches should consider all of that before they do the nasty. Need to care for a severely disabled child? Sorry, you lose the game of Life!
Interrobang
This issue pisses me off most of the time, but today of all days — Interrobang, how different is this day from all other days? Well, I’ll tell you. This morning I heard a female wingnut on the morning radio show saying that in countries where abortion is completely banned, the maternal mortality rate is far below what it is here in Canada, which, as you can see is (as usual) a flat out lie (I love to call those freaks the “Right to Li(f)e,” since all they ever do is lie!), and the radio host agreeing, saying it was “a shame” Canada has no laws whatsoever about abortion…
…and secondly, I got my adoption papers back from the province where I was born today (abortion was illegal where and when I was born), and my biological mother said (in her own handwriting!) that (to paraphrase) she would have kept me but she desperately needed to finish high school and had nobody who could help her with me, especially since I wasn’t healthy, and that is a heartbreaking thing to do to a grade 10 student who is desperate and stranded and (from the looks of things) about to be disowned by her remaining family if she doesn’t give up the baby she’s just spent nine months gestating.
And people like Kasich and Gonidakis just want that kind of thing to happen more, because it’s good for the baby. Fuck them. This baby was pretty heartbroken for that girl when she read those words, let me tell you. Fuck them.