GOP war on women real and dangerous

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.unlvrebelyell.com/2012/05/21/gop-war-on-women-real-and-dangerous/

May 21, 2012 by Cole Peterson

Republicans take aim at the Violence Against Women Act

As the 2012 propaganda machines begin to pick up steam, Mitt Romney and other Republicans have started to attack is the accusation that the GOP is waging a war on women. Their attacks on abortion rights, Planned Parenthood, contraception and even equal pay rights have left a bad taste in people’s mouth, though the party line has always been that they’re just looking out for America’s morality. Any claim that all of this is an attempt to reinforce the eroding patriarchy is met with derision from politicians, and cries of a leftist-driven smear campaign.

With that in mind, one would think Republicans would have been happy to vote for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a largely bipartisan piece of legislation. By doing so, Romney would be able to stand up in the coming election, point to VAWA and say, “See, we’re all for protecting the rights of women.” That claim wouldn’t really hold up under any degree of scrutiny, but it would at least give him something to fall back on when the Obama campaign and women’s groups around the country pushed him into a corner.

Unfortunately, the Republicans have fumbled the ball in this particular area of civil rights protection. Rather than endorse a bill designed to spread protection to LGBT, Native American and undocumented immigrant women, the GOP-controlled House pushed forward their own version which actually removed certain protections enjoyed by women in this country. If Romney wants to make the above claim, he has to tack on the addendum, “unless they’re a lesbian, transgender or minority.”

The failing of VAWA, as Republicans see it, is that it just offers too much protection to undocumented immigrants. Currently, an immigrant woman who is being abused by her husband has the ability to confidentially file for citizenship, thereby allowing her to free herself from her abuser without risking deportation. This provision exists to protect women from other countries whose life in the U.S. is contingent on their marriage to a current citizen. Abusive men take advantage of such situations, threatening their wives, often obtained through the abhorrent mail-order bride industry, with deportation if they don’t take their beatings.

[PDJane]

1. The GOP would like white women to outbreed the minorities.

They don't care about the women who would have to do that work, their lives or the lives of their children, just that the US remains a 'white' country.

That's inherent in the institutionalized racism in the justice system, in the fact that infant mortality is higher among minorities...it's not a surprise, or shouldn't be.

[HockeyMom]

2. That is exactly what they are doing with not only restrictions on abortion

but also anti-contraception legislation.

[longship]

3. Ahem! They're trying that very thing...

Witness the following (so to speak):

The Quiverfull Movement, which neatly wraps Jesus, misogyny, Christian nation, and Republican social politics into one neat package.

I don't know how prevalent it is, but it rates an entry in Wikipedia. I imagine that the recent census data may give them quite a membership boost.

I think the Catholic proscription of birth control has nothing on these ignorant fools. Catholic women generally actually use birth control. Not these loonies.

Reminds me of yet another great George Carlin bit about women getting pregnant over and over again. Of course, he splits the difference by criticizing pointless careerism, the Republican ideal (albeit, for men only).

[meow2u3]

4. All their misogynist legislation will backfire on them, if not now, in 20 years

The unplanned kids may spark a new baby boom and the "neo-boomers" grown up will have enough numbers on their side to revolt against the theocrats, deposing them. Remember the 1960's and 70's; the counterculture was a revolt against conservative hypocrisy.

Be careful what you wish for, far-right misogynists. You just might get it.