House GOP Blocking Abortion Access for Soldiers Who Are Raped

[xchrom]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/06/shaheen-amendment-military-rape-abortion



Republican Senators John McCain, Scott Brown, and Susan Collins all support an effort by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, to expand abortion access for military women who are raped. But despite bipartisan support in the Senate, Shaheen's proposal may not make it into the final version of the 2013 defense authorization bill—because House Republicans oppose it.

If Shaheen's measure passes, military families will finally have the same access to abortion that other federal employees already receive. Unlike the rest of the federal government, the Department of Defense currently only provides abortion coverage if the life of the mother is at stake. Under current law, if a State Department employee is raped, her government health insurance plan will pay for an abortion if she wants one. But if an Army medic serving in Afghanistan is raped and becomes pregnant, she can't use her military health plan to pay for an abortion. If she does decide to get an abortion, she will have to pay for it with her own money. And if she can't prove she was raped—which is difficult before an investigation is completed—she may have to look for services off base, which can be dangerous or impossible in many parts of the world.

"We have more than 200,000 women serving on active duty in our military," Shaheen tells Mother Jones. "They should have the same rights to affordable reproductive health services as all of the civilians who they protect."

In late May, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved Shaheen's amendment, attaching it to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. McCain, the committee's top Republican, voted in favor, as did Brown and Collins. Shaheen is "hopeful" her proposal has enough support to be included in the final bill. The NDAA still needs a vote on the Senate floor. But for Shaheen's amendment, there's a bigger problem: the Republican-controlled House.

"We don't really understand why anybody would oppose [Shaheen's bill]," says Sharon Levin, the director of federal reproductive health policy at the National Women's Law Center. "The only reason it wouldn't go through is if the Republican leadership in the House tried to block it."

[KansDem]

1. These people are ****ing insane!

Why would anyone oppose this?

The only reason it wouldn't go through is if the Republican leadership in the House tried to block it.

"Leadership" implies having the wisdom and insight to motivate and inspire. I think another term is needed. How about "Bleedership" since they cause profuse hemorrhaging in the American people?

Republican Bleedership-- It has a certain ring...

[obamanut2012]

2. Support the Troops my ass

[Ilsa]

3. GOPers Hate women being in the military.

They always have.
GOPers like having their all-male clubs. And they don't give a shit about rape victims. I'll be surprised if they do the right thing here and help them with access and payment.

[SemperEadem]

20. that's it exactly

it's their "just due" for forcing their way into their "boyz-only" tree house.

[catbyte]

4. The GOP is nothing but political pornography

No redeeming social value.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Dogs Aren’t Luggage--HISS!”

[Honest_Abe]

6. I think...

pornography has more redeeming social value the the current Republican Party at the national level.

[CanonRay]

5. This is unconscionable

[MsPithy]

7. Let's be clear.

If a female soldier or marine is captured and raped and becomes pregnant, that blastocyst is more important to Republicans that the female soldier.

Why isn't Obama wiping the floor with these mother fuckers?

[uponit7771]

8. Because the DNC is has no courage!!!

[awoke_in_2003]

12. that is how they feel about all females...

why should females in uniform be any different. They hate women- plain and simple.

[Aerows]

9. It takes a very cruel person

To deny a female soldier who is raped either by those she serves with or if she gets captured in the field an abortion. I can't imagine that there are a plethora of abortion services (or gynecological ones) in Afghanistan.

McCain is on the right side of this one, and as a former POW, he gives a damn about soldiers, both male and female. Whoever opposes this does not give a damn about our troops, and needn't ever pretend that they do.

They are like that woman that claimed it was a waste of money to help female soldiers who were "raped too much". Just evil.

[elehhhhna]

10. If you frame it as What if she's been raped by an insurgent?!!!

they'll back up that truck, pronto

[Skittles]

13. no, they wouldn't

remember, this is punishment for women and what could be a better punishment than forcing a woman to bear the child of a terrorist?

[xmas74]

14. And why is that?

Because women are descendants of Eve. It always goes back to Eve with this group.

[Skittles]

15. I don't know what it is

but when you see so-called progressives denying sexism - no doubt if they are white they deny racism too. And if they are conservatives, yeah, add the usual religious crap to complete the misogyny

[xmas74]

16. They aren't really progressives,

even though they might be found posting on progressive forums. We've more than a few here who deny that sexism or racism even exists-they'd rather focus on how "those people" are taking everything that they personally deserve, dammit!

I have far too many over-the-top evangelicals and RR types in my neck of the woods. Blaming Eve is a common thing. Sometimes I think that's how they bond.

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[SunSeeker]

17. How is depriving medical care to our troops not treason?

[glinda]

18. Depriving them of medical care is slavery and imprisonment.

[SunSeeker]

21. Agreed. Forced pregnancy is a hideous crime.

IMO, worse than the rape itself. At least after the rape, you regain control over your own body.