The Battle Over Women Voters
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-03-12/battle-over-women-voters
Women cast nearly ten million more votes than men in the last presidential race. Their traditional preference for Democrats helped put President Obama in the White House. but the female vote swung to the GOP in 2010, giving Republicans congrol of the House. Now there are signs of another shift. Recent polls show Republicans have been hurt by the current focus on contraception, abortion and women’s health issues. This week the President’s re-election campaign plans to launch an intensified effort to mobilize female voters. Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post, Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women and Phyllis Schlafly, founder and president of the eagle forum, join Diane to discuss the battle for and about women.
Guests
Terry O'Neill
president, National Organization for Women.
Phyllis Schlafly
founder and president, Eagle Forum
Karen Tumulty
national political reporter, The Washington Post.
Comments
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Ms. Schlafly said in one of her comments that the issue is that employers are being asked to pay for contraception for women even if they disagree with it. Yes, that is part of what insurance is about. I totally object to paying the medical bills for someone who smokes. Their medical issues (heart disease, lung cancer, stroke) are usually way, way more expensive than covering contraception, but I have no choice. I have to pay so that others can continue to choose to smoke and get sick. The point of medical insurance is that we all pay so that we all can get the medical care we need, be it contraception or bypass surgery, or a stay in the coronary intensive care unit.
"Bottom line is that I am being forced to by the government to purchase a policy from a private company. This is my biggest problem with it. It strikes me as a HUGE government subsidy." M. Sargeant
You’re already forced by the government to purchase an insurance policy. In any state I know, you cannot purchase or drive a car without proof of insurance. Bottom line is that without a public option…or a single payer system, those insurance companies (who are delighted, btw) can charge you any price they wish.
"The gop is not only waging a war on women they are waging a war on working families of all sorts. "
Again, I ask. What is the purpose and goal of "waging a war on women" or on "working families of all sorts"?" ecgberht
Because they CAN. They’ve given themselves permission. The extreme Tea Party has finally steered the GOP ship into the moral shoals…and there it is going to crack up and sink unless they can find a true leader with a spine rather than some festering suet sac of a radio hot button pusher. You didn’t listen. Over 1100 bills are now pending in state legislatures limiting the access of women to health. In other words, MANDATING that the government FORCE women to do what these extremists insist is morally right…for everyone! And you think this is a Democratic push? Or somehow media foisted on an innocent public demanding the discussion be about jobs/economy?
And why isn’t the GOP discussing jobs and the economy? Because the only things they have to offer are continued failures of things that do not work…and are STILL not working. They have to have SOMETHING to discuss…to take the public eye away from the fact that they offer no solutions at all…except for DEREGULATE.
If the issue were coverage of Viagra, erectile dysfunction, or penile implants, this discussion would never have occurred.
O.K. I'm trying to understand. So, birth control is morally suspect because: if a woman has sex and becomes pregnant, it is God's will. So, then, how does this line of thinking not apply to Viagra? If a man cannot physically have sex, isn't that God's will, too? You can't have your cake and eat it too!
oh there is no way Diane would call Phyllis out. Diane has become a limp rag.
Sorry, mrcrouch. Doesn't wash. Smoking does not violate anyone's religious view. Being forced to provide contraception when it is in opposition to one of the basic tenets of some religious denominations does. That's the difference. This is about protecting liberty and the first amendment from attack by the left. It's happening more and more; first it was the "fairness" doctrine, attacking speech, then it was Citizens United, also attacking speech, now it is an attack on the "free exercise" clause. Where does it end?
kws1949,
"Because they CAN" isn't really an answer.
If there are "1100 bills pending limiting the access of women to health", you shouldn't have any trouble producing 5 of them for us to consider, should you?
This is only a question of who pays. Nothing more.
Trust me, except for that idiot Santorum, the GOP IS TRYING to discuss jobs and the economy - but instead we get Sandra Fluke steering that discussion into a "war on women". Too much!
And as for viagra ... don't wanna pay for that either.
I've been steaming for hours over the comments of Ms Schlafly, how could Dianne tolerate such brash and intolerant opinions? Haven't heard anyone sound so coarse since Marjorie Main! But I finally realized a benefit of her voicing her opinions on the show. Her extreme conservative opinions probably caused more women turn away than to join her. Nothing can better show how cold and black your heart has become than to hear someone whose heart is colder and blacker. So rave on Phyllis--We hear you--And thank God we don't agree with you!!!!
mrcrouch wrote:
"Ms. Schlafly said in one of her comments that the issue is that employers are being asked to pay for contraception for women even if they disagree with it."
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And it should be there right (Insurance Companies) not to cover contraception and that included Viagra
Yes, that is part of what insurance is about. I totally object to paying the medical bills for someone who smokes. Their medical issues (heart disease, lung cancer, stroke) are usually way, way more expensive than covering contraception, but I have no choice.
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Sure you do Crouch, don't buy insurance if they cover smoking. I worked for an employer that if you were caught smoking, you would be fired. Now is that not discrimination towards those who smoke? Who doesn't have a vice Crouch that is bad for them?
I have to pay so that others can continue to choose to smoke and get sick. The point of medical insurance is that we all pay so that we all can get the medical care we need, be it contraception or bypass surgery, or a stay in the coronary intensive care unit."
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Then if that is the case why not add abortion, transgender surgery. Lipto Sucktion should be another life saver. You know those people that cannot lose the fat which causes heart disease, strokes, impotence, etc., can get all that fat sucked out.
Where is all this needness stuff going to stop and what will our premuims be.
What we do not get after the break is a challenge to the egregious lie that Schlafly put forward. No challenge, no correction. Ms. Rehm you should be ashamed. You allowed Schlafly to perpetuate a BIG LIE and did not challenge it. Instead you did the she said, she said, tow sides to every FACT, thing that supposedly NPR is no longer going to do. Is it possible to get it in your brain Ms. Rehm that benefit provided by employers as deferred wages and salaries paid for by EMPLOYEES. Employers are just the conduit for the EMPLOYEES money to pay for benefits like health insurance. Schlafly is NOT paying for anyone’s health insurance but her own. And yet you let her assertion that she is paying for other WOMEN EMPLOYEES to have contraception covered by an employer provided hyealth care insurance policy that is actually paid for by the EMPLOYEES!!!!!!!!!! Why will you continue to enable the people you allow on your show, the people you give a voice to, to LIE! And not challenge the LIE! Why? If you do not know enough about the issue to challenge such lies then do not have shows like todays. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM!. You have a very powerful responsibility to know what you are doing on a show like todays. It is a responsibility that you FAILED. You today ENABLED a liar, and thus are responsible for the perpetuation of a LIE!. You, Ms. Rehm. You need to take responsibility and put on a show that truly addresses who pays for health insurance, a show with people who know what they are talking about. You want to talk about Rush Limbaugh’s egregious remarks but in a much more subtle and sinister way you enabled Rush’s essential lie, that he is paying for Fluke’s insurance (HE IS NOT, SHE IS) to continue. It is infuriating to listen to a radio show that purports to present FACTS, and then have LIES go unchallenged. Ms. Rehm you have earned, but have also been given a voice, and thus a responsibility. Use it more wisely.
Your 2000 character limit makes it almost impossible to take part of the transcrtipt of your show and respond responsibly. Are you deliberately trying to stifle real, considered opinion?
Good for you mcrouch. You address the fact the EMPLOYEES pay for their benefits. that is the most important point to continue to make in this issue of lies.
vageiger:
In case you do not know the premuims that are paid in company sponsored insurance policies by employees, they are also matched by the employer. So the employer should have a say.
No, the employer should NOT have a say. the employer match is defered wages and salary, i.e. EMPLOYEE money. EMPLOYEE money! Keep trying to keep the big lie going.
vageiger wrote:"
Good for you mcrouch. You address the fact the EMPLOYEES pay for their benefits. that is the most important point to continue to make in this issue of lies"
Do you work for an employer vageiger that provides benefits?
Yes I do, and the health insurance is deferred income to ME, the employer records the expenses for benefits as INCOME paid to EMPLOYEES.
vageiger wrote:
"No, the employer should NOT have a say. the employer match is defered wages and salary, i.e. EMPLOYEE money. EMPLOYEE money! Keep trying to keep the big lie going"
How is the employer match defered wages. I see in my quarterly 401 k statements that a $1 that I put in was matched by $1 or $0.75.
First you need to read Retirement Heist to understand how retirement benefits are hoovered up by employers. Second, that 1$ or .75$, not sure which is money you do not get in your paycheck, but goes to an employer match. It is your money either way.
Le me explain further. If your employer records what they give you as a match as income, which they do, then it is an expanse of doing business. if they just gave you money to make you happy and did not list it as income paid to employee it would not come out of business expense but off of dividends, what is paid to share holders. They are not going to do that.
vageiger
"Second, that 1$ or .75$, not sure which is money you do not get in your paycheck, but goes to an employer match. It is your money either way."
vageiger: my company gave all us a $1 match last year because we were very profitable. Now it is $0.75 . Every dollar that is defered from my paycheck is not taxed. The company matches it which is not taxed. When I take it out at 59 yrs old than the Federal Government taxes a percentage of what I take out. What is wrong with that?
Read Retirement Heist to understand how large corporations manipulate their retirement accounts. Remember, however, the discussion here is about health insurance, not retirement. Health insurance is going to be recorded on the employers books as income paid to employees. Retirement and health insurance are different.
This morning on the Diane Rhem show, the subject was the whole contraception/women's health issue that is unbelievably rearing its ugly head, again. Phyllis Shlaffly was one of the guests. Remember her? She of the "Greet your husband a the door when he comes home from his hard day's work wearing a pretty dress, high heels, make up and an apron"???? What a freak. She is crazy, hates women, and is completely delusional about how most women - single and married - live their lives. I wanted to call in and scream. I almost had to pull my car over because she was making my head spin. And she kept talking about "feminists". Really? "Feminists"? I haven't hear that word in like 30 years. I thought we were all just "women" now. She quoted Betty Friedan, for God's sake. From the 1970's. She is an antiquated old, dried up loon. I'm all for having the opposing point of view represented on any and all shows but, for heaven's sake, pick someone sane. Pick someone who has allowed events of the last 30 years to seep into her brain. Pick someone who isn't a laughing stock. I love you and your show but shame on you, Diane, for even inviting that nut on your show.
At least some of you share my own confusion about how private health insurance works and how insurance which is part of an employment package devolves into an issue about who is paying the bill for contraception, as Ms Schlafly claims is the only issue. “And the feminists are demanding that everybody else pay for it, whether you approve of it or not.” The last I heard, we don’t yet have universal healthcare. More’s the pity. But like millions of other workers, I’ve been contributing to health insurance for years and years – thousands of dollars that I will never cost them because, thankfully, I’ve been healthy. Nobody else has paid for my reproductive healthcare, that’s for sure. My employers have paid a great portion of it in exchange for my hard and long labors and they’ve done that because the federal government has offered them considerable incentives. And now you’re telling me that my employer should be able to say, ‘Sorry, madam, we don’t believe in that particular service in your healthcare package, so we won’t be paying for it?’ To date, I don’t think employers have to supply any health insurance. That’s an option they can choose. And if for any reason they don’t want to cover the standard items, they don’t have to. They can just forego offering health insurance altogether and instead offer their employees a higher wage, thus giving them the option of finding their own insurance that suits their own needs and beliefs. Problem is, many faith-based institutions don’t want to give up providing health insurance because of the profits they would lose. Instead, these institutions want to pick and chose on BEHALF of their employees what ought to be a personal decision made in private consultation with a medical specialist. And who is forcing whom to accept their values in such a set-up? And who is putting up barriers between the individual and the First Amendment? Please tell me!
Happy to tell you. It is you who is being asked to give up your first amendment rights because of the claims of some that the employer, not YOU pay for your benefits. that claim is a lie. You have every right to demand that your employer take your deferred income and buy insurance that meets your needs.
Unlike many women here, I'm perfectly happy to have Diane allow Phyllis S ramble on. It shows JUST HOW CRAZY she is. And others who have created all the talking points she's using come out looking worse, in my opinion. I agree, her attack on single women was probably her own personal contribution and is outrageous, but she makes the whole argument look bad. Kind of like Rush!
Contraception is an economic issue. Sex is a moral one. I think the religious right is confused.
Each child is a miracle and a joy, and each one is economic responsibility for someone. Unwanted children become society’s responsibility, one way or another, like it or not.
Preventing unwanted pregnancy is a morally responsible position for those concerned about the economic well being of families, for the health of women, and for our society.
Birth control in the form of a pill, condoms, or surgery is a responsible component of sexual activity, both within marriage and outside of it.
Family planning in the form of contraception is a right, for women, men, and families. To deny a group of people affordable contraception burdens families and society with additional economic responsibilities (children). It is sounds like class warfare, and frankly short sighted social planning.
With 21% of our children below the poverty line, are we really arguing about preventing pregnancy?
We should provide contraception for free!
patryot wrote:
"Phyllis Schafly is an embarrassment to any woman who has a sense of herself. Be sure to read some of Phyllis' old books where she advocated the subservience of women to men.'
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Gloria Steinem couldn't get "Ms" Magazine off the ground without $500,000 from Mort Zuckerman. I guess in that case, feminism was about a women getting a job with a man's help.
Schlafly worked her way through college and graduated Phi Beta Kappa at age 19, and then won a scholarship to Harvard grad school. Before Schlafly became the bane of liberals for her defeat of the ERA amendment, her liberal professors described her as "brilliant."
And someone describing her as 'brilliant" relieves her of the need to tell the TRUTH? She is not paying for anyone elses contraception insurance. Please exlain why she needed to lie on the program.
dcmorin1 wrote:
"For example, she like most republicans know darn well that calling the law, "Obamacare" and not its actual name is inflammatory - tell her to GROW UP!"
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"Obamacare" was first coined by Jeanne Schulte Scott, JD, healthcare lobbyist, Washington, D.C
"Yes, please call it “Obamacare,” say supporters of the Affordable Care Act"
http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2011/10/24/yes-please-call-it-obamac...
Perhaps it is you who should grow up.
Still waiting for a response to why Schlafly needed to lie. Maybe you need to grow up.
vageiger wrote:
"And someone describing her as 'brilliant" relieves her of the need to tell the TRUTH? She is not paying for anyone elses contraception insurance. Please exlain why she needed to lie on the program."
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And being a well-educated self made women is an "embarassment" to women as patryot posted?
Hillary lied about being under sniper fire in Bosnia. Who relieved her of telling the truth. Does that make her an "embarassment" to women as well?
Why does Georgetown Law Student Fluke need contraception insurance when she can get it for $9 at Target, or free at the free clinic? How did she pay for her air travel to all those TV shows she has appeared on? Perhaps she took the train.