Last week, the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), held a one-sided hearing on contraception access, featuring an opening panel of five conservative men -- and no one else. Democrats on the committee had invited a witness, Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, but Issa refused to allow her to participate.
House Dems aren't taking "no" for an answer.
In case it wasn't already apparent how politicized women's health has become on Capitol Hill, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Tuesday that a Democratic panel will meet this week to hear testimony from just one witness: Sandra Fluke, the woman who House Republicans refused to let testify at their hearing on the birth control rule last week.
Pelosi announced that the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee will meet Thursday at 10 a.m. to discuss women's health. A senior Democratic aide said it is common practice for party leaders to use that committee to cast a spotlight on overtly political matters.
"We've used the Steering and Policy Committee as a place to highlight what the Republicans ARE NOT doing with their hearings," the aide said in an email.
There was, however, an unexpected twist yesterday afternoon. The Democratic Steering & Policy Committee's hearing will be held in the House Recording Studio, in order to help broadcast the event, except in this case, it won't be seen by anyone outside the room. According to House Dems, the Republican-controlled Committee on House Administration has refused to allow the hearing to be televised.
In other words, the House GOP blocked Sandra Fluke from testifying at a hearing last week, and now they're apparently blocking the public from hearing Sandra Fluke's testimony at another hearing this week.
And what is it, exactly, about Fluke's perspective that has Republicans so concerned? The law student wants to share the story of a classmate who lost an ovary due to an ailment that could have been treated with birth control.
Here's a video of Fluke, sharing a perspective the House GOP apparently doesn't want you to see:
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If I'm Leslie Stahl, I'm begging to do this story on an upcoming "60 Minutes". If I'm Darrell Issa, I've got someone having a quiet tete-a-tete with Les Moonves as we speak.
Is there any reason that they can't hold the hearing somewhere else in the public realm, or can the republicans control that, too?
Can someone explain why this is even an issue? Ms. Fluke could get much more coverage by going on a cable news station and telling her story. So much for government in the open. I also need someone to explain to me how the republicans feels this can be an advantage for them.
This all needs to be a part of the "Official Public Record". As the republican base has supported all efforts to stop abortion, they've also been supportive of contraception and once again this is MEN over-reaching in their efforts to roll back the gains that women have made over the years!
I figure it's men that feel emasculated that have been doing the most crowing (think: Santorum, Issa, Huckabee et.al) regarding restrictive laws regarding women's health-care! The problem is that these men don't see it as over-reach, they see it as the paternal guiding hand keeping women from doing harm to themselves! And as the evangelical crowd appreciates authoritarian men (as "head of"), they have been going along because they haven't quite understood that their contraception is in danger of becoming illegal/extinct!
Only I'm starting to get the feeling that somehow even these evangelical women are starting to wake up!
Closed meetings got their momentum in Wisconsin over the public employees debacle. Now it is sneaking into the national realm. This is how this works. Good and bad. It is the same with gay marriage. It starts in the states till it has enough momentum and then it goes national. While the good (gay rights) needs prodding and support, the bad needs to be squashed at every turn.
Republicans just can't help themselves. It is like the loud kid in the school lunchroom. He does something absurd but doesn't get disciplined. And he does get some cheers from a couple classmates. So the next day he does something even weirder. And the next day even weirder. And then one of his classmates tries to better him. (Think Santorum - every day saying something stranger than the day before - and then Romney jumping on the bandwagon.) Hey, HE got away with it, so can I!
No, this doesn't point to anything egregious in Republican behavior at the Federal level. Fair and Balanced, anyone?
Perhaps now is the time women ought to be checking around for alternative sources of birth control, maybe ortho runners can haul it into the US under cover of darkness from Canada, and we can slip into hole-in-the-wall "depos" to load up when the Republicans are away checking on their own private BC stashes.
Perhaps every woman who sleeps with a conservative male should stop for a bit, until the birth control issue is settled once and for all by the howling pained protests of affected Republicans. It would drive the point home, so to speak.
Seems our elected Republicans just got a new liking for the rules of the government they say they detest so much.
Lysistrata, anyone?
These aren't men, Zora. They are frightened children who are losing power and the illusion of prestige by the minute. Don't be taken in by the hype. There is no paternal guidance here. It's nothing more than a long standing power play designed to "rally the masses" to an ancient ideology that no longer has a place in 21st Century America.
I truly hope the women of our nation do take a stand and tell these juvenile idiots where they can stick it. The real men of our nation will be standing right beside you.
Why do you libs always focus your hate on the Republicans? Is it because someone, anyone other than you, must be responsible for your hatred? Each comment I have read has Republican mentioned in its body. You are so full of hate that you undoubtedly require heavy sedation to sleep at night. You really do perpetuate the Campaign of the Stupid. Or is it just a stupid campaign to get more freebies. Women always are the first to be manipulated into a line. A line to vote for the most freebies or just for the vote. Go ahead. Trade your freedom for Sex. At least it will entertain you and perhaps you will not even notice the next loss. I know. You will be busy hating and having fun. Keeps one busy. Never bored.
The action of House Republicans goes beyond petty politicing; it borders on supression and dishonesty.
Not only does the GOP want to shove painful medical devices into a women's vagina and uterus against her will, it wants to shove a gag in her mouth while they are at it.
If Boehner's toadies won't relent, perhaps the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee could hold its hearing at the National Press Club or the Newseum.
As frustrating and (as she puts it) heartbreaking as this farce may be, one other thing jumps out at me:
Look how much the Majority and leadership of the United States House of Representatives feels threatened by a mere third-year law student.
Truth matters, Ms Fluke. Quoting Texas Ranger Bill McDonald:
Or woman. More power to you.
this is who they are. this is who they've always been
I think that everyone who has an opinion that Ms Fluke should be heard and televised should call Mr Issa's office and register a complaint 202-225-3906. If you think that Mr. Issa and his buddies should get the heck out of a medical doctor and his patients relationship, call and tell him. Let him know he is WAY OUTTA bounds on this issue! If we remain silent, then we allow them to have their way!
I DID call Mr. Issa's office at 202-225-3906 and expressed my disgust that Republican men were trying to control the discussion about women's health issues, and that women weren't being allowed to speak. I was told that two women were allowed to speak at a second hearing, and that the reason that Sandra Fluke's testimony was blocked was because the "Democrats didn't submit her name in time for the hearing". I asked why then, was the Republican-controlled Committee on House Administration preventing her testimony in a Democratic hearing from being broadcast. She didn't know. I left a message, which I'm not so sure that will get to Issa, that I think that it's outrageous that the Republicans are doing what they're doing in attacking women's rights to preventative health care.
They need to get this testimony out in the open. I know they want it on the official record, but they can simply READ the testimony into the record later. Just read it during one of the committee meetings, when it is inconvenient for the Repubs. Go do a deposition where Ms. Fluke is sworn to tell the truth, then livestream away. Make sure you let everyone see her sworn in.
That is exactly the issue. The testimony will not appear in the official House record of proceedings so it will have to be read into the House proceedings by the Dems. Issa did not want any Dem witnesses because he was using the committee for publicity purposes. I hope when the Dems take control of the House, they treat the Republicans with the same tactics.
Where have you guy's been?
You know,… I think it is about time that congressional inquiry committees should start collecting testimony from WOMEN on the efficacy of MEN getting vasectomies!
Perhaps MEN who cause unwanted pregnancies should be FORCED to have medically unnecessary vasectomies during the same procedure when the women they impregnated are FORCED to have unwanted and medically unnecessary invasive vaginal ultrasounds... that's fair.
I was wondering why there has been no mention of banning condoms in the discussion from the right concerning their stand on birth control and the pill.
One thing at a time. You're getting ahead on the talking points memo.
Men don't whine. Women do whine.
What do you mean ? You are whining right now,
Free speech is only meant for Corpoations and Evangelists or their republican puppets.
I agree with Mary 529068 to call Issa and speak up America! This travesty is coming to a head, like a grotesque pimple about to pop. Some Repubs have officially pissed off a large chunk of Americans! "I think that everyone who has an opinion that Ms Fluke should be heard and televised should call Mr Issa's office and register a complaint 202-225-3906. If you think that Mr. Issa and his buddies should get the heck out of a medical doctor and his patients relationship, call and tell him. Let him know he is WAY OUTTA bounds on this issue! If we remain silent, then we allow them to have their way!"~ Mary 529068
Republicans are the champions of freedom in the U.S.A.
Every good republican that I know believes in Freedom of Speech, as long as they can control who gets to hear it!
Just as every good republican that I know believes in Freedom of Religion, as long as they get to tell you what religions are allowed!
Just as every good republican that I know believes in Freedom of Assembly, as long as it is teabaggers assembling and not hippies!
Every good republican does believe in one completely uncontrolled right! Freedom to own as many guns as you want and freedom to carry them anywhere you want!
Except, of course, for criminals. Can't be soft on crime. Especially those dark, scary dudes who got busted for possession, for instance. Did I mention "dark?"
I get why the dems want everyone to hear her story. It's great emotional TV and if the republican men on the panel want to be mean to her all the better. Plus it speaks to the vast majority of American women.
But to play devil's advocate for a second the republicans have a point in that she's not a doctor so she can't really speak to the medicine. She's not a religious leader so she can't give that perspective. And it's not even her story she's telling.
But if they truly want to make this a discussion on women's health then bring in the doctors to explain the other health benefits of birth control and to explain how birth control actually works. Bring in the experts to explain how some women actually suffer if they have to go to a religious hospital for emergency treatment (something not many people are aware of). Bring in the religious leaders who agree with birth control. Or the leaders of the religious organizations who voluntarily offer it to their employees (assuming they will stand for what they believe in and won't be bullied by the Pope). Bring in leaders from Planned Parenthood to explain how many lives they save due to their services and let them call out the republicans who constantly lie about what they do.
Republicans claim they want to hear from experts. Call them on it.
Democrats have a real opportunity here, they shouldn't waste it for a chance at theatrical politicking.
I think if we're going to be banning the use of hormonal birth control for women, we should also be banning the use of condoms and Viagra. The ONLY thing Viagra is used/needed for is for men to be able to retain an erection so that they can have sex. Since the only reason (according to these lunatics) to have sex is for procreation; the majority of people who use Viagra don't really need it because they are generally beyond the age that procreation is possible. Therefore they shouldn't be having sex anyway. Impotence can also be seen as being just a natural progression as men get older and since these people are all about letting nature take its course then there is no medical necessity for men to be taking viagra. Since this isn't a medically necessary medication there is no reason for its use OR for insurance companies to cover it. As for condoms, they should be ilegal purely for the stance that if sex isn't used for procreation you shouldn't be having it anyway.
I wonder if these people even listen to themselves? And I want someone to explain to me why only MEN are making these decisions about WOMEN's bodies? Last I checked they aren't WOMEN and therefore have no concept or right to be deciding what happens to women's health. Watch out ladies b/c the next step is to make us all wear head coverings/veils.
1 Corinthians 11:5-10: "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but tthe woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."
And after veils we'll be told it isn't safe for us to leave our homes or drive, or hell even be seen.
/snark
Maybe someone should ask Santorum if erectile disfunction is a message from God. Maybe He just doesn't want those men having sex anymore and doctors should stop interfering in His will.
And then there's heart attacks or strokes. Long recognized by the Church as a hint from Heaven that you've lived out your allotted lifespan. Rather than try to thwart God's Will as revealed to you by the Angel of Death, it's time to joyously accept the end of your mortal life and embrace the immortal one.<P>
Isn't that right, Mr. Santorum?
So what Makes Mrs Fluke an expert in all of this?
And why do you think Ms. Fluke is married, dear sir?
She is a woman, which would make infinitely her more qualified than any of the men on that panel.
I really like what I saw on MSNBC the past few evenings. They told how a Facebook call went out to Virginians of both sexes who thought that their legislature had gone a step too far. They were asked to assemble at the path leading to the Legislature at a time when the legislators were going to have to walk by and go inside to vote on the Intrusive Probe bill, or whatever phony moniker it goes by. More than 1000 silent Virginians showed up. The real beauty of this demonstration was that it was to be absolutely silent with no signs, and each believer was to silently look the legislators in the eye as they walked by. Strangely enough, two days in a row the vote has been postponed, and now their truly radical governor says he is re-thinking an alternate option. Think of it folks! This is the power of the people. We don't need rocks or guns or signs or chanting. Just look these people in the eye and force them to re-think their repressive methods. Wow! Think of the power if we used every public venue with our elected representatives to force them to re-think their methods.
Freedom of Religion is what you are losing here. It's all about the constitution. Has nothing to do with women's health.
That is what we are told. But it appears that it is really about women's health, and welfare issues.
What other medical coverage is the religious institutions trying to prevent, other than that?
Should have been written "are", not, is"
This is just another reason why people should not just focus and worry about the Presidential Election, but also these committe chairs,senators and congressman alike who sit on the hill...
Now, let me get this right... The big bugaboo that the Republicans bandied about when "Obama Care" was being discussed was the threat that health care rationing would cause interference between a patient and their doctor. That the "Feds" would become Big Brother. But all *I* see is the Republicans actually trying to ration health care, under the guise of religion. THEY are the ones interfering in the decisions between a woman and her doctor. THEY are deciding what is valid or not, because it offends them. I hope every voter remembers this.
Ok no one has answered.... Ive read a couple News articles..... What makes this woman an Expert in all this?
Nothing. Democrats are fighting for her because it makes good theater. I think they are wasting their opportunity to bring in real witnesses and actually educate a few people.
The first panel included a Catholic Bishop, a Lutheran Reverend, a rabbi and two professors (moral philosophy and ethics, respectively). As Mr. Issa himself stated, ""We are not having a hearing on the policies or the details related to the single issue of Obamacare and this particular mandate. This hearing is about religious freedom."
In that sense, Ms. Fluke's opinions on religious freedom-- including the ability to pursue healthcare needs free from faith-based restrictions -- seem perfectly appropriate.
http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598%3A2-16-12-qlines-crossed-separation-of-church-and-state-has-the-obama-administration-trampled-on-freedom-of-religion-and-freedom-of-conscienceq&catid=12&Itemid=20
U.S. Code Title 45, 1985 This is the conspiracy law used to prosecute one or more people plotting to deny civil rights. The plot is the crime. This would seem to cover all the GOP conversations attempting to deny women their rights. state and federal.
Getting pregnant or not getting pregnant has lnothing to do with civil rights.
Heard her testimony today. Great job. Denied a voice at the Republicon hearing. Cenorship of the worst kind in recent American history.......Women of America had better vote this comming national election. Their and their childrens future is in their hands..
Ill ask again what was her expert testimony? And what Makes her an Expert?
@MyLifeInText She is a woman with experience in denial of contraceptive options. That qualifies as expert testimony,and that alone makes her an expert witness. In addition, she brings the experience of other women who experienced denial of contraceptive medications to the record, thus recording by proxy the expert testimony of those witnesses.
Thanks
Now that is what it is really about. Commandeering the women's vote. You guys will stoop to any level. I know every Liberal male on this blog has NOTHING but the very best interest of women
In mind. Just VOTE for us Libs. The whole point of this lady being used.
I Have a Simple solution to the problem that women have concerning Birth control, it so simple and very affordable all it takes is alittle effort on the womens part KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED WAIT TILL YOU GET mARRIED BEFOREW THINKING ABOUT HAVING BABIES. that is what Jehovah God intended. but we as human beings don't want to wait because we don't want to live the way God Almighty says we are to live and because of that reason we are experiencing all of these sexually tranmitted diseases and such also we would not be having all of these unwanted pregnancies the Government needs to start letting Parents be parents and holding Moms and Dads responsible for teaching theit young daughters Abstinance till Marriage. now if that happened it would alot of our problems. but if they don't the problem is only going to get worse. God Said the wicked will be turned into Hell and all Nations that forget God. Psalms9:17 Marriage is GODS WAY THE ONLY WAY THAT WILL WORK PERIOD.
It would be better to teach the sons, @Dannyboy. Without their involvement, pregnancy would not be an issue.
If you can't afford contraception keep your legs closed. If you need it for medicinal reasons, how did you get this far without coverage? I don't want to pay for your promiscuity!!!
If you cant keep your d!ck in your pants, stay away from women other than your spouse, @Matt. I don't want to pay for your promiscuity.
Stahl and Maddow two ultra liberal progressive Obammy spin machines.