Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Texas, talked to MSNBC's Chuck Todd this morning, and went through a series of predictable GOP talking points -- right up until the end of the interview.
Hutchison complained that President Obama isn't drilling enough; she suggested the administration somehow wants the U.S. to be more dependent on foreign oil; and she argued that the Blunt Amendment wasn't really about restricting access to contraception. But after all of that was said, Todd asked the Republican senator about a Texas proposal to exclude Planned Parenthood from the state's women's health program, which in turn will lead to a loss of Medicaid funding. Take a look at Hutchison's response.
Even this Republican senator from Texas is now willing to defend Planned Parenthood funding. Here's the quote for those who can't watch clips online:
"We cannot afford to lose the Medicaid funding for low-income women to have health care services. We can't keep turning back federal funds that every state gets and then try to find money in our budget that is already being cut in key areas like education.
"I do think that the governor needs to sit down with the federal government and work it out so that we can have our share -- our fair share, not more, but our share -- of money for Medicaid to help low-income women have their healthcare services.
"I think Planned Parenthood does mammograms, they do so much of the health care, the preventative health care, and if they're doing that, then we need to provide those services, absolutely."
Given recent events, and the larger campaign that's been labeled the "Republican war on women," hearing a GOP senator defend Planned Parenthood funding was a pleasant surprise.
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I have to say, I like it when an example arises where we can find something in common with a Republican.
But, I think they see the writing on the wall… Republicans are pushing away many voters with their ridiculous and harmful policies.
It kinda looks like they are throwing a bone to women and trying to say... oh no, that amendment wasn't about contraception.
Well, this is just a minor example of a Republican woman saying… oopsie.. we aren't really trying to do that, when in fact that is what they are doing, whether they try to or not.
Pretty weak tea.
There's an easy way for them to get "their share" -- don't try to insist none of the money can go to Planned Parenthood. The only reason for the governor to "sit down" and "work it out" would be if they want some deal where they get to have their ideologically-driven vendetta and their federal money, too.
It's a step forward for a Texas Republican to say nice things about Planned Parenthood, but a very small one.
The "outrage" manufactured by Republicans over birth control and women's health organizations is the most egregious and disturbing example of government intrusion and religious intervention imaginable in this country. This is a position as far outside the mainstream in america, and outside the opinion of even conservative Americans, that it is political suicide. Women are never going to vote for Republicans again. This is an absurd spectacle of out of control radicalism. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
I saw this this morning and although KBH was 'reasonable' about PP, she said egregious BS about several OTHER issues. AND they were just one line talking points...uh uh DRILLING uh uh RELIGIOUS LIBERTY uh uh DEMOCRATS uh uh OH AND TEXAS SHOULD HELP POOR WOMEN! KBH REALLY doesn't want her political career to be over and she is pandering to the GOP to stay on when her term ends. AND THEN I saw Rachel on Andrea and one more time TOTALLY agreed with RM.
I used to think that the targets of the GOP's War On Humanity were humans who breathed, but with these recent prenatal care cuts, it's broader than that.
Note how Florida's "Stalk and Shoot" law doesn't threaten corporations, just people with heartbeats.
That is the general idea. Those that are breathing people are on their own and Republicans value those not yet breathing and those that do not posses lungs, nor blood, let alone hearts.
no biggie. her day is passing quickly and she's afraid of going to hell if she doesn't renounce her sins. this is no more than a death bed repentance. next year, she'll be a footnote if that. she no longer has to mollify the dimwits.
too bad she couldn't have been there when it counted.
Last I heard, both she and the governor were elected by the voters in Texas.
"The finest government that money can buy."
Hearing drilling and women's rights in the same answer conjures up uncomfortable images of Republicans sticking it to women however and whenever they can. Though a male, I hope women castrate the aspirations of these repressed pigs at every opportunity.
Great that KBH disagrees with her party on their war against women. She, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Lisa Murkowski were the only Republicans to vote for the Lily Ledbetter Act. Maybe if they were poor, they'd also disagree with the GOP's war against poor people.
I didn't know all these elected officials have some kind of medical license to be making all these medical decisions to educate all the dumb women that don't know what abortion is all about. Better yet, look at all the money they will be cutting to pump up state budgets by removing PP support and setting up oversight committees for their rich friends just to make sure women and doctors know their place!
Oh honey...didn't you know that GOD comes down and taps them on the head and gives them WISDOM on all subjects?
The Republicans are like the man on the ledge threatening to jump. Let's encourage them to do so. Dems won't defeat the Republicans; they will do it to themselves.
No love lost between KBH and Rick Perry, who beat her in the Republican primary for governor a couple of years ago. This is partly about Kay sticking it to Perry for losing a chunk of federal money for Texas.
I hope she doesn't get called a slut over this...
Trust me, had the Feds handed over the loot, we'd not hear a word about Planned Parenthood out of this hypocrite.
Kay Baily Hutchison used to be a reasonable conservative-moderate long ago, but I gave up on her during the Bush administration since she could not even bring herself to stand up for women's issues.
When the partial-birth issue was being debated, I penned a letter asking her to vote against it unless it included provisions for the safety & health of the mother. The bill was going to be passed 1-way or the other, so I thought if I appealed to her "conscience" she would. Well KBH not only sent me an impersonal form letter, she did not even bother to cast a vote either way.
Now that KBH is retiring she "bucks" her Party -- all I have to say about that: too little too late. There is no going back, she blew it.
Now let's hope there are enough of us to vote in a Democrat to replace her.
Oh, its wasn't about PP, it was about dissing Gov Perry.
Oh, please. KBH has never cared about women or the poor. She's a Texas Republican. She must be planning to run for Governor. Again. But maybe her chances will be better now that everyone knows what a moran Rick Perry is.
If birth control is so bad would someone please explain why men have vasectomies. I believe it is to allow them to shoot blanks unlike me who at 65 is taking birth control pills when I don't have a hope in hades if getting pregnant. I feel so bad for the American women who must feel they are being attacked by the Taliban.
If contraception is such an evil deed, why do men get vasectomies? I was always under the impression that it was so they would shoot blanks. Unlike me who takes birth control pills at the age of 65 when you and I know I do not stand a chance of becoming pregnant. Is there a chance we could also ban vasectomies as a birth control no, no. I feel so sad for the women who feels we have somehow morphed into Taliban country. Please hand me my burka.