Associated Press
Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.) is the one with the sign.
Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.) is working with the American Center for Law and Justice, a legal group founded by radical TV preacher Pat Robertson, to challenge the Obama administration's policy on access to contraception. To defend his efforts, Landry appeared yesterday on the ACLJ's radio show, and presented a curious argument.
Landry maintained that the Obama administration is showing its "hypocrisy" by mandating that religiously-affiliated hospitals and universities cover contraception in their health insurance plans while also "granting special status or waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings."
The congressman's allegation that the Obama administration is giving Muslim passengers "special rights as they go through the TSA screening" doesn't seem to have any basis in reality, as the TSA on its website gives no mention of religious exemptions and TSA administrator John Pistole testified that anyone who wants to avoid a pat down based on religious reasons is “not going to get on an airplane.”
Obama's giving "waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings"? That struck me as a new one.
I spoke this morning to the congressman's press office, who questioned whether Landry actually used the word "waiver" -- the audio is quite clear on this -- and told me the congressman was actually referring to Muslim "headscarves."
First, the administration is not giving "waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings." They're also not making exceptions for those wearing headscarves.
Second, there's nothing "hypocritical" about requiring insurers to cover contraception -- with an exemption for all houses of worship -- while also screening passengers on airplanes.
The policy debate over contraception access really isn't going well.
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The usual right wing response to being called on made up "bull-pucky": reach around behind and make up some fresh new "bull-pucky". 'Cause, you know, "headscarves" sounds just like "waiver" and... NONE OF IT IS TRUE.
It's called the G.O.P. lie-barry.
That's where you go to find faux facts.
posted to wrong thread.
The GOP argument against access to contraceptives was a loser from the start. It's like most of the men in the Republican Party have no idea where babies come from. Why would anyone vote for someone that stupid when the decision to use birth control is universal at some point for everyone.
Remember that Catholic woman in your bowling league who after giving birth six times mysteriously never conceives again? I'm not buying into any Immaculate Contraceptive event.
Most of them have no brain. That's why there are so many stupid legislatures coming out of that side of the aisle.
I REALLY hate these lying jerks. And the MEDIA does nothing to hold them accountable. Ever. But then they WHINE how they are SO victimized. Oh and women should just 'suck it up'....on contraception, pay, etc. for the GOOD OF THE EMPLOYERS and the COUNTRY.
A Confidential Source tells me that Representative Landry has banned his female staff from wearing undergarments.
Maybe they can apply for a waiver to wear undergarments?
Oh boy! Once again, progressives have missed the point which is to paint Obama as an alien. This is less about birth control than it is about the over-arcing narrative of birtherism. By maintaining this exceptionally other language about Obama, less rabid talk looks more reasonable and gets a pass. So, Romney doesn't need to call Obama a Kenyan Mau-Mau madrassah boy, he can simply offer that Obama "doesn't get American exceptionalism" and make the same point in dog whistle fashion. Remember that part of the narrative is that he is a Muslim. Free pass to the burka clad on a TSA line, while a lie, is a lie with a purpose. These guys know full well what they are doing. It is the left and Obama's supporters who don't seem to get it.
They continue to demean and demonize him.
What makes you think we don't "get it?" Of course we "get it." What an odd thing to say...
What the heck is a "lie with a purpose"? If a kid lies to his parents to get out of a punishment, is that a lie with a purpose? How about a Senator lying about a payment to his former staffer/cuckolded husband? Is that a lie with a purpose. You're argument makes absolutely no sense....must be a republican.
It doesn't matter. This BS is out there, and wingnuts all over are discussing the latest Kenyan Muslim Administration outrage as we speak.
America's cool, ain't it?
Yes, because it makes a million times more sense to suggest the government is giving out free headscarves. I mean, that's not at all an unusual thing for a government to do, right?
Exemptions for houses of worship is one that disadvantages the church secretary and the pastor's wife if that applies - the church objecting the most loudly sweeps any pregnancy issues caused by their clergy under the rug or out the window - and the women suffer
Lies work with the rubes so there is no surprise by this claim about waivers. The only defense against these lies is a free press that does its job. The local Louisiana media should pursue this claim, but will they?
Excellent point. I'm constantly disappointed in how appallingly lazy the press is. If, as a reporter, you hear a loony claim like this one, wouldn't you think someone would phone the guy and ask, "Where's your proof?" Is it really that hard to pick up a phone?
If the Catholic Church is so adamant about no birth control let it tell its members that anyone who uses it can not attend or donate to the church. The Pope and his gang can easily create another mandate with the proper 15th century language. Any self-righteousness being expressed in the light of the butler's exposure of witness tampering and conspiracy to cover up crimes only adds more hypocrisy to the long saga of self-legitimized misbehavior in the name of holiness.
The Catholic Bishops need the birth control issue to deflect attention from the sex abuse scandal. Recently, the Bishops have changed direction on those lawsuits and they have decided to start playing hardball on the lawsuits. The bishops do not want people to notice this change along with the criminal prosecutions that are underway as well as the millions of dollars the church has spent on these settlements.
Personally, I would like to see more government involvement in these scandals. The fact that there appears to be a nationwide, if not worldwide, church policy of covering up the abuse is enough justification for the federal government to investigate. But I doubt our government leaders have the courage to do something because they are afraid of offending Catholics. I believe the government overestimates the influence of the church and what would happen if a federal taskforce took on the issue.
Look at that stupid tool with his little sign. I wonder what Louisiana fishermen who lost everything after the BP oil spill think of the "jobs" that drilling creates? Honestly - when are these guys going to get their noses out of the collective butts of big oil?
That is sooooo funny! "look at that stupid tool with his little sign" that was one of those LOL moments that was for real. You made my day.
That was hilarious.
So, Landry lies...right?
Sounds like Landry lies... far right.
Hey I have an Idea, unless you actually have a set of ovaries, you don't get a vote! I don't care what your religous background is if you want birth control or any other type of contraceptive you should be provided it. NO QUESTIONS ASKED! Less people having un wanted babies= happier society. thats logical....
While I generally agree that "the women are smarter" (h/t Harry Belafonte), as a proud and progressive Penis-American, I'm not sure I can support your suffrage proposal. The rest of your comment makes good sense to me, though...
;-)
Wait--I've had a hysterectomy. Don't put me in the same category as men!'
I've had a hysterectomy--don't put me in the same category as men!
Hey, I've had a hysterectomy. Don't put me in the same category with men!
"If this were really about "religious freedom" then employers who happen to be Jehovah's Witnesses could deny coverage for blood transfusions and a Seventh Day Adventist employer could deny coverage for post surgery pain medications. This is about the Catholic Church and power over women. Period!"
Christian Scientists could deny all forms of health care except the trusty practitioner that helps you pray away the cancer.
I think at this point, the Republicans just know that whatever they say, however unreasonable or unrelated to issues, as long as it's something that sounds anti-Obama, their constituents will zero in on that one thing--lie or not--and regurgitate it as truth.
"We don't think women are being paid less. In fact, the c77-to-a-$1 is being taken completely out of context by Obama, because Obama went to a Muslim church last week and told them he would give all them Muslims foodstamps regardless of their income."
Every day there is something that one of our so called elected leaders says or does that makes me ashamed to be an American. I wonder how much worse elected officials in the USA can get, it seems every one of them is doing their utmost to destroy civilization.
These people simply throw crap at the wall and hope it sticks.
Unfortunately, the low-information, radical-right voter is like velcro for crap thrown at it!
Where are the leaders? Where are the people with vision, and the political will to carry it out? Every day, I am more convinced that there is no leadership anywhere on the planet.
Al Qaeda leader Abu-Yahya al-Libi was killed in a U.S. drone strike yesterday. Maybe this will get Jeremy Scahill to shut the hell up for a few days and stop calling the president a murderer. Nobody likes to hear or see civilians die in a war, and maybe it's just me but when the republicans do it everybody is silent about it.
If I remember Right wasn't it Bush who allowed Saudi family to leave the country right after 911 during the no fly time?
His sign really doesn't say Drill = Jobs right? Maybe he forgot what happened in the gulf a few years ago.. and didn't that little problem affect his state real bad?
Landry shows that he should be forgiven his verbal sins -- not only does he not know WHAT he says, he barely knows he IS saying anything! I've thought for years now that there would be a 'bottom-out' point for stupidity (after all, less IQ is less intelligence, so unless we get into NEGATIVE NUMBERS....), but people like Landry prove me wrong over and over again. It's not even the idea of "make something idiot-proof, and someone will make a better idiot" -- it's become "don't bother making something idiot-proof, because that better idiot is already OUT THERE."
As final proof, I give you Landry.