If you haven't seen the video clip of McCain flaking out after being asked about insurance companies covering Viagra but not the Pill, you should check it out. I love the way he grumbles "I certainly do not want to discuss that" as though someone just asked him to describe his favorite sexual position (sorry to put that image in your head), instead of a simple question about health care that directly concerns half the population. Dude proved himself a fossil right then and there. And by fossil, I mean culturally old-school; Justice John Paul Stevens may be 88, but he's younger than McCain.

I just read a story from Reuters that was on the front page of Yahoo politics http://news.yahoo.com/... it begins:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Bush administration plan to define several widely used contraception methods as abortion is a "gratuitous, unnecessary insult" to women and faces tough opposition, Sen. Hillary Clinton said on Friday.

I may be paranoid -- but -- I believe the recent HHS proposal to equate contraception with abortion is the first of a flood of nutty, radical reactionary ideas that the Bush mob will try to put into law, regulation, or executive order before leaving office in January 2009.

From Plan B to proposed regulations redefining contraception as abortion, the Bush War on Contraception and Science is being waged until the bitter end.

This post is the latest in a series looking at the recent HHS proposal.

Originally posted on RH Reality Check.  Written by Susan Wood.  [Susan F. Wood, PhD, is Research Professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services where her work focuses on the use of scientific knowledge in public policy. She served as Assistant Commissioner for Women's Health and Director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health (OWH) from November 2000 through August 2005. She resigned on principle over the continued delay of approval of emergency contraception over-the-counter by FDA.]

While on lunch, I watched an interview that Mika Brzezinski conducted with McCain surrogate Jill something (don't worry, I will update this once MSNBC posts video of this interview). I watched with rapt interest, knowing that I would be pissed off, but I wanted to see what the other side was up to.

Of course, she couldn't help but take pot shots at Obama per her party's talking points - it was premature for Obama to make his policy decisions before he went to Iraq and Afghanistan, and how Obama was against the surge even though it has worked, blah, blah, blah.

I do have to give Mika credit for one thing she (unintentionally?) sneaked into the conversation - I'm paraphrasing, but Mika asked Jill if it was par for the course nowadays to criticize PRESIDENTS while they were out of the country... not PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. Jill seemed completely oblivious to the (mis?)statement.

Anyway, the two points that started me screaming at my television are detailed below the fold.

Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008

McSame Sh*it, Different Day McSame AWOL, AGAIN, on another crucial vote.  McSame didn't 'show up' to vote on the original Medicare bill, or the veto over ride, thereby default, 'supporting' Bush's opposition/veto.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has drafted regulations that would re-define contraception as abortion and prioritize "religiously held objections" to providing contraception over women's rights and health.

Written by Amie Newman, managing editor RH Reality Check.

Maybe President Bush is smarter than he appears. After all, it takes an aspect of cunning to introduce a proposal that would require federally funded medical institutions to hire health care providers who don't believe in abortion or birth control, and present it as an "anti-discrimination rule." I imagine even Houdini could not achieve such an act of illusion.

The Department of Health and Human Services Monday released a proposal that allows any federal grant recipient to obstruct a woman's access to contraception. In order to do this, the Department is attempting to redefine many forms of contraception as abortion.

Written by Cristina Page. Originally posted at RH Reality Check.

UPDATE - Read the full text of the proposed rule.

UPDATE - For now you may direct comments to HHS.

Near the end of McSame's comedic gold interview where he was asked about the fairness of insurance companies covering Viagra but not birth control, he said that "I will get back to you" on it and "I usually don't duck an issue, but I'll try to get back to you".  Well, as a wise green muppet once said, "there is no try... only do".

Carly Fiorina, potential McCain Veep:

I've been hearing a lot about from women: There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth control medication. Those women would like a choice.

McCain was asked about it, and his answer:

I certainly don't want to discuss that issue.

Straight talk in action! But the reporter, damn her! pressed on.

I think you voted against... voted against coverage of birth control, forcing health insurance companies to cover birth control in the past. Is that still your position?

There's a looooong pause. McCain is clearly not eager to straight talk. Finally:

I don't recall that vote right now, but I'll be glad to take a look at it and get back to you.

A dodge or more evidence of memory loss? But the reporter persisted!

I guess her statement was that it was unfair that health insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control. Do you have an opinion on that?

You can see McCain squirm uncomfortably. He's definitely not in the mood for straight talking. After an even longer pause:

I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer ...

The vote was a big one, and was only five years ago, in 2003. So if he's forgotten, it might have a lot to do with age-induced mental deficiencies. Even giving McCain the benefit of the doubt on the vote itself (he may have voted against the measure for other reasons), his inability to form the obvious opinion on whether it's unfair for insurance companies to cover Viagra but not birth control for women is telling, and something Democrats will assuredly be eager to let women know about in the months ahead.

Here's the video of that interview:

Have you ever watched a dog try to talk physics?

Or a chimp give it his best to do his taxes?

Perhaps you've seen a cat attempt to follow directions on an Ikea package?

John McCain is still struggling with representing women in a fair light.

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


click to enlarge

There are many facets to this story. There's the issue of yet another area where I'd urge women who are considering voting for McCain because they're mad about HRC not getting the nomination to look at his record on reproductive rights. There's the issue of yet another situation where McCain demonstrates that he has a severe case of "CRS" (Can't Remember Shit). There's the issue of one of his surrogates going off message and subsequently causing McCain to reveal his acute "CRS". We've got it all!

McCain Squirms on Birth Control Question

It was with an amused grin when I read this story over at Feministing about Carly Fiorina, the ever prominent McCain surrogate, opining on women's issues regarding health care coverage, especially on birth control.

This diary is addressed to the many, many female supporters of Hillary Clinton who I have heard over the weekend claim they will either not vote or vote for John McCain in November due to their belief that Clinton is losing the election due to inherent sexism in the system--the media, the Democratic leadership, etc..

Democrat Kathleen Vinehout was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2006. She defeated Republican incumbent Ron Brown; but she also had another Democratic challenger, Chris Danou. During the campaign there was a question of Ms. Vinehout, a devout Catholic, being anti-choice and even more worrisome, anti-birth control.