PA Rep. Mike Kelly

Talk about a melodramatic boy throwing a tantrum because he did not get what he wanted – which was a repeal of Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act. The Affordable Care Act will  not be fully implemented until 2014, but there are a series of breakthrough dates along the way at which new benefits kick in, helping millions – another one just kicked in.

As of August 1st, 2012, insurance companies have to provide preventive care without co-pays or deductibles, a policy that especially benefits American women, who can now receive everything “from pap smears to detect cervical cancer, to STD screenings, to other kinds of cancer screenings, to gestational diabetes testing if you`re pregnant, to breast feeding supplies if you’re a new mom” effectively for free. Although this new policy will not cover women without insurance, at least our government is moving in the right direction. With the amount of opposition that is present in our Congress, any progress is welcome.

Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly (R), an ardent opponent of abortion rights, said that today’s date would live in infamy alongside those two other historic occasions.

“I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that’s Pearl Harbor day. The other is September 11th, and that’s the day of the terrorist attack,” Kelly said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. “I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates.“

Seriously??? Are Mike Kelly and others like him insane? An attack on religious freedom? And requiring insurance companies to cover PREVENTATIVE care?  Oh my, how horrible! What in the world are we thinking? Never should any woman take precautions by having physical exams and using birth control in order to avoid pregnancy and/or women’s reproductive problems, such as cervical cancer. Women need to wait until they have a unwanted pregnancy or serious health problems before they seek medical care – and they need to pay for this health care out of their pockets.

In all seriousness, this battle of insanity has become horribly tiring. Preventative care saves millions of dollars in addition to women’s lives! The opposition from Kelly and other political figures are purely to fight against Obama and the Democratic Party. When people like Kelly attempt to bring “freedom of religion” into their arguments, contraception access is not an “attack on our religious freedom.” First, access to birth control is voluntary. Second, churches and other houses of worship are exempt from coverage requirements. And third, the Obama administration worked out a compromise of religiously-affiliated employers so they wouldn’t have to pay directly for contraception as part of their insurance plans. Therefore, if you oppose this mandate due to religious convictions – then don’t use it! But please, do NOT deny other women the option TO use this coverage.

It is way past time that our elected officials stop opposing out of hatred and act in the best behalf and interest of the people in our country. Overall, the Republican Party and Tea Party are opposed to abortion. What would be better than lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies which would decrease the number of abortions. Yet now we hear such extreme arguments that since they believe “life begins at conception,” then birth control is an abortive procedure. Bullshit!

Rep. Mike Kelly comparing this new coverage to murderous events in the United States history was completely out of line and he needs to know this. Become pro-active, especially if you live in Pennsylvania. You may find Rep. Kelly’s contact info HERE.

References and related articles:

Rachel Maddow: A quote that will live in infamy
Huffington Post: Mike Kelly Compares Birth Control Mandate To Pearl Harbor, 9/11
ABC News: Fact Checking Free Birth Control Day
Think Progress: Republican Congressman Compares Expanded Birth Control Access To September 11th, Pearl Harbor
The Gawker: Pennsylvania Lawmaker Who Compared Birth Control Mandate To 9/11, Pearl Harbor, Etc. About To Die

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