The Monday Line: Vagina Monologues of Ignorance, Intolerance and Idiocy

Last Friday, Rush Limbaugh launched a third consecutive day of national radio attacks on Georgetown University Law School student Sandra Fluke. His criticism was in response to her testimony about the Catholic Institution’s exclusion of hormonal birth control pills from their insurance plan. Fluke explained how this decision had caused one of her instructors to lose an ovary due to her inability to pay the $250 a month for the medically necessary pills. In response, Limbaugh demanded that Fluke videotape her sexual encounters and post them on the Internet as a condition of coverage. Bill O’Reilly of FOX News echoed these remarks, suggesting that the public should not pay for Fluke’s “fun”. Both Limbaugh and O’Reilly were likely aware that their own Viagra/Cialis boner pills were fully covered under Georgetown’s health insurance policy.The debate surrounding contraception has been contentious for many years. 

Women have been unfairly criticized for exercising their right to access a prescription pill that has been used by many, including Catholics, for more than 50 years. This pill is taken daily, not like Viagra, which is taken prior to each sexual encounter. Unfortunately, it appears that some have failed to grasp this distinction, leading to a misguided and misinformed debate.What the hell is wrong with these mostly white, mostly men pushing this ‘sex is bad’ agenda? It is a race back to 1950 and it is crushing the Republican Party. For the 18 months since they won back the Congress, we were told their agenda was to be “jobs, jobs, jobs…,” yet their first bill and most of the legislative agenda has (besides defeating anything President Obama wants, even if they were once in favor of it) revolved around abortion and who has control over a woman’s uterus? So they have spent this entire year re-litigating the 1960s since the economy is slowly improving under President Obama.They are blatantly pandering to their conservative base, and this is horrifying for moderate women (and men) everywhere. I have spoken with Republican women across the US, and they are unanimously repulsed by this rightward dive. You can take a lot of things away, but do not touch a woman’s access to contraception, and do not tell any woman that in order to exercise her legal right to have an abortion, she has to undergo a government-ordered a transvaginal ultrasound.

What’s next? Egyptian secret police are brought in to conduct virginity tests; no blood on their glove, the woman is beaten and stoned? Indeed, instead of worrying about Muslim fundamentalists, who is speaking up against this radical Christian fundamentalism? Why are a group of 50-80 year old white men allowed to legislate against women’s reproductive rights in State houses across the USA?

Are we not seeing the same thing happening in the Middle East, Persia and North Africa? Old rich men of power and might treating women and lower classes like dirt? They are all exercising brutal power over women because they can? Well no more. It high time we got YOUR backs sisters!

As the father of three daughters, I was heartened to see former GOP candidate Carly Fiorina speak out strongly against Rush’s tirade. It was great to see Maine Senator Olympia Snowe step down because she could no longer stomach the hard right turn her party has taken.

But where were the other key Republican women? Calista Gingrich is no wallflower, neither is Ann Romney. They would be the ones expected to speak out if their husbands can’t out of fear of the Rush man.

Instead, crickets chirped in silence.

It’s time to salute Sandra Fluke and her bravery for speaking on behalf of all young women. It’s time to pull back the veil of sexuality and get used to the idea that women can enjoy sex and dictate the terms of it! Guys get out of your prurient Ozzie and Harriet blinder asses and accept that they outnumber us and demand their rightful place in the world. Cut the sexism and sexist rhetoric and let them work alongside of you to clean up this world.

We’ve not done a terrible job, men, so we’re fired. Step aside and turn your egos down a notch and listen to them! The kids are going to be alright. If someone like Sandra Fluke is leading the way, we’re all going to be just fine.

Now it’s time for us to let go and let her lead the way.

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