Congressman John Boehner
Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio) will become Speaker of the House Wednesday and women should pay attention. Boehner’s support for women’s rights doesn’t seem to extend beyond his campaign for more women’s restrooms near the House chamber. In fact, he represents a significant threat to women’s reproductive rights.
The man who called a healthcare provision for contraceptives “controversial,” has a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee and received the 2010 Henry J. Hyde Defender of Life Award.
After the midterm elections, it was reported that Boehner’s staff took a meeting with Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue. Talk about controversial. Terry is considered a terrorist by many and even a Catholic blogger found the meeting to be out-of-line. Wrote Michael Sean Winters:
“Mr. Bohener is admirably pro-life – although the rest of his policy positions are less admirable. But, he should know that the mainstream pro-life community considers Terry an extremist who has defended the murder of doctors who perform abortions. He is no pro-life hero and Mr. Boehner should find better uses for his time.”
The meeting isn’t that surprising considering Boehner has published a document called “Pillars of a New Majority.” The document is based on a series of speeches he gave in 2010 and the first pillar is “Culture of Life.” It’s not about the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. It’s not about the economy. It’s about abortion.
On the topic he writes:
“Americans love life, and we love freedom. They’re both intertwined, permanently, as part of the American character. America is a nation built on freedom. And without respect for life, freedom is in jeopardy. When human life takes a back seat to other priorities – personal comforts, economics – freedom is diminished.
He goes on to link abortion to the wars we are fighting overeas.
“It’s sadly ironic – and profoundly disturbing – that our government would endorse the destruction of innocent American lives on the same soil our men and women walk each and every day in defense of freedom and liberty. It undermines everything the fine men and women of our military are fighting for.”
Boehner claims he’s pro-freedom, but that doesn’t extend to a woman’s freedom to choose the best medical alternatives for her body. He also claims to be concerned about the risks of abortion, as outlined in a statement he issued following a recent decision by an Ohio county court to uphold a law requiring a 24 hour waiting period for women wanting an abortion. Said Boehner:
“This is a critical victory in the fight to advance women’s health and defend the sanctity of unborn life. Women – especially minors – need to know about the risks of and alternatives to abortion … and I’ll continue to stand with all who seek to have a positive and meaningful impact in defending the right to life.”
More than two women die every day in the United States from pregnancy related causes. Boehner doesn’t seem too concerned about those risks.
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I can’t wait to see Boehner pry the speaker’s gavel out of the crooked little fingers of The Wicked Witch of the West. Only then will I believe that the long national nightmare of Pelosi’s reign of terror is finally over.
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