The Democrats’ War On Women
No, this post isn’t about a sound bite line to justify using our taxes to pay for abortion. I’d headline that one, The Democrats’ War On Unborn Children. This is about the news from Tuesday on a new mammogram policy that came out and the new pap smear guidelines from today. The mammogram policy has been well-covered, but considering the news about pap smears, I thought they should both be mentioned in a post.
Reviewing the mammogram controversy from earlier this week, in Feds to women in their 40s: Skip the mammogram; Update: Meet the task force, Ed Morrissey noted:
Just six months ago, the U.S Preventive Services Task Force, which works within the Department of Health and Human Services as a “best practice” panel on prevention, sounded a warning signal over a slight decline in annual mammograms among women in their 40s. In fact, they warned women of this age bracket that they could be risking their lives if they didn’t get the annual preventive exam…
On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the same U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is now saying:
Women in their 40s should stop routinely having annual mammograms and older women should cut back to one scheduled exam every other year, an influential federal task force has concluded, challenging the use of one of the most common medical tests.
Ed went on to mention that a reader noticed that none of the members of the Task Force are oncologists! Another Hot Air post has this video from Glenn Beck:
Former Red Cross chief: Feds’ new mammography policy is “a shocking thing”
In a CNN column on Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ attempt to calm down the uproar, I noticed this bit of information:
And Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Florida, who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer at 41, called the panel’s recommendations “really disturbing” and “absolutely irresponsible.”
“It’s a very patronizing attitude that these scientists have taken,” she said. “It’s pretty outrageous to suggest that women couldn’t handle more information.”
You may remember that Wasserman-Schultz is a Democrat deputy whip in the House and she was interviewed several times the other week, giving her push and justification for the wonders of the House Health Care Reform bill. You may also recall that the House Rules Committee rejected 11 amendments that would have required Congress and other government officials to enroll in government health care. Wasserman-Schultz gets to keep her health care plan, but she would force other American women to sign up for health care rationing that would become death panels for some women.
Karl in the Green Room wrote:
The Obama administration is clearly worried about this. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been busy misleading the public, noting that the task force’s recommendation is non-binding, while omitting that it would become binding under the PelosiCare bill Obama endorsed….
Update: Ed Morrissey notes that the brand new Quinnipiac poll has ObamaCare losing among women.
Today, the latest war on women is reported in the New York Times (via Hot Air) in new policies from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
New guidelines for cervical cancer screening say women should delay their first Pap test until age 21, and be screened less often than recommended in the past….
Arriving on the heels of hotly disputed guidelines calling for less use of mammography, the new recommendations might seem like part of a larger plan to slash cancer screening for women. But the timing was coincidental, said Dr. Cheryl B. Iglesia…
She called the timing crazy, uncanny and “an unfortunate perfect storm,” adding, “There’s no political agenda with regard to these recommendations.”
This morning on FOX news, I saw part of a discussion with a physician who is a FOX medical resource. He said that worldwide, 500,000 women annually are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 200,000 die of cervical cancer annually.
So, do you think my headline is hyperbole? I guarantee you that if the Republicans were pushing health care reform the media would be saying this 24/7, only substituting the word Republican for Democrat.
UPDATE: I should have known–Sarah Palin has weighed in on health care rationing of women: Cancer Screenings – Rational Advice or Rationed Care?
Here’s an excerpt:
We need answers: Is early screening not saving lives? Why do doctors’ groups disagree? Did costs play any role in these decisions to change the recommendations on breast and cervical cancer screenings? We need assurances that everything we’ve heard this week about fewer tests for women’s cancers is a result of patient-focused research and providing the best care for the right reasons, and not because of bureaucratic pressure to control costs.
Obviously the first thought that comes to mind when hearing of these new recommendations from bureaucratic panels is “rationed care.” It’s fair – and healthy – to ask if that’s what Washington has in mind with a government-controlled takeover of a health care system.
When are the Democrat spokeswomen going to weigh in on this? I’m looking at you, Nancy Pelosi and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.
__________
H/T: Hot Air, Washington Post, CNN, Live Leak, The Green Room, New York Times, FOX News, Hot Air commenter: unseen.
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STAY AWAY FROM MY UTERUS PEOPLE!!!!
[2]
“I’d headline that one, The Democrats’ War On Unborn Children”
If you did then lurking ? will take it out on the HHR posters. LOL
[3]
Heh–that’s for another post, Eph. The one on the war on unborn children!!!!
[4]
I mentioned that and headlined this deliberately to highlight and underscore the immense and monstrous hypocrisy of the Democrats.
[5]
Wasserman-Schultz is a huge pro-abort.
[6]
INC,
You know how this ends up don’t you?
Member #1 : We are being creamed in the press.
Member #2 : Yes be we can’t back down. That would destroy our credibility.
Member #3 : Well it is sexist that what we recommended only affected women.
Member #1 : That’s right! I know what to do…
Memo
From: Preventive Services Task Force
Date: Immediate Release
The PSTF in reviewing its mammogram policy believes that the recommended mammogram regimen is correct. We did however discover an error in our analysis that we consider significant that may avert the fears of many.
We recommended that regular prostate exams for men not commence till their 60th birthday. Though early detection maybe useful in male patient survivability, the review indicates the highest number of cancers are detected in an advanced stage at or around the 60th birth year.
Sincerely…..
A joke, if it weren’t for that fact somebody might actually suggest it, ‘out of fairness’.
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That’s good, Dr. D. You nailed them!
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Have Democratic Leaders Gone Mad?
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Eph Rove, thanks for the info, I automatically assumed she would be because I can’t see Nancy having anyone pro-life as a whip!
Any chance to point out Debbie W-S’s hypocrisy on health care should be taken.
[10]
INC,
Funny, I assumed she was b/c she’s a Reform Jewish woman.
[11]
“When are the Democrat spokeswomen going to weigh in on this? I’m looking at you, Nancy Pelosi and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.”
NARAL has the leash on tight!
[12]
JUST RECEIVED THIS FROM THE RNC!
** URGENT CALL TO ACTION **
After months working in secret behind closed doors, Harry Reid this week finally unveiled his 2,074-page government-run health care plan. His plan would increase health care premiums, increase taxes on families and small businesses by half a trillion dollars, cut Medicare by another half trillion dollars, and allow federal funds to be used for abortions. Click here for 10 things you should know about the bill.
Harry Reid has scheduled a critical vote this Saturday night that will allow the Senate to take-up his bill. If that vote succeeds, Harry Reid will be dangerously close to finally imposing President Obama’s government-run health care scheme on America.
Two Democrat Senators – Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) – are critically important to defeating Saturday’s vote. The RNC urges every concerned citizen to call Sens. Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln TODAY and tell them to vote against Harry Reid’s liberal bill when it comes up for a vote on Saturday.
This is the best opportunity there will be to stop President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi from imposing their government-run health care plan on America. Again, please call Sens. Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln TODAY and tell them to vote against Harry Reid’s health care bill when it comes up for a vote on Saturday.
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12. Nelson already said he’s voting for the debate to begin.
I’m going to assume that Reid’s bribe will get Landreux too.
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Yep, the vote on Sat appears to be for the whole bag of marbles. Too bad we will probably get more Americans attending a minor college football game then voicing their opinions are the legislation that will turn us into the “People’s Republik of CrappyIstan”.
In any case, here is another good article that exposes those hypocritics on the left:
http://townhall.com/Common/PrintPage.aspx?g=abfb7234-0346-4e7f-8891-56fca6569b96&t=c
“Who’s Legislating Morality Now?
Andrew Tallman
And when I say states should be free to make laws concerning adultery, homosexual behavior, contraception, or premarital sex, I am accused again of trying to legislate morality.
Yet when Barack Obama and the Democrats propose making it a crime to not carry health insurance, no one seems to notice that they are very aggressively trying to legislate morality.
In fact, the same people who object to my proposed legislations of morality seem to think it’s a wonderful virtue that he wants to do so many “good” things for the poor people who can’t currently get health insurance. And if that plan entails criminalizing the decision to forego such insurance, well, why wouldn’t we fine people or put them in jail for refusing to repent of their obstinate immorality in obstructing such a virtuous social project?”
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#12 I am calling and faxing the crooks today…..although “surprise” Nelson says we will vote Yes to open debate….didnt see that one coming eh?
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Wild speculative idea:
What if the Republican Party agreed to support Blanche Lincoln in 2010 if she promised to kill this bill?
Good idea?
Insane…???
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A Hilarious Anti–Harry Reid Ad That Probably Won’t Last Long
Campaign Spot link
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#16 As crazy as it may sound, I would actual promise her Ice Cream for life or whatever the hell it would take to get her to go along….
Even if she did the right thing for crass personal reasons its still the right thing so I would have to annoint her as one of the inagural Coyote “Saviors of the Repulic”
She would really be the “historic” female Senator…..
But unfortunately I see the Odds of that happening at about 1%….
Afterall, she did vote YES on Bacus Care in committee so she is down with government force for CrappyCare….
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ObamaCare passes senate Saturday night. Just like the house vote, there will much hand wringing over whether or not the dimwits have enough votes.
Although they won’t have as much of a cushion to play with the vote count and feeding Redstate false stories of hope, they will have enough votes.
Reid wouldn’t schedule the vote unless he has the proper count to do so.
BUT, there is the slight possibility that this a slap across Nancy’s nasty face and is an attempt to kill ObamaCare until after 2o1o at least.
We’ll know soon enough. 60-61 votes means Reid wants it; anything less than 55 and it is what I mentioned above.
[20]
Liberman will only filibuster if there is still a government option insurance plan – so what, that is not a key part of the takeover scheme.
They will get much worse entitlements enacted then the government option if any hint of this takeover get thru.
I am doing my calling and faxing to Lincoln’s office today in the faint hope that the fix is not already in…..
But I am afraid it is – another repeat of a staged managed drama like queen nancy’s sat nite massacre – the outcome is not in doubt….
This thing will probably pass before Xmas but without a public option.
I am betting a small chunk of the coyote fortune on Intrade that it will lol
[21]
I am praying for the continued health and sanity of a certain 5 supreme court justices as the last chance to uphold Constitutional governmenace in the nation…..
However, that seems like a pretty faint hope as they would have to have stones the size of tomatoes to actually apply the literal meaning of the constitution and protect the right of the indiviudal….
That is probably not real popular under “international” law right now lol
[22]
Insane…???
The Congress is full of politicians who have sworn to support bill X or vote to stop bill Y but as soon as they get into office. . . ..
I say promise Lincoln anything to get her NO vote. We can always refuse to pay her back by telling her, “Sorry, Blanche, we decided to pull a Blanche Lincoln on you and have decided not to back you.”
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Yet a far greater percentage of women support the Democratic Party and Obama. It makes no sense.
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http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/20/gallup-obama-below-50-for-first-time/
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23. It’s a uterus thing.
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Aren’t uteruses (uteri?) those places where growing globs of mass and tissue take up residence in the host subject without permission?
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26. Yup
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I like the Reid ad Janzam.
If this thing gets passed Saturday it will pass and go to reconciliation. I’m afraid that will be the case unless Byrd dies in the next 24 hrs (not hoping that, but he is frail).
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Aren’t uteruses (uteri?) those places where growing globs of mass and tissue take up residence in the host subject without permission? CT
No, I believe you just described a
pelosihemorrhoid.[30]
My take on mammograms is that one rule does not fit all.
For one thing all women should have a baseline mammogram done at an early age, so that you then have norms of breast density etc. as comparisons for future tests done.
If a woman has a history of breast cancer in her family then I think getting a mammogram from 40 on, every year, is imperative. If there is no family history of cancer then I think you can be less rigid on taking mammograms every year. I agree with caution over annual subjection to radiation, when there is less of a need for it. I am personally going every other year, and have always paid for this preventive check-up myself.
BTW there are more government panel renderings saying that pap smears should be done more infrequently too…which I totally disagree with. This is when STDs, infections and cervical cancer are discovered early enough to treat effectively. Just shaking my head in disbelief….
Regarding the HC bill —> it’s hanging like a dark cloud over peoples’ heads. How disingenuous the Congress is when they are saying they are doing HC for the people! It’s a crock, and they know it. They are doing it for more power and for the sake of exercising their ideology, come hell or high water.
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Jan, that’s essentially what I think and what the physician on FOX said this morning. A doctor and patient have to talk over family history, risks, etc., to make these decisions. Not some bureaucrat in D.C. who is concerned about $.
I’m sure Nancy Pelosi, her daughters and granddaughters won’t have to deal with waiting on task force “death panel” decisions.
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Why does Barack Obama hate women?
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Why does Barack Obama hate women?
Uhh, is it because he can’t throw as good as them?
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#32 Women give birth to babies, and babies cause global warming or something.
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INC- thank you so much for posting this thread. This is only the beginning of rationed care.
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Is it because he doesn’t look good in mom jeans?
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Ohhhhh CT you may be on to something.
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Mary, the Democrats have been going on and on about providing for women’s “reproductive health care”. That means one thing and one thing only: abortion.
As far as the rest of a woman’s reproductive health care: mammograms, pap smears, prenatal care, childbirth, well, good grief, is that really cost effective and necessary?????
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Why does Barack Obama hate women?
Good alternate headline.
I actually thought about calling my Dem senator and asking why do the Democrats hate women.
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Even after ObamaCare passes it will probably take a dramatic event before women start seeing the dimwit party for what it really is.
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They only care about killing babies and many women have been scammed. They could give a crap less about the health of a woman.
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Actually since black women are actually effected slightly more I should have been more descriptive in my question.