COMMENTARY | The growing debate between Republicans and Democrats over birth control has gone way over the deep end. The statements coming out of the mouths from the extreme right about something that should not even be an issue in the 21st century are mind-boggling.
According to the Huffington Post, New Hampshire State Rep. Lynne Blankenbeker, R-Concord, believes married couples who do not have access to affordable birth control or health insurance to cover it should practice abstinence.
When trying to justify her position on why the administration's requirement to provide insurance coverage for birth control should be overturned, Blankenbeker stated, "People with or without insurance have two affordable choices, one being abstinence and the other being condoms, both of which you can get over the counter."
If your jaw is dropping over these words, you aren't the only one. The ignorance coming from our elected politicians is baffling. As a female, Blankenbeker is also an embarrassment to her gender. Is she really so out of touch with reality that she doesn't know that birth control pills are used for a myriad of reasons and not just contraception?
The birth control pill is often used to regulate women's menstrual cycles and offer significant pain relief to women who previously had heavy periods accompanied by severe pain. There are many females who suffer so greatly, without the pill they wouldn't be able to work or perform any of their usual responsibilities. The pill can prevent ovarian cysts and anemia as well as reduce the risk of symptomatic endometriosis.
Neither religion nor the fear of sexual expression should be used as an excuse to send women back to the dark ages.
Blankenbeker is the same New Hampshire lawmaker who sent an email to Republican colleagues at the State House about her Army training last summer. She is a Naval Reservist nurse and was going through weapons training at Fort Dix.
Blankenbeker wrote in her email, "Today I got to be the gunner which was fun. The .50cal is quite a gun! I was never ascared (sic) of the unions but they better not (expletive) with me again!!! Just saying."
The email and her statement about birth control seem to showcase the thinking of some of our politicians on the right. Most reasonable people might question why she still has a job, but it's quite apparent that common sense and reasoning have gone out the window some time ago when it comes to politics.
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