Politics | 01/27/2009 9:50 am

Limbaugh Attacks Pelosi Over Contraceptive Stimulus

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives are hopping mad over economic stimulus money meant to aid state family-planning programs. And it appears they’ve won this battle.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been taking a lot of heat for including money in the $825 billion stimulus bill for state family-planning programs, including Medicaid-funded contraceptives. The bill contains $87 billion in emergency Medicaid funding to help states. It has turned into a lightning rod for some Republicans who say not only does this program not constitute job creation or stimulate the economy, but it is also paramount to abortion.

Limbaugh on Monday essentially said family planning "is abortion all over the world," adding: “When I think of reducing budget deficits, it would never occur to me to think about eliminating people … If she wants fewer births, I have the way to do this, and it won’t require any contraception. You simply put pictures of Nancy Pelosi … put pictures of Pelosi in every cheap motel room in America today, that will keep birth rates down because that picture will keep a lot of things down." We doubt that’s true, but the Democrats do appear to backing down.

Here’s what Pelosi recently told ABC News about why the money was originally included:

Well, the family-planning services reduced costs, it reduced costs. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crisis now, and — and part of it, what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements that are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those — one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, is — will reduce cost to the state, and to the federal government … We have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.

Now, that plan may not be "stimulus," per se, but it seems the economy should have little to do with family planning. If you’re not in a position to have a child, then shouldn’t you have access to proper programs? What do you think?

404 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Good morning, Marjorie. This certainly is a mess, but there are two things I have noticed that give some clue to the immediate future. First is that the case files for individual detainees are so disorganized that immediate prosecution is not possible. Evidence has been mishandled, and bits of information are held by separate, uncooperative agencies. It will be a long time before the cases are ready for court, and nobody is getting released until they have had their day in court and proven their innocence. The second thing is that countries that refused to accept detainees from Bush have become more willing now that Obama has taken office. It seems that America’s image is improving.

By Zera Lee on 01/28/2009 11:20 am

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Lori, this ridiculous rant doesn’t deserve a response, so I’ll give you a diagnosis: “It seems the far right just can handle the truth that they have been rejected by America. They claim that Obama winning by 190 electoral votes in a 54%-46% “isn’t a mandate” even while these very same people claimed Bush had a mandate in a 35 electoral vote 51%-49% election. Sadly, that is just the “mainstream right” like Fox News while the right wing blogosphere is just frothing at the mouth with such hate and denial that it can only be characterized as a mental illness.”

By DeBúrca obj on 01/28/2009 7:35 am

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Bush claimed a mandate from the people back in 2001, after he had lost the popular vote. “Reality” is a matter of perception. No wonder President Obama had to remind the Republicans who won the election, who “we the people” have have chosen to set the direction this country is to follow.

By Steve R on 01/28/2009 12:41 pm

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Exactly! Speaking of reality… the Republicans might need a reality check: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-loewe/a-hole-worth-digging_b_161550….

By DeBúrca obj on 01/28/2009 12:58 pm

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GOP House Member To Rush Limbaugh: Back Off stumble digg reddit del.ico.us mixx.com Huffington Post | Nicholas Graham | January 27, 2009 08:11 PM Read More: Barack Obama, Michael Wolff, Obama Playing Rush, Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh And Barack Obama, Rush Limbaughs Scared, Media News Show your support. Buzz this article up. Buzz up! Get Breaking News Alerts never spam Share Print Comments Rush Limbaugh is taking heat from all sides for his comments about hoping President Obama’s administration is a failure. Bill Bennett disagreed with his fellow conservative and said Limbaugh was wrong to say he wishes Obama will fail. Now Politico reports that Republican House member Phil Gingrey has a message for Limbaugh: back off. “I think that our leadership, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, are taking the right approach,” Gingrey said. “I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party. You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of that thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.” Media critic Michael Wolff thinks Limbaugh is just being played by Obama: Right now Rush is being played. The Obama dinner with conservative columnists, shortly before his inauguration, was as much about excluding Rush as coddling the columnists. Not only did the conservatives fawn, but Rush fumed. It got under his skin. Indeed, the rumor that he might in fact be there (likely coming from the Obama camp), and then his evident lack of an invitation, highlighted the slight. He’s tried to make it out to be a political point ever since, but mostly he sounds like a guy who’s hurt he didn’t get invited to the hot party. Poor baby Rushie. Him is a snit.

By f p on 01/28/2009 2:55 am

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f p: Poor baby Rushie. Him is a snit. Do you realize you are over 40 and not a woman? Just asking.

By Marjorie C. on 01/28/2009 6:41 am

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Funny you don’t say anything to the idiots like Henley and Donald Duck who are obviously NOT over 40 or women and do not add facts and real opinions like Frank does… but who you agree with.

By DeBúrca obj on 01/28/2009 7:43 am

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DeBúrca: …Henley and Donald Duck… Where is Henley? I miss him. As for Donald Duck, I’m not sure who you’re referring to. Recently, there has been someone shouting on here that this site was for WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 40 ONLY. I was just pointing out the obvious. Personally, I like diversity. I like the guys — they present a different slant on things. Women tend to get emotional.

By Marjorie C. on 01/28/2009 8:45 am