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Politics | 01/27/2009 9:50 am

Limbaugh Attacks Pelosi Over Contraceptive Stimulus

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

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

JeJe De
Since when are contraceptives abortion. State governments OFFER contraceptives to those who ask for it. Are the poor not allowed to limit the number of children they have? This is responsible government. If we - and that means all of us - do not reduce the number of children in our families the earth will not be able to feed the multitudes. This is taking responsibility.
By JeJe De on 01/27/2009 11:50 am
georgia fatwood
JeJeDe….thank you
By georgia fatwood on 01/27/2009 12:53 pm
Robert Thompson
Why is it that those of you who support abortion (I am Pro-Life) say that the goverment should not be involved in a woman’s life on that issue, now think that it is allright for the goverment to be involved in distribution of condoms and birth control? I seems to me that is selective, rather than inclusive in your thinking. I am not against contraception, but the govermment should not be involved in it. If it is a women’s free choice, and goverment should not be involved in a women’s life, isn’t “Roe V Wade” goverment involment??
By Robert Thompson on 01/27/2009 2:47 pm
HA BIBI
Robert, That is that welfare mentality that I’m speaking about. They don’t want the Gov telling them what to do with their bodies but they sure expect the Gov handouts while expecting the rest of the tax paying Americans to foot the bill for their medical choices. I say it’s like a credit card….You don’t charge on it if you can’t afford to pay it back…If you can’t afford children or don’t want them then you might consider giving up what it is that one does, that would cause it. Sort of like ‘Lent’ if you will. And, if it is so important that you not give up your freedom to screw your brains out…Then pay for it yourselves by making that a financial priority for you. Sort of like a savings plan for sex if you will.
By HA BIBI on 01/27/2009 7:38 pm
sibelle daubigne
Elaine, right on! If you can’t afford children or don’t want them, CONTROL THE BEAST inside yourself! LOL I don’t have your patience, but enjoy reading your posts!
By sibelle daubigne on 01/27/2009 9:27 pm
Robert Thompson
Elaine, Right on again. Sort of like a savings plan for sex if you will.” I could not have said this better.”
By Robert Thompson on 01/27/2009 11:11 pm
starry Nite
Roe v. Wade is not forcing a women to do anything= it is protecting her rights to choose. roe V. wade was the governments response to a womens requests. Birth conrol education and condoms and other birth control are there for women who choose then. Once again a choice. Pro-life- cut the crap - you are anti-abortion. You probably don[t have a problem with the death penalty It is the governments responsiblility to protect the minority from the majority.
By starry Nite on 01/27/2009 11:59 pm
HA BIBI
Damn straight! I don’t have one problem with the deathy penalty….Thrilled to death (No pun intended) LOL, when I know they have a date with old ‘Sparky’. Thrills me to peices! When someone lays in wait, just for the joy of killing people….They flat out need to die and I don’t feel one damn thing for them…Oh wait….I do feel something for them…..I want them to feel so much pain and endure it for a really, really long time before the useless peices of garbage kick the bucket. Pretty exciting Huh? BTW, before you think about going on an ANTI-CHRISTIAN campaign and say that is not what God would say or do…..Well you’re dead wrong, It’s completely Biblical! He clearly states in many places throughout the Bible……Send them up to him so their REAL trial can begin! Only a stupid person such as yourself, would ever compare an innocent unborn to a Murderer who maliciously kills others. It is NOT the Gov’s responsibility, to enforce you to keep your legs closed, that’s YOUR responsibility!
By HA BIBI on 01/31/2009 11:45 am
HA BIBI
Pro-Life for the unborn! Pro-Death for murderer’s!
By HA BIBI on 02/02/2009 2:14 pm
HA BIBI
JeJe De, Contraceptives are not abortion. Contraceptives are for the prevention of pregnancy and abortion is murder. There are plenty of places, in operation today, that offer contraceptives at little or no cost to poorer famlies and women. We do not need to subsidize this in an economic stim package. And your statement about reducing the numbers of additions to families due to over population is just plain ridicoulous. This planet has been housing the human race, generation after generation, for thousands of years……God is in control and knows fully well what he is doing. Take a deep breath and relax….it’s all good!
By HA BIBI on 02/02/2009 2:24 pm
Corinne M.
This is an issue that the Democrats fumbled badly. The explanations were inadequate so now GOP talking points have ruled the day. Read carefully, people: The provision would preventative, cost-saving health care to help low-income women support their families and keep working. It focuses on access to recommended services and contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancies and promote maternal and infant health — not abortion. That is how family planning helps economic stimulus. It’s not pork. Here is the actual text from the stimulus package’s summary (HT Think Progress): “State Option to Cover Family Planning Services. Under current law, the Secretary has the authority under section 1115 of the Social Security Act to grant waivers to states to allow them to cover family planning services and supplies to low-income women who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. The bill would give states the option to provide such coverage without obtaining a waiver. States could continue to use the existing waiver authority if they preferred.” States can now cover low-income women if they get a state waiver, but approval can take a long time. This bill would simply allow states to skip the administrative delays.
By Corinne M. on 01/27/2009 11:50 am
georgia fatwood
Dear Corinne….and Lily, et. al…..Thank you….
By georgia fatwood on 01/27/2009 12:52 pm
Allene Swienckowski
Hmmm…all bills sent to Congress over the last one hindred years have had others issues attached to them. It’s ridiculous for the extreme right to apply pressure to any part of the rest of country because their extremism has corrupted and divided Americans for far too long. Bush and Co. co-opted and corrupted the normal channels for American women to receive contraceptions. He gutted programs all in the hope of instituting “abstinence” throughout the country. For generations young people have taken pledges and fr generations abstinence hasn’t worked. I wish the democrats/liberals would stop running scared from the Shock Jocks and the no-thinking Republicans who have no desire to work to help all Americans but only support an agenda to have things done their way, on their terms whether right or wrong.
By Allene Swienckowski on 01/27/2009 1:24 pm
Sally K
I cannot imagine that anyone with a working brain can’t see that access to birth control information for low income women would have a direct impact on their ability fo gain training and employment that pays enough for the job holder to attain more than a poverty level existence. As someone, earlier in the thread, pointed out, rearing children requires time and money. What is that conservatives have against providing low income people with the means necessary to limit the children they have to a number that is manageable? Giving birth to only the children for whom you can adequately provide is good for that family, is good for the job market, is good for the country as a whole.
By Sally K on 01/27/2009 1:25 pm
Dab-a- do
Birth control does not equate to abortion…Rush is a nut and anyone who listens to him has lost a screw. He is makes money by pushing people’s buttons. I think that half this country is too religious and too dumb to think for themselves. I am now so glad that I am a liberal and I am not going to apologize for it anymore and I will not be quiet. I have never in my life heard anything so ridiculous as what that fat druggie is spewing. When someone says they hope the President of the United States fails when he is trying to fix 8 years of corruption!!! I am almost speechless but not enough to keep quiet. I wish I had a good one liner from Sandbee right now. I need to laugh.
By Dab-a- do on 01/27/2009 1:47 pm