Women’s Health: A Defining Issue in 2012

This a great article that needs to be circulated, but beyond that…. think about what they are saying… do some research, look things up for yourselves.  Women’s right to vote was won for us by some very strong and brave women, we need to exercise that right to keep it!  Do your homework ladies!!

http://www.womenarewatching.org/article/a-defining-issue-in-2012-womens-health

A Defining Issue in 2012: Women's Health

03.13.12 | Jacqueline M. | 0

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There’s been a lot talk about women’s health in the news. From Rush Limbaugh calling Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” to Senator Roy Blunt’s amendment that would allow any employer the right to deny access to affordable birth control based on so-called moral conviction --

what was once a fight over abortion (an admittedly complex issue) has become a debate over whether women should have access to popular forms of birth control and basic preventive care. And we’re all scratching our heads.
Protecting basic women’s health care is overwhelmingly popular. A recent poll found that “A near consensus exists that women should have access to birth control, that insurers should cover it, and that the decision to use birth control is a private one.”
In addition, voters decisively object to a wide range of attacks on women’s health care, and continue to strongly support Planned Parenthood.

“Nearly two thirds (63 percent) of all voters oppose prohibiting Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds to pay for birth control, maternity care, and cancer screenings; 61 percent oppose it when it is specified that some Planned Parenthood clinics perform abortions.”

The media has been talking about the latest poll numbers for President Obama and that he’s at 41% approval. What they’re NOT talking about is that Obama holds a double-digit lead among Independent women. Want to take a guess why? We say birth control. And two articles that came out over the weekend illustrate the point:
A self-described evangelical Christian and and "old school” Republican from Iowa told the New York Times: “If they’re going to decide on women’s reproductive issues, I’m not going to vote for any of them. Women’s reproduction is our own business.”
Moderate Republican and Independent women — some of the most critical constituencies to win over in an election — are disillusioned with the Republicans focus on contraception.

Fran Kelly, a retired public school worker in Seattle, WA said: “Everybody is so busy telling us how we should act in the bedroom, they’re letting the country fall through the cracks.” Kelley voted for Senator McCain in the 2008 election, but when it came to discussing this year’s nominee she had a few choice words: “They’re nothing but hatemongers trying to control everyone, saying, ‘Live as I live.’”

It’s something the Obama campaign is making a note of, especially when you consider that in the last presidential election, “Women were 53 percent of the national vote…they are crucial to his re-election.” Right now, a recent NYT/CBS poll has him with an 18-point advantage among women (he won the women’s vote by 16 points in 2008).
It’s undoubtedly clear: women’s health is an issue that has the potential to reshape the political landscape in the upcoming election. Politicians should take note. Women are watching in 2012, and more importantly, we will be voting.