War on Women, Part II
Memo to Republican Party:
WOMEN HAVE THE VOTE
It wasn’t bad enough that the Florida Legislature tried to undermine women’s rights in divorce in its last session, and was partially successful, now the Republican Party seems bent on committing political suicide by ticking off a bit over 50 percent of American voters by attacking the rights of women, especially the poor.
By simultaneously attacking the limited right to abortion under the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, and attacking the ability to receive contraception prevention medication through health insurance, or through an NGO (non-governmental organizations) such as Planned Parenthood, Republicans hoping to turn out the president are dealing a death blow to whichever of their candidates becomes the nominee.
For the successful Republican primary candidate to have a chance to win the election in November, the Republican candidates have to stop relying on religious issues and concentrate on governmental issues.
Republican women from coast to coast will think about their lives and the lives of their mothers, sisters and daughters after being deprived of the ability to control their own bodies and futures and mark their ballots in November for the president, senators, and congressmen who pledge to protect their rights.
There are certainly very compelling arguments against abortion rights. After the entire question here is whether or not to allow a precious innocent child its birth. In our society any young woman contemplating an unwanted pregnancy has that choice, and will be bombarded by arguments of friends, family, friends, priests, ministers and rabbis to choose life.
Yet many believe that abortion is their only choice for the sake of their lives and the lives of the unwanted children who they cannot afford to raise.
There are no such compelling arguments when it comes to denying women reasonable access to birth control. On the one hand, limiting access to birth control seems logically to connect itself to the rise of unwanted pregnancies, and an increase in abortions. Or, on the other hand, the birth of unwanted children whose parents will have to rely on entitlements we all pay for to support them.
The consequences of these connected probabilities lead only to greater governmental involvement in taxing us to fund the entitlements which Republican senators and congressmen abhor.
When institutions like Planned Parenthood are attacked for providing inexpensive or free medical care to hundreds of thousands of women, who have no other affordable source for care, from to coast, are denied funds because of political expediency we must conclude that the wrong people are running for office.
Sensible men and women alike can only hope that women in both political parties will, on election morning in November, put down whatever other banner they usually wave, see through the political shenanigans, and vote for their own “Party,” “The Women’s Liberation Party” whether their husbands know it or not.
Michael H. Gora has been certified by the Board of Specialization of The Florida Bar as a specialist in family and matrimonial law, and is a partner with Shapiro Blasi Wasserman & Gora P.A. in Boca Raton. Mr. Gora may be reached by e-mail at mhgora@sbwlawfirm.com.and (561) 477-7800.
