Powered By Blogger

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

And This Score Just In, Indiana 1, Oklahoma 1

I'm in a quandary. I can't decide if I'm more embarrassed as a native Hoosier by the comments of State Rep. Bob Moore or as a resident of Oklahoma that Rick Santorum is leading the polling for the upcoming Republican primary. It might be a wash.
To those of you who may not have heard this, Rep. Moore was the only member of the august Indiana Senate not to agree with a proclamation honoring the Girl Scouts of America on their 100th anniversary. Why? Well, this is from his email he sent to his fellow Senators. And I am not making this up:
"After talking to some well-informed constituents, I did a small amount of web-based research, and what I found is disturbing. The Girl Scouts of America and their worldwide partner, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), have entered into a close strategic affiliation with Planned Parenthood. You will not find evidence of this on the GSA/WAGGGS website - in fact, the websites of these two organizations explicitly deny funding Planned Parenthood."
Not knowing when to log off his computer, he unfortunately went on:
"Many parents are abandoning the Girl Scouts because they promote homosexual lifestyles. In fact, the Girl Scouts education seminar girls are directed to study the example of role models. Of the fifty role models listed, only three have a briefly-mentioned religious background – all the rest are feminists, lesbians, or Communists. World Net Daily, in a May 2009 article, states that Girl Scout Troops are no longer allowed to pray or sing traditional Christmas Carols."
Where to begin. First off, the Girl Scouts are not a religious organization. Secondly, according to their 2010 annual report, Planned Parenthood services were broken down this way: STI/STD testing & treatment, 38.0%; contraception, 33.5%; cancer screening and prevention, 14.5%; other women's health services, 10.4%; abortion services, 3%; and other services, 0.6%. Thirdly, I don't agree with his describing President Barrack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as being "radically pro-abortion." He also has a problem with the First Lady being the honorary leader of the Girl Scouts. And, he forgot to mention that this position has been filled by the First Lady since 1917. And, fourthly, what a dumbass. How did this idiot get elected?
Now, to Santorum. In the past few weeks, Santorum has essentially laid out his personal beliefs as facts rather than his own beliefs. He has attacked Planned Parenthood, told a gay man that he and his partner contributed nothing to society, referred to contraception as something that would allow people to do things "in the sexual realm" that they shouldn't do. According to him.
Now, for these statements to result in a spike in his popularity in Oklahoma is beyond comprehension. I know politically the state is still stuck in the Eisenhower era, what with the worst pair of U.S. Senators to be found anywhere in the country and the belief that oil is the only acceptable means of energy. But, to align oneself with these prehistoric, misogynistic beliefs is incredibly short-sighted. I mean, women do get to vote here, right? Santorum wants to take all the other rights away.

No comments:

Post a Comment