Krugman writes, "Santorum has long opposed the Supreme Court's 1965 ruling 'that invalidated a Connecticut law banning contraception' and has also pledged to completely defund federal funding for contraception if elected president. As he told CaffeinatedThoughts.com editor Shane Vander Hart in October, 'One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country,' the former Pennsylvania senator explained. 'It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.'"
Portrait, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, 06/15/09. (photo: Fred R. Conrad/NYT)
Sex and Santorum
04 January 12
he race for the Republican presidential nomination has been an edifying spectacle. No, really: we are learning a lot of things that we might not have if it had been a simple Romney coronation. Until he rose in the polls, Ron Paul was seen by many liberals as an almost cuddly figure, a nice antiwar guy with some quirky ideas about gold; we've learned a bit since.
Now Rick Santorum, whose frankness gives us an education in what "moral values" is really about, at least for a significant number of people:
Santorum has long opposed the Supreme Court's 1965 ruling "that invalidated a Connecticut law banning contraception" and has also pledged to completely defund federal funding for contraception if elected president. As he told CaffeinatedThoughts.com editor Shane Vander Hart in October, "One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country," the former Pennsylvania senator explained. "It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be."
Beautifying America
ndy Rosenthal, our editorial page editor, notes that Mitt Romney likes to quote from "America the Beautiful", and tells us something I for one didn't know:
The lyrics were written in 1894 by the Massachusetts poet Katharine Lee Bates, an ardent feminist and lesbian who was deeply disillusioned by the greed and excess of the Gilded Age.
Her original third verse was an expression of that anger:
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
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NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN !!
our future is at stake
I like it, So do I have an inherent right to my body my mind a right strong enough to NOT to be enslaved by others for their benefit?
Remember Terri Schivo in Florida? (I'm not sure I spelled her name correctly)
The poor woman had been brain dead for years, and her husband wanted to let her "go"
The hue and cry from the right was unbelievable. They never want to help people, who are ill and in need of help.
BUT THEY GOT THE SENATE BACK FROM VACATION AND BUSH TOO, CAME FROM CRAWFORD, TO MAKE A LAW TO KEEP ONE BRAIN-DEAD WOMAN "ALIVE"
So much for small government, and for keeping government out of our business.
I can't swear that Santorum was the one who got them all back to write law, but he was heavily involved.
This should certainly be mentioned
He was nr 3 in the senate republican leadership, so he WAS part of calling them back from Easter vacation to sign the bill into law, trying to keep Mrs. Schiavo alive. It was of course a purely political move. .......But it back fired. The country was furious, and it cost the republicans dearly. Hallelujah
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-bunch/rick-santorum-surge_b_1185833.html
When a gang of people can vote them selves bread and circuses at some one elses expense (lets eat the rich scream the greedy 99%ters) - that too violates ones right not to be enslaved by others for their benefit.
Agreed: Santorum is NOT a small government republican - he is a NeoCON Who want to use big government to micro manage our lives.
The Ron Paul revolution is bucking the party establishment in many ways because we know it is not Federal governments authority or business to decide who you voluntarily marry or how you entertain your self or if you have an abortion (our personal choices very greatly but that is irrelevant) because those issues and many more are state level not federal.
Rights are inherent with individuals: Corporations have no rights, only political privileges - the same goes for Unions, churches, Elks Club, girl scouts, political parties ...
These same people who want to tell us what to do with our bodies - also want to withhold giving food stamps and free food to children who are starving (in USA) and they claim they want "smaller government" (selectively - that is)
They won't help middle class and poor Americans -calling it 'welfare', but have absolutely no problem with 'welfare' for the rich (low tax rates and cuts) and corporations (many of whom now pay NO taxes or very low taxes) and subsidies for the oil and gas industries that are making record profits.
We know they are in for a visit when we see the family transportation (a double length van) in their driveway.
They're not against abortion, they're against SEX!!!
The US is being driven back to the middle ages. Corporatism is really looking more like Feudalism. Women are seen as the source of evil and must be controlled.
At least this is one area where Obama is good and modern. All the republicans are medieval anti-feminists.
I have little doubt he only allowed his sexual "urges" to emerge with people who were powerless to go public about his "dirty urges." I have heard rumors, as well, of his involvement with young boys as well, but those rumors have not yet been publicly validated.
My point is that I think it only catches part of the problem to label these folks as "anti-woman." The result of their phobia expresses itself most harshly against women, but I think that is often an over-reaction to the shame these "harlots" arouse in them. Easier to blame the woman than to come to terms with their own lustful nature.
Well, not for me. I have no problem recognizing my lust. But I am neither a priest nor a Protestant preacher man.
It is our choice, we do not have to tell anyone that we committed any venial sins.
I see the Western States Evans, Baptists and other Faiths afraid esp whites...I see many people toting along more than 6 kids, and none of them are Catholics.
At one time this was a truism for faiths to get more parishners which meant more money in those collection boxes. However, we didnot kill anyone for not having children nor did we put into law that you had to have them, nor did we disgrace people who didnot have children.
We also never made anyone have just one or two children.
It was a function at one time to have children how do you think farmers survived? Look at Amish, Mennonites. They are still having children.
Stupid referral to one faith.
We need Nunya laws.
What is a Nunya law? Nunya damned business!
So, while Ron Paul declares he'd get rid of five federal departments first thing, and Rick Perry vowed something of the same, except he couldn't quite remember which ones he'd marked for the ax, it looks like Mr. Santorum would have to ADD one -- as in the Federal Bureau of In-Bed Surveillance.
Now, THAT would create a bunch of new jobs! Just think about it. (No, I really can't....)
I agree Barbara, Santorum is the pits!!!
You are right, Santorum will soon be revealed, for what he is, a religious fanatic. I danced with joy when he was booted out of the senate. I am sure we will soon see the last of him.
Romney will no doubt turn the big guns at him now, when it looks like he can get the reliious votes
Hi X Dane, Im doing fantastic, thank you for asking. I havent been at the computer as much so not posting as much LOL!! Good to hear the nopal cactus juice is working for you too.
Yeah I dont think Santorum even believes his own bull. When he was booted out of the senate I was happy to see him go, hes another one of those guys I really cant stand to listen to.
How is it that so many of you so often turn stories like this into evidence of "too much government"? This isn't about too much government. It's about an ideological extremist wanting to impose his wacky values on all of us. Santorum is not the government. He isn't even a small part of the government. In fact, he is but one of the lying, hypocritical scum bags that preach against governmental regulations that actually serve us well while harboring fantasies (nightmares for many of us)of imposing his own brand of idiotic thinking and regulation on all of us. A small amount of reason and discrimination in your thinking would serve us all well.
Of course it is exactly about too much government.
If the government is powerful enough to implement some loony bed patrol -- it is too damned big.
If people think that government should be used to implement a bed patrol They want bigger government to force their will upon you.
Then again - I think that the testicle handling patrol at the air-ports is too damned big, and I do not feel an iota safer either.
The right wants to tell us what to think, what to feel and how to behave... and if you disagree? You'll go to hell. You're a traitor and a socialist...and on and on and on.
Actually, Santorum only applies it to his own life when convenient. His wife had a 2nd trimester abortion in 1996, which saved her life. It was the right decision to make, but a choice HE would deny to all other women in the same situation, which makes him a complete hypocrite!
He mentioned that 15 years ago he had several "intense conversations" with Santorum and his wife Karen about the death, in childbirth, of their son Gabriel.
Karen nearly died from septic shock, but she REFUSED to have an induced birth, an abortion, in effect.
She later admitted to Klein, that she hadn't been thinking clearly, since she had 3 children at home. Santorum did abide by her wish to have a regular delivery.
So as you can see. she did NOT have an abortion
In the big picture, considering all of history except the brief few moments that have passed since, say, the 17th century, humans reproduce as soon as they are physically able to. That's because the drive for sex is overpowering from the time our age is in double digits. There was a exceptional, brief, and painful period when we had to endure a decade or so of our lives in abstinence in order to avoid unwanted births. Abstinence is an unnatural and unhealthy state for homo sapiens, responsible for all kinds of perversions and pathologies. Since contraception, abstinence has been optional--a good idea but nothing more.
Contraception is the cure for a self-inflicted social illness. There is, never was, and never will be any cosmic reason not to use it.
If so, this should be widely disseminated!!!
See Daily Kos: Santorum's Horrifying Vision for Women
www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/04/1051452/-Santorums..
My Gawd, the old LP is stuck in it's groove again. Krugman is JOURNALIST and has a right to state even the obvious.
What's YOUR opinion on this oh motor-mouth of the mind-numbing "free-speech if you agree with me -ot leave the country attitude? C'mon, give us a wee sermon you ol' Newt-lover you!
Can't wait for some kind of lucid reply for a change.
"Dead for a ducat" sir behind-the-curt ain-of-reaction !
Think of the Rethuglican primaries as a sound check; Testing 1, testing 2, testing 3. And down they go; 1, 2, 3. They're testing their sound bites and providing the quotes with which they'll be challenged next Summer. Millions of dollars are simply being wasted on their delusions of electability, and THEY complain about government waste because THEY want to be in charge of government waste.
Men believe they should have control, us pregnant and washing the clothes in the stream are those who should be neutered.
I believe in spay and neutering...it is not just for animals anymore!
Oh, they always have the STD angle to fall back on. But they fear that so much that they don't want free condoms available in schools.
Subject: Santorum Stump Speech: "I don't want to make black people's lives better..." - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRDea8PNjro
While the statement in its entirety, the piece that is quoted is not. Please people, just because the Righties use misquoted material does not make it correct.
Before you hit that red button. I agree that the statement in its entirety was Rascist.
Hilarious!!!
I've raised funds for Democratic organizations and know that the right has been working for decades to do away not just with abortion, but also with contraception.
"Out of the boardrooms, but back into the bedrooms" is exactly where they intend to go.
Agreed: NEVER vote Republican - they are NOT on your side!
Judging people by their Faith makes no one any better than the Slugs out there running your lives.
Those of you who know nothing about Catholics, should perhaps learn. Jesus never told us to go out, over populate the Earth. They did intend Marriage to help with sharing, learning, teaching. Jesus, thru his own life, saw many never had children. Never did He say they were condemned. Man had children for the reason of passing on their Trade, Wealth, Land.still do.
I do not remember Catholics being the Religion to start all Countries, in fact, we were killed due to stupid/fearful ones who came after, refused to accept Catholicism, help change it. Instead, today like then, we still have Morons telling lies about us.
Man needed people to work for them, review Farms. Child Labor started at home.
Santorum was a horrendous leader in Penna, as most GOP are in this State. Rick Santorum cannot be trusted because he is not Trustworthy as a Human Being. Not because he is Catholic.
Santorum, others may think they can tell us what to do but they better realize that OWS is mild compared to messing with women. Men have beaten, abused, cheated, used us for guinea pigs for meds. Its Over.we have come long way!
We also have Morons organized that spread lies that Priests are Rapists..Rape is not one Faith Crime.
Time to let art speak for itself and leave out the propaganda.
The rest of this is "tongue in cheek" although not a proficient humorist:
Some people "believe" all they learn in church in the same way a child "believes" a parent (until the child grows up and runs like the wind from that parent)
While we're at making these "insane" laws - how about making a drunk parent "pay huge fines" if found parenting while using!
I've thought of many of these same laws that should NEVER be legislated by government.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-3-2012/indecision-2012---romspringa---rick-santorum-s-surge
somewhat reasonable and thoughtful and not
given to screeds. However, that seems to not be the case.
In your own situation - do you or do you not have a choice over whether you wish to engage in procreative activities.
If you do but do not want to have child then it is up to you to use self control.
Take every means to ensure that you do not become pregnant.
However, if you do become pregnant then
it is your responsibility to bear the child. If you do not want to raise the child then give it up for adoption.
Santorum may be on to a simple truth -
abhorrent as it may be to self proclaimed Progressives - using contraceptives can lead to misusing your
body.
The government has no right to use anyone's tax dollars to pay for contraceptives or abortions.
Your choice to have procreative activity
your choice to accept the consequences.
What is so difficult to understand about
accepting responsibility ?
BTW, it isn't contraception that leads to "misusing your body", whatever you mean by that. It's the person's self-destructiv e decision-making .
The NRA is fond of saying it isn't the gun that kills, it's the person.
The right is much too fond of trying to have it all ways, all the time.
Make your life choices and decisions. Others have the right to make their own. Back off.
Also, what if bearing the child--the result of that dreary process of 'procreative activity'--will cause the mother's death? Some pregnancies result in the death of the mother--you are aware of this.
One last thought: try 'misusing your body' just a bit now and then.
Using that logic, Robt Eagle should probably refrain from commenting about anything, ever.
Privacy is the enemy of the totalitarian impulse behind conservatives. That is why they have been so energetic in setting up surveillance programs for all electronic communications. This is a new area and they can get away with it. Conservatives hate individuals because they do random and unpredictable things. They prefer the uniformity of the military -- people who have been scrupulously brainwashed to be as close to replicants and they can be. When vets dissent, it drives them crazy.
Santorum is only the most outspoken of the totalitarians.
I agree with the observation that all those religious nuts are absolutely obsessed with sex. I've also observed that those who preach the hardest are the biggest hypocrits. Next we'll find out that Santorum's been entering the secret door of his favorite brothel.
I want Pope and the Catholic Church to excommunicate Rick Santorum, I want the Mormon Church to order Romney to stop going against the church leadership on immigration and stop insulting Hispanic Mormons.
Keep the politisions out of our bed rooms.
"Thumbs Down".
Do you really think that using contraceptives like the Pill or the
"Morning After Pill" are healthy for your
body ?
Using contraceptives is not unlike being
a Sexual Anorexic.
Why should a baby in your womb have to suffer a cruel death because you want
pleasures without bearing responsibility.
As for "Who the Hell" am I to hold anyone
responsible, I don't - you do - inside your own heart - that is why your comment was so bitter and slashing.
No one has the right to kill anyone,
especially the most innocent among us.
But if we, you, I will kill a baby in the
womb what is there that we will not do ?
What is so wrong with Adoption over Abortion ?
It is 2012!.....if you want to "engage in procreative activities" Wow how convoluted can you be.
In this century we simply say if you want to make love.
Like many very religious people, you sound as if it is dirty? It is perfectly normal, healthy and wonderful when you love someone.
If you are under a doctor's care "the pill" is certainly safe. I was on it for many years because my husband and I wanted to be in control of how many children we had, so we could give them a good life and an education.
I am certainly not a Sexual anorexic. You are indeed in the wrong century.
You sound terribly repressed, I am sorry for you.
http://readersupportednews.org/pm-section/28-28/9125-house-of-horrors-is-the-solution-punishment-or-better-service
Santorum's or anyone else's religious convictions or personal views on sexual morality are irrelevant in the context of a political election. Santorum may be pandering to certain constituents, but they should be able to understand that interfering in people's private lives has nothing to do with effectively governing the nation. Sad for them if they don't.
NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN !!
our future and livelihood are at stake
I think this is the second time that you have had to tell old rubber ass Walrus this and since he isn't listening to us, (I am a woman) then he should just butt out of our conversations, they aren't meant for him b/c he is blind to what is really going on for women, him being a ( man ), and should find someone with like idea's, (maybe another man) to listen to him. I being a woman know more about the issues with women than he will ever know.
However I am afraid that “X Dane” silenced “Celtic1967” Celtic 1967 has a right to her opinions. I hope you apologize to keep the discussion going instead of every one Preaching to the Choir like in other blogs. By the way Citizens United for Separation of Church and State actually invites speakers from opposing viewpoints to have a debate with.
And the morning after pill is perfectly safe, and a blessing for a woman, who does not have to have a baby, she may not be able to care for, or have an abortion, which is a difficult choise.
What Celtic also seems to say is: don't have procreative activity if you don't want to have a baby??? That is old fashioned repression. A satisfying sexlife, is important for your overall health and mental well being.
It sounds...to me..as if Celtic wants to take women back a hundred years
I just checked my comments to Celtic. There was nothing to "silence" him or her. That would be presumptive, and I sure would not shut up anybody here. But QUEWSTION some of the remarks I feel free to do. There are some REALLY strange opinions expressed at times.
(and some ARE hateful Richard)
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