Wisconsin GOP Join Attack Against The Pill

Former Wisconsin governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson (R), angling hard for the far-right vote, came out against a rule by the Obama administration that requires employers affiliated with the Catholic Church to cover contraception in their health insurance plans at no additional costs to employees.

“Not only is the birth control requirement an affront to Catholics, but its is a breech of our religious liberties that any person of faith should oppose. This rule cannot stand and will not stand after this year’s election,” Thompson said. “I pledge to go to Washington to seek the immediate repeal of this requirement, which is an attack on our religious institutions.”

This is unusual ground for Thompson to stake out and proof of just how far to the right Republicans are going to have to go to secure nomination. After all, Thompson was the former Secretary of Health and Human Services under George H.W. Bush. And it was Governor Thompson launched BadgerCare a program which, among other things, provides birth control for low income women, the success of which many credit to paving the way for his appointment in the Bush administration.

That means Thompson has either radically changed his position on the importance of making contraceptive care widely available and affordable or he’s so desperate for the Republican nomination that he’s willing to do or say just about anything. No matter that answer one point is abundantly clear: either way, Thompson is just fine playing politics with women’s lives.

Related Stories:

Tammy Takes On The Tea Party

Tommy Thompson To Run For Wisconsin Senate Seat

Photo from nateOne via flickr.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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pam w.

10:12AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Doris...I think the very fact that women can make their own contraceptive choices is an affront to the Catholic church!

send a green star

Sarkku V.

9:38AM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Not nice!!! :-(((((

KS G.

4:48AM PST on Feb 12, 2012

Thanks for the article.

antonia m.

5:05AM PST on Feb 10, 2012

I repeat... Republicans: Get the hell out of my ovaries!!!!!

Georgia L.

8:11PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

I will agree to this as soon as they stop using our tax money against our will to fund these moronic faith based initiatives and start taxing these churches.

Jane B.

6:18PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Churches ARE political organizations. That's all they have ever been. The Catholic Church is a front for the mob. They have no respect for the law of the land. TAX FILTHY RICH CHURCHES!

Mike B.

4:28PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

These boys are going full time with the Rove (turd-blossom) playbook. Keep throwing shit against the wall until something sticks, and benefit from keeping the people divided and not looking at how we're screwing them. Jobs, anyone?

alice J.

3:21PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Yeah, good idea.
If churches keep putting out political opinions on whether a hospital they contribute to should have health insurance that covers contraception, they should lose their tax exempt status. They should pay taxes like any other political group.

I don't get where men think they don't have to pay for contraception. They are at least fifty percent responsible for conception, right? Why should women have to pay for that, plus carry an unwanted fetus around who has, apparently more rights than she does, plus make only 79% of what men make?

Ann B.

2:49PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Okay ladies, it's time for baby sitting service at the U.S. Senate building. Since it seems that these men are having a "problem" with Roe v Wade it's time to tell them to get out of our bedrooms and mind their own business unless they would like all the children that need adopting in this country to have day care in their offices.

Sandy E.

2:48PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Does the Church employ others that don't belong to the Church?